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Mankind will do anything to prove itself. A man wishes for himself to be supreme, all-powerful, and all-knowing – that’s what makes man enduring. Why is it that man wishes to cross the seas, scale the mountains, and reach for the skies? Is it because he feels insecure of his insignificance in relation to the vastness of this world, or is it because he is diseased with an insatiable desire to conquer everything? Inevitably, both these reasons provide the inspiration.
And, like all men, I am no different. I will jump at the opportunity to challenge the Universe, and everything in it. There comes a point in every man’s life when reason and rationale play no part in his cognitive process – a time when instinct and habit are in control. This was one of those times. So, when I was asked if I wanted to take Mahindra’s new 4x4 sensation, and surmount the mighty Himalayan tracks, I said yes before I even blinked or took a breath.
The reason for this expedition was more work than play. Our international editor, Anniruddha, was in the country, and had been on a dry spell since he last took part in a rally. Luckily for him, the St. John’s Old Boys Association – also known as SJOBA – was just about to flag off their annual sub-Himalayan rally. Anniruddha made a few calls, found a trusty navigator in his cousin Madhav, and asked Prithvi and me to be service car drivers. Now, I must admit I have never been in a rally, nor have I ever been apart of one. So, the whole experience was entirely new to me. But, I’ve always been an off-road enthusiast – since the days when I a little kid and went hunting with my dad in his Gypsy, all the way up till my college days when I use to go dirt biking in Los Angeles. Off-roading is in my blood.
[ Attachment Invalid Or Does Not Exist ] So, we had an autoX rally team put together for the Sjoba Rally, and I was going to be the driver of Service Car 1. I had the Thar, and that made me really excited. You see, I love my jeeps. They look good, plus they’re powerful, and they make a style statement that portrays a rugged character – not only the machine, but the driver as well. My father is the same, which is one of the many reasons why he still hasn’t let go of his 1986 Gypsy that hardly even starts.
When I first sat in the Thar, I was too excited to even notice the dreary interiors. The masculine body was cherry red, and boy did it look good! It has massive 235 section tyres that ride on 16 inch wheels, a shiny and strong front grille, as well as black metal front and rear bumpers to add to its sturdy character. It’s also got a short wheelbase, and massive ground clearance of 200mm. It looks just like a jeep should. Taking into account the fact that Mahindra first started out manufacturing similar designed Willy’s jeeps, the retro look on the Thar is spot on. But, apart from the looks, it all starts to do downhill from there.
You see, the interiors – oh Lord, it looked like a 5 year old had assembled the dashboard with Lego. The quality is really poor and the ergonomics are nonexistent. Frankly, it’s sad to see that, even in this day and age, a company like Mahindra can put together such ridiculous interiors. It’s 2011, not 1911 for crying out loud! Plus, the steering wheel takes some getting used to, as its off-center and positioned slightly to the left of the driver.
After loading up the Thar with all the equipment essential for the rally, such as the tool kits, tyres, differentials, and a massive hydraulic jack, we came to realize that the rear section of the Thar was way too small to accommodate all of that plus the two mechanics. And this could prove to be an issue for some people who enjoy long trips in their jeep.
Another issue was soon discovered when I started driving the Thar. It seemed that the panels just fell off, and were then simply glued back together. A door handle was missing, the left front suspension was damaged, and there were plenty of nuts and bolts that were loose or falling off. The drive quality in a straight line, however, was brilliant. The powerful 2,498cc CRDe turbocharged and intercooled engine is fantastic, and the torque is unbelievable. The car was quick and moved swiftly. The engine creates a reasonable 104bhp and a healthy 247Nm of torque, and on the highway these figures proved to be very useful indeed. Overtaking is not a problem at all. The car is relatively smooth, and the engine quite refined. But, if you think this car is meant to carve corners, obviously you’re from another planet.
When we got to Chandigarh – the starting point of the rally – we were all exhausted and hungry. A quick dinner and a good nights’ sleep later, we were up at 5am and ready for the first day. The autoX Gypsy had to check in for Scrutiny, which is where the marshals of the rally make sure the cars are adequately prepped. After that, there’s a short 2 lap circuit autocross. This allows the drivers to make sure their vehicles are running in good shape, and are ready for the main rally. Even though Anniruddha hadn’t driven a Gypsy in 7 years, he still managed to finish 5th out of 27 cars. In the evening, the autoX team got together to discuss the routes and service stops. Basically, each service car would have to meet our rally Gypsy at the end of each stage to make sure the car is problem free. Since we had two service cars, we were at liberty to alternate the service spots between Prithvi and me. The next day again, at 5am we were off. My service stop was a little beyond Panjore, which is actually a very peaceful village in the foothills of the mountain range. As I began to drive in the hills, I started to appreciate the Thar more and more with every kilometer I covered. It does, after all, have great ability, and an open air jeep brings you that much closer to nature in the hills.
When I reached Panjore, I had some time to kill so I thought I would play around with the Thar. I took it off-road so I could get some good shots on my camera. This little excursion turned out to be a perception changer. The ease with which the Thar handles bumps, boulders, puddles, river beds, and steep hills is beyond comprehension. It’s a capable off-road vehicle, which is just what it’s made for. I got so carried away that I lost track of time, the mechanic had to remind me that we had to get back to the service spot. All the complaining about the Thar had gone right out the window. I was starting to get a real taste of her!
After the first service check, we were told to navigate ourselves through higher mountains to our next service stop in Chail. Things started getting really exciting when one of the Army Team mechanics told me that I had to take a rough dirt track for 60 kilometers to get to Chail. Are you serious? Hell yeah!
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The road to Chail was not a road, it wasn’t even a trail. It was more like the seven dwarfs from Snow White had chiseled away the slopes to create a semi-flat surface for tough cars and villagers to commute on. It was beautiful. This is when I began falling in love with the Thar. Despite the beating she had already been through by the previous jokers who drove her, I was pelting her through intense mountainous terrain, and it felt like she loved it too. The independent suspension was working its wonders here, and the steering and handling really came alive on the tight dirt track. The independent front suspension allowed each wheel to respond independently to bumps, ruts, and road surface inconsistencies. Going up steep climbs was effortless – just lean back, put her in second, and ease your foot on the gas. It was sublime. The engine on this baby is definitely power packed and torquey.
When we reached Chail, the car, mechanic and myself were covered in dust, and we were tired. Our rally Gypsy needed some serious work, so the mechanics were working hard this time. Madhav, the navigator, was busy calculating the time to make sure they didn’t get any penalties for arriving late to the next stage. After a quick brake oil change and some tightening of bolts, we hit the road again – our next stop was the final stop for the day, which was still 70 kilometers from our destination, Koti. This time, the roads were better and the mechanic and I were happy not to have any dust decorating our faces. The tarmac roads were a breeze for the Thar. It handled the curves reasonably well, and its power was still magnificent. I felt like I was in the rally myself, racing to get to the final destination. All the rally cars and bikes had to be worked on, and checked in by no later than 9 pm. So we had to get there in time because the Gypsy still needed new brake pads, another brake oil change, new brake lines, shocks, and new rubber mountings. We managed to check the car just in time, and then sat down together to discuss the routes for the second day, which would lead us back down to Chandigarh. Once again we woke up at 5am, only this time our bodies felt beaten and burned out. I was to meet the team in Sainj and then in Gaura. On the way to Sainj, the roads were pretty bad and the Thar took another beating, but to her own delight. I was really impressed with the Thar throughout the hill stages. She was under stress the entire time, and I was revving her to the limit almost always. To everyone’s surprise, even despite driving through rough terrain and steep inclines, the Thar still managed to sip a litre every 13 kilometers, which was very impressive even for a diesel engine in those conditions.
Meanwhile, the boys in the autoX Gypsy were breezing through their stages, the car was showing no problems this time, and the team managed to jump up a few spots. There was minimal servicing done in Sainj, and then we found out two other stages had been cancelled because of crashes. This meant that Gaura would be our last stop, and then we would have to head straight to Chandigarh. The road to Gaura from Sainj was breathtaking. It was a narrow dirt track the whole way crossing through a number of bridges and the river a couple of times. Driving the Thar was a real joy, and by now I was almost in love with the car. Although, because of the sustained stress she was put under, the Thar started to show her weaknesses. The brakes became worse, and the independent suspension was making some daunting noises.
[ Attachment Invalid Or Does Not Exist ] We finally gave up and reached Gaura, where we met up with Anniruddha and Madhav. I had to follow them back to Chanidgarh, and because the last stage was cancelled they had to reach there in three hours or face disqualification. They took off, and I did my best to keep up with them. To my surprise, the Thar once again pulled through, and I was able to keep up with them the whole way to Chandigarh. By this time, I had made my decision about the car. On one end of the spectrum, the Thar can best be described as a strong and ruthless off-roader, and on the other side she can be known to be an extremely weak and uncomfortable city vehicle. Nonetheless, she proved the points that matter to me in those hills and on those dirt tracks with effortless style and pizzazz.
These few days made for an experience I will never forget. I found new love and respect for rallying, and the Thar may have just helped me to build on that a little bit.
We were all exhausted, and the same night we made our way back to Delhi. The roads were empty, the night was dark, and even though my body was sore from all those bumps, I still felt that the Thar has an indecisive nature of what it wants to be. Nevertheless, I bow down!
Mahindra Thar:
Engine: 2498cc / 4 Cylinder / Turbocharged / Common rail direct Injection
Fuel: Diesel
Transmission: 5-speed manual / rear-wheel drive / 4x4
Power: 104bhp @ 3800rpm
Torque: 247Nm @ 1800-2000rpm
Price: Rs. 6.0 Lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi)
XFactor:Strong retro styling will make everyone look at you in wonder, and the powerful, refined engine gets you wherever you want to go – road or no road.
May 11
