[starter]

Originally Posted by swami69

But, someone banging the jeep from the side is an issue - I agree. Hope that does not happen.

Dear Swami,
I also hope that does not happen. Do think about replacing it with a metal one soon.

Originally Posted by DirtyDan

Metal is no guarantee. Plywood is better than canvas. Life is full of risks, why get hung up on plywood when he is already driving a tippy 4x4 Thar CRDe and obviously has no good sense ?

I was trying a DIY(Do It Yourself) project with plywood sheets.
Idea was to make a foldable platform that i could place on the existing side seats of my Gypsy and crash inside the car.
While testing a draft version, the hinges screwed to the plywood gave away.
It broke forming very sharp jagged edges and that is the reason behind my post.
But you are right Ken. Metal is no guarantee and the Thar is tippy

Cheers,
Deepak

[swami69]

Originally Posted by renegade

Congratulations,have fun with it.

thanks renegade

Originally Posted by arun_m5

For reasons I just cant fathom, you have sold a car on every indian petrol-head's 'affordable dream cars list' and bought yourself a vehicle which is, well, lets just say far from modern.

I drove the Thar a while back and while I did like the feel of its back to basics design, with no particular creature comforts around and stuff like that, I cannot understand how / why you would sell a widely loved and revered car like the 1.6!! Fiesta to buy yourself this vehicle.

Maybe its just me, but, if I had a 1.6 Fiesta, I'd have a hard time spending even a day away from the machine, I mean, a discreet exhaust, a simple tune perhaps would have made it a drivers dream.

Hi arun_m5 - I have no arguments on this. I loved the Fiesta and the exhaust note is to die for, the pickup and the comfort and all of that. A great car. But, if I want to fulfill my dream of owning a Jeep, I had to let go the other one. I had no choice. You know something, the buyer of fiesta is going to hold on to that only for 2 years and he is going back to Noida - a Casual deal is already in place with him for a buy back when he let go that after a 2 year cushioning period for me and he has promised to maintain as I did

Originally Posted by no_boundaries

Hi Swamy,

Great Buy !! Red looks simply brilliant.
You seem to live close to the OMR, from the 3M shop pictures. I live close by too.

I'm toying with the idea of buying a Jeep. Would love to check out your Jeep.

Wave if you spot a Hagrid look a like in a Black Polo GT.

Jeep safe and try it in its habitat (Not the city) !!

Hi, Thanks and yes, I live in Sholinganallur. I would be glad for you to check out my Jeep anytime. Send me a PM and we can catch up

Originally Posted by yamaniac

This is where the saying comes into play: "Its a Jeep thing you! You Wouldn't Understand". (Just Kidding Buddy) Once bitten by the Jeep bug its pretty hard to overcome.

I always Would prefer my Jeep to my car, Yes! No comfort, Rattles Etc. But, The pleasure or driving and owning one has to be felt.

Congrats on the buy Swami. Wishing you many happy miles.

Hi, thanks very much. It's a Jeep thing ! I don't even understand

Originally Posted by DirtyDan

Metal is no guarantee. Plywood is better than canvas. Life is full of risks, why get hung up on plywood when he is already driving a tippy 4x4 Thar CRDe and obviously has no good sense ?

Hi DirtyDan, Tippy Thar - can you clarify this a bit more - do you mean, the Thar tips over at certain speeds or on cornering - There could be a possibility because of its height. But, has it happened on a regular highway drive at cautious speeds which you are aware off ?, please elaborate your comment so that I can be extra cautious.

Originally Posted by starter

Dear Swami,
I also hope that does not happen. Do think about replacing it with a metal one soon.


I was trying a DIY(Do It Yourself) project with plywood sheets.
Idea was to make a foldable platform that i could place on the existing side seats of my Gypsy and crash inside the car.
While testing a draft version, the hinges screwed to the plywood gave away.
It broke forming very sharp jagged edges and that is the reason behind my post.
But you are right Ken. Metal is no guarantee and the Thar is tippy

Cheers,
Deepak

Deepak, I will keep the metal thing in mind. Incase I decide to do a change in the near future, wouldn't it be better to go in for a FRP HT, would that be safer.

[tomraven99]

Congrats on your purchase.
Regarding hard tops,well as someone mentioned in another thread none of them are fool proof. Leakage is a big problem.

The arm rest idea is brilliant! I fixed mine to the handbrake lever bolts with L clamps. Quite wobbly and interferes with the gear lever. Will convert to your setup soon.

Coolant leakage is a part and parcel of owning the Thar.

[DirtyDan]

Originally Posted by swami69

thanks renegade

Hi DirtyDan, Tippy Thar - can you clarify this a bit more - do you mean, the Thar tips over at certain speeds or on cornering - There could be a possibility because of its height. But, has it happened on a regular highway drive at cautious speeds which you are aware off ?, please elaborate your comment so that I can be extra cautious.

See my profile, the vehicles owned thingy.

You haven't heard about the "B.D. Triangle", I guess then, hey? Supposedly a disgruntled former employee of Mahindra put a curse on the Thar CRDe before he left and as a consequence many Thars have exhibited strange behavior. Some spontaneously combust, some just topple by themselves in parking lots. My own plays a blues saxophone rendition of Chupke Chupke Raat Din at 3 in the morning. It makes street dogs howl and people become suicidal. The Discovery Channel is filming a series on the phenomenon, so it MUST be true.

[Bump-Stop]

Dear Swami, heartiest congrats on your purchase, and hope she's giving you good service.

By the way noticed one of the first things you did was to upgrade to a hella horn. Is the OEM horn on the thar not up to the task?

[sudev]

Great ownership thread and DIY initiative. Thar with niggles is great fun if you can live with its a JEEP thing attitude.

IMHO adding speakers at the top would further compromise seating at rear.

[swami69]

Originally Posted by tomraven99

Congrats on your purchase.
The arm rest idea is brilliant! I fixed mine to the handbrake lever bolts with L clamps. Quite wobbly and interferes with the gear lever. Will convert to your setup soon.
.

Hi tomraven99 - Thank you. The arm rest idea compliment should go to Samwagon as that is the thread I got this idea from. I think he has fixed it exactly like what I have described. This does not interfere much, though one should get used to this while pulling the gear lever for 2nd and 4th, not a big issue though.

Originally Posted by Bump-Stop

Dear Swami, heartiest congrats on your purchase, and hope she's giving you good service.
By the way noticed one of the first things you did was to upgrade to a hella horn. Is the OEM horn on the thar not up to the task?

Thanks Bump-Stop - the OEM horn is very feable and does not gel with a Jeep character and hence fixed a Hella Red Grill which again is not too loud, but much better and has the weight

Originally Posted by sudev

Great ownership thread and DIY initiative. Thar with niggles is great fun if you can live with its a JEEP thing attitude.
IMHO adding speakers at the top would further compromise seating at rear.

Thanks sudev - Agreed on the speakers. I am exploring options and I made a sound bar quickly using my DIY skills. But, I am still contemplating on what would suit best and have not fixed it yet.

Swami

[joe_antony]

Hi Swami,

It takes loads of guts for such a move, congrats and enjoy your rides. Going to office in a Thar is something every male would love to do but not everyone will have the courage to make the move, you did it.

On the plywood mod, on rainy days the plywood might absorb the moisture and show some wear like bend, have you considered this?

[Wanderers]

Hi Swami,

I would say you are gem of a JUGAAD. A specialist in making.
A RED Thar looks perfect.
You can take your friends for a party or join the Himalayan Expedition Rally. Best of Both the world and at a affordable price too.

Loved your DIY.

thanks

[mallumowgli]

Hats off to you, man. Brave decision, to follow your heart

Originally Posted by swami69

You know something, the buyer of fiesta is going to hold on to that only for 2 years and he is going back to Noida - a Casual deal is already in place with him for a buy back when he let go that after a 2 year cushioning period for me and he has promised to maintain as I did

I initially thought that this is one crazy chap, but then I find that you are going to have your cake and eat it too!!!

[swami69]

Originally Posted by joe_antony

Hi Swami,
It takes loads of guts for such a move, congrats and enjoy your rides.
On the plywood mod, on rainy days the plywood might absorb the moisture and show some wear like bend, have you considered this?

hi joe_antony, plywood could be a problem. But, this is a BWR grade plywood + I will put some Silica sachets in the gap to prevent any moisture accumulation. The rains will be in Chennai in the next month or so, and I will know. Hope it does not affect.

Originally Posted by Wanderers

Hi Swami,

I would say you are gem of a JUGAAD. A specialist in making.
A RED Thar looks perfect.
You can take your friends for a party or join the Himalayan Expedition Rally. Best of Both the world and at a affordable price too.

Loved your DIY.

thanks

Thanks Wanderers

Originally Posted by mallumowgli

Hats off to you, man. Brave decision, to follow your heart
I initially thought that this is one crazy chap, but then I find that you are going to have your cake and eat it too!!!

Hi mallumowgli - while it is a casual arrangement, why not ! it may happen exactly like that as he lives nearby and he may offer. If I can afford at a good price (3rd owner), I will buy it at that time

[al pacino]

Swami

Excellent and straight from the heart review . Enjoyed reading every but of it .

The PDI check list which you had posted on the official Thar review page is great and helpful too and gave a very good glimpse of how exhaustive ownership review was in making .

Enjoy the unique , dashing and the mighty Thar to the fullest . Will follow this thread the same way as I follow all Thar ownership threads i.e with joy .

Congratulations and wish you million happy miles with the Thar .

[inuchadha]

Hey Swami,
Very very interesting to hear your story...
Thar as a Jeep certainly has mixed opinion and you have well captures the merits/demerits here...
Just for updates. Enclosing some of the Hardtops I have come across for Thar in Sheet Metal done by Azad4x4 ensuring No water leakages or Rattling and tremendous durability.

[RGK]

Wonderful Swami. Good and innovative customization. Happy and Safe motoring.

For better seat cushions (front & rear), you can try in Koyas @ Coimbatore. Their foam always give a wonderful seating experience.

Did you buy the noodle mats at GP road?

PS: I saw a red Thar very recently (within one week) resembling yours in the T Nagar area. Hella's gave an executive look to Thar :-)

[swami69]

Originally Posted by al pacino

Swami

Excellent and straight from the heart review . Enjoyed reading every but of it .

The PDI check list which you had posted on the official Thar review page is great and helpful too and gave a very good glimpse of how exhaustive ownership review was in making .

Enjoy the unique , dashing and the mighty Thar to the fullest . Will follow this thread the same way as I follow all Thar ownership threads i.e with joy .

Congratulations and wish you million happy miles with the Thar .

Thanks al pacino.

Originally Posted by inuchadha

Hey Swami,
Very very interesting to hear your story...
Thar as a Jeep certainly has mixed opinion and you have well captures the merits/demerits here...
Just for updates. Enclosing some of the Hardtops I have come across for Thar in Sheet Metal done by Azad4x4 ensuring No water leakages or Rattling and tremendous durability.

Thanks inuchadha - the hard tops look great. As mentioned in my OP, I will sure go for a HT in the next 15 months or so, but not now due to affordability. That is the reason, I tried this mod with minimum expenditure to achieve some comfort for the time being. By the time, I buy my HT, there will be good proven options available at a lesser cost - may be Azad will supply to Chennai by then

Originally Posted by RGK

Wonderful Swami. Good and innovative customization. Happy and Safe motoring.

For better seat cushions (front & rear), you can try in Koyas @ Coimbatore. Their foam always give a wonderful seating experience.

Did you buy the noodle mats at GP road?

PS: I saw a red Thar very recently (within one week) resembling yours in the T Nagar area. Hella's gave an executive look to Thar :-)

Thanks RGK, I have heard about Koya's from many people. Will keep in mind when I decide to do something with the seats.

I bought the noodle mat from a shop in TTK road next to Ethiraj Marriage Hall, good shop (forgot the name of the shop). The only time I went to T.Nagar (Pondy Bazaar) was on the 7th Sep and if it was that day, then possible, it was me.