Is the Thar coming?

**Tusker** · 24th October 2013, 03:37 PM

Mahindra Aust are tweeting today about importing the Thar, what do you think?

I drove a demonstrator earlier in the year, with a view to bringing one in for promotional purposes. Easy enough to drive, but the ride is omigod hard.

I think they's be a hoot, if they leave it alone, as per the facebook pics - rag top, steelies, opening windscreen. But I suspect they'll jack up the price with junk like sidesteps, alloys, hardtop, maybe air con. Looking at MA's pic it appears to have IFS as well.

There'a a few pics I took from my demo drive / photo shoot here https://www.facebook.com/media/set/'...5152581&type=1
plus a scan of the brochure.

You can see leaky hubs on a new car, wipers that will get tangled with the screen, flimsy door straps. Pure LandRover!

Regards
Max P

**Hall** · 24th October 2013, 03:43 PM

Well the second pic looks Thar-ific . Very retro. Would take a bit of work to sell them here as they would have to meet our ADR rules.
Cheers Hall

**Ranga** · 24th October 2013, 04:22 PM

Reminds me of the Rocsta.

2stroke · 24th October 2013, 05:10 PM

Anyone remember back in 1990 / 91 when they brought in the CJ3B ones? 2.1 Peugeot diesel, 2 tanks. The reality was so far behind the promise it wasn't funny. Made my old ex army S2a seem nice to drive. Beats me how a company could get building a '50s Jeep wrong.

**one_iota** · 24th October 2013, 05:23 PM

I saw a Mahindra Pik-up fitted out for touring whilst driving back to Sydney on the M1...not so remarkable.

However the owner had planted what looked like a green Land-Rover oval on the rear except that on closer inspection it read "Curry-Rover".

**Chops** · 24th October 2013, 05:50 PM

I worked at the Mahindra factory at Nashik for two weeks a couple of years ago, and around the factory they have various models of "Jeep" looking vehicles.
One that took us by surprise was a yellow unit with what looked like a fairly big lift on meaty 33's

. A very tough, aggressive and impressive looking car. I was very annoyed, as I wasn't allowed to take any photo's of it

They wouldn't even stop the car so I could get out and have a decent look at it.

We were told that the general public over there couldn't own a 4X4 vehicle at that time,,, Interesting, as we were there working on the "Scorpion" AWD, both SUV and Ute.
The countries national forces were the only people allowed to have the 4x4's.
Not sure what their laws are now concerning the ownership of 4x4's. I must say when we were there, we spotted very few of any ilk.

**Chops** · 24th October 2013, 06:04 PM

Just looking at the specs, it says 16Kmpl, annnd, it will attain "over" 100Kmph,,

Mind you, I'd never drive a car at that speed over there,,, their roads are very poor, even one of the main Hwys we travelled on. If you got up to speed, I reckon you'd be leaving the ground frequently

**loanrangie** · 24th October 2013, 10:38 PM

Ugly POS, i dont think they would sell here.

**TerryO** · 25th October 2013, 06:13 AM

Lots of people said the Mahindra wouldn't sell either and there are plenty of country Ford/Holden dealers who without Mahindra on their lots would be closed by now, so just because people on this forum would not buy one doesn't mean others wouldn't.

**101 Ron** · 25th October 2013, 06:59 AM

The open out windscreen is exactly the same as a Willys CJ3B( known as a export windscreen) and I have a 1960 CJ6 willys(australian made) and it is the same in many features.
In Australia these days farmers,and other people who would drive and buy these types of vehicles want more comfort, and speed and safety.
WW2 jeep parts are still being produced in India.
In Australia a better back to basics soft top would be a Suzuki , Serria or Jimmny with a few modern features now demanded buy the buying public ,like central locking, alarm system, air bags and phone hands free etc.
I think some of the Suzuki models sold in this country are made in India.

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