[jaysmokesleaves]

@DKG >> At the price mentioned, the THAR would come close to 9 lakhs on road with all bells and whistles in Bombay. At this price there will be very few takers unless Mahindra can add good value to the same deal by offering alloys with decent tires a snorkel intake, bull bar and alteast half of the cosmetic interior addons that a potential customer would have to add to make his ride worthwhile(aesthetics & comfort wise).

Besides, on another thought, I fail to understand why a customer would have to pay a premium for a crdi engine with ac & ps, since crdi technology is now standard across all brands of diesel vehicles and ac & ps are no longer a luxury!!
I certainly dont think Mahindra can justify the price for providing independent front suspension either!!

There is no comparision with a gypsy!!
Gypsy is a peice of antique machinery like the old willys/ 540 that is still doing duty in modern avatar with no creature comforts whose primary market is police and defence forces where creature comforts are not accepted as the norm.
Whereas the THAR is going to be positioned as a modern offering with new tech under the old skin. The new tech isnt too revolutionary to command a high price, since most of the mechanical parts will surely come out of the Mahindra parts bin, the body being the most visible of them all.

[JayD]

Originally Posted by headers

you are actually suggesting that one can pay 8L+ for a vehicle that has basic 4wd, a pushrod engine, and an old 540 body.

This is why i've been saying for a long time that, if the Thar is gonna be priced at anything above 5 lac, it should look quite different from its current avtar!

The HT is usually made by some outside firm i forget the name. One will hardly avoid water leaks during monsoon.

I believe it was a company called 'Roplas'. It used to look horrible. hope the that comes with an integrated looking factory option.

[DKG]

What I would like to see

Thar 4x4 ps, a/c, removeable hardtop Rs 6.75 ex showroom

Thar 4x4 ps, a/c, softtop Rs 6.45 ex showroom

Thar 4x4, ps, soft top Rs 6.15 ex showroom

Thar 2wd ps, a/c. removeable hardtop Rs 6 lacs ex showroom

Thar 2wd ps, a/c, soft top Rs 5.7 lacs ex showroom

Thar 2wd ps, soft top Rs 5.4 lacs ex showroom

I feel Mahindra should see some decent volumes with such a Thar stable.

What's your view ??

PS: Since the states are getting too greedy on lifetax it may make sense to buy this car minus the bells and whistles and add up as accessories. The lifetax component itself has become a major factor nowadays

[headers]

Originally Posted by starter

Dear Vikram,
I would also like Thar to be priced at 6L on road. But, i think it isn't practical.
A new hard top Gypsy in 2009 costed me 6.2 Lakhs on road. Like you know, this comes with no PS, no AC, no bells and whistles. Not that am complaining
Compare any petrol with diesel variant, for a diesel motor, one would pay atleast 75K more.
That already brings the mark to 7 lakhs. If you would include AC, PS and stuff, i do not know how they can sell it at less than 7.5 lakhs.
Maybe i am wrong somewhere. Would like to hear your thoughts.
Cheers,
Deepak

People are going to jump on you for comparing "The THAR" with a gypsy.
Do you know that your gypsy will do rings around the THAR? It WILL DO.

Originally Posted by DKG

And don't forget this is no longer BS4 compliant. The option of a BS4 Gypsy no longer exists !

Originally Posted by starter

If Maruti provides a BS4 compliant petrol Gypsy, my guess on its price would be 6.5 lakhs.
So, a diesel equivalent with AC and PS would surely come to the 8Lakhs mark.
Cheers,
Deepak

Guys, whether it is BS4, BS5 or BS6, it need not cost more..please. You cannot sell henceforth if the vehicle is not BS4, atleast in metroes, hence the forced change by the manufacturers. Do you think they gave us the newer tech because they want to...??

If that was the case, CRDi should have been given to us a decade ago!!

Originally Posted by jaysmokesleaves

@DKG >> At the price mentioned, the THAR would come close to 9 lakhs on road with all bells and whistles in Bombay. At this price there will be very few takers unless Mahindra can add good value to the same deal by offering alloys with decent tires a snorkel intake, bull bar and alteast half of the cosmetic interior addons that a potential customer would have to add to make his ride worthwhile(aesthetics & comfort wise).

Besides, on another thought, I fail to understand why a customer would have to pay a premium for a crdi engine with ac & ps, since crdi technology is now standard across all brands of diesel vehicles and ac & ps are no longer a luxury!!

I certainly dont think Mahindra can justify the price for providing independent front suspension either!!

There is no comparision with a gypsy!!
Gypsy is a peice of antique machinery like the old willys/ 540 that is still doing duty in modern avatar with no creature comforts whose primary market is police and defence forces where creature comforts are not accepted as the norm.

Whereas the THAR is going to be positioned as a modern offering with new tech under the old skin. The new tech isnt too revolutionary to command a high price, since most of the mechanical parts will surely come out of the Mahindra parts bin, the body being the most visible of them all.

Originally Posted by JayD

This is why i've been saying for a long time that, if the Thar is gonna be priced at anything above 5 lac, it should look quite different from its current avtar!

I believe it was a company called 'Roplas'. It used to look horrible. hope the that comes with an integrated looking factory option.

Correct, roplas is the name and i wasnt sure of it..thanks.

BTW, you guys think the THAR can sell with a non crdi engine?

Anyways, we are here to wait and watch..until then we can only speculate.

[jaysmokesleaves]

The 1st option looks good. I think they can provide alloys & tubeless for the same price.
Do i sound too greedy

[DKG]

Xylo E2 is 6.5 lacs ex showroom. The Thar should be 5 lacs for the base version with 2wd and soft top.

So revised pricing (ex showroom) suggestion:

Thar 2wd ps soft top Rs 5 lacs

Add 60k for a/c and hardtop

Add 75k for 4x4 and 1 lac for 4x4 with mld and low ratio rear diff

So Thar with ps, a/c, hardtop and basic 4x4 should top it at 6.35 lacs ex showroom and 6.6 lacs for mld low ration rear diff 4x4

How does this sound?

When pricing the Thar, M&M must work back with the Xylo base price, remove Xylo body cost, add 540 body cost (I reckon it will level at Rs 5 lacs that way) then ++ for a/c, hard top, and 4x4

How do you think India will react to this:

Freedom unleashed, the Go Anywhere Thar Classic at an introductory offer of Rs 6.35* lacs

* ex showroom prices, specs 2.5 diesel crdi, 4x4, a/c, ps and removeable hard top.

[drjones]

Originally Posted by DKG

What I would like to see

Thar 4x4 ps, a/c, removeable hardtop Rs 6.75 ex showroom

Thar 4x4 ps, a/c, softtop Rs 6.45 ex showroom

Thar 4x4, ps, soft top Rs 6.15 ex showroom

Thar 2wd ps, a/c. removeable hardtop Rs 6 lacs ex showroom

Thar 2wd ps, a/c, soft top Rs 5.7 lacs ex showroom

Thar 2wd ps, soft top Rs 5.4 lacs ex showroom

I feel Mahindra should see some decent volumes with such a Thar stable.

What's your view ??

PS: Since the states are getting too greedy on lifetax it may make sense to buy this car minus the bells and whistles and add up as accessories. The lifetax component itself has become a major factor nowadays

I agree with you 100 percent DKG. The prices you have mentioned is right on dot.
Dr.Jones

[jaysmokesleaves]

@DKG > At this price im ready to put booking amount down right away!!

[DKG]

Originally Posted by drjones

I agree with you 100 percent DKG. The prices you have mentioned is right on dot.
Dr.Jones

Originally Posted by jaysmokesleaves

@DKG > At this price im ready to put booking amount down right away!!

Listen up M&M !! the voices of reason

suggested pricing: Rs 6.35 lacs ex showroom for the Thar Classic 2.5 diesel crdi, 4x4, a/c, ps, and removeable hardtop.

I think you will have a winner at this price point. Make it a grand success.

PS: I have assumed that the incremental cost of a Xylo body over a 540 tub is 1.5 lacs, correct me if I got that wrong. If I am right then the Thar must be priced at 6.35 lacs for the std 4x4 with a/c, ps, and removeable hardtop.

other assumptions are:

4x4 basic package @ 75 k
a/c + hardtop @ 75 k
total Rs 1.35 lacs

Base 2wd Thar with 540 body and softop Rs 5 lacs ex showroom. Is someone listening? here is your low cost Thar

Give it the DI turbo and the leaf front end suspension and you have your ultra low cost Thar 2wd at Rs 4 lacs?

[SS-Traveller]

Originally Posted by DKG

Listen up M&M !!
Base 2wd Thar...
Give it the DI turbo and the leaf front end suspension...

If M&M decides to position the Thar this way - 2wd, DI turbo engine, leaf-sprung front susp - just to present a super-low-cost variant, people opting for the Thar VLX (or even any Thar 4wd) would be VERY few and far between. UNLESS the VLX 4wd looks and drives entirely differently - perhaps like the Thar on display at the Auto Expo, lights, bull bar, winch, etc. and all the other trappings of the Scorpio VLX.

So why put in all the effort to develop the Thar as a capable off-road vehicle at all, if M&M wants to launch it in 2wd guise?

My preference, as I mentioned earlier, would be a Thar VLX 4wd.

[Samurai]

Now I can imagine sales guys discouraging prospective Thar buyers from choosing 4WD. This can do everything in 2WD saar, why waste money on 4WD?

[DKG]

Originally Posted by SS-Traveller

So why put in all the effort to develop the Thar as a capable off-road vehicle at all, if M&M wants to launch it in 2wd guise?

A 2wd Thar or a low cost Thar is still speculation. Its entirely my thinking that these options can widen the Thar's appeal and also the low cost variant replace the Major.

In any car you have base versions and the top end versions. Quite obviously the top end versions will have their own segment and neither low nor top end cannibalise the other's USP

I remember when BMW offered the 7 series with a piddly 2.8 litre six cylinder at the same time the car also sported the 5 litre V12. Neither car clash and the buyer profiles are totally different.

[Red Liner]

Originally Posted by SS-Traveller

If M&M decides to position the Thar this way - 2wd, DI turbo engine, leaf-sprung front susp - just to present a super-low-cost variant, people opting for the Thar VLX (or even any Thar 4wd) would be VERY few and far between. UNLESS the VLX 4wd looks and drives entirely differently - perhaps like the Thar on display at the Auto Expo, lights, bull bar, winch, etc. and all the other trappings of the Scorpio VLX.

So why put in all the effort to develop the Thar as a capable off-road vehicle at all, if M&M wants to launch it in 2wd guise?

My preference, as I mentioned earlier, would be a Thar VLX 4wd.

My god man, you actually liked the "trappings" on what was shown @ the Auto Expo?

I dont want to be seen anywhere near that over-engineered on bling contraption.

I would rather pay less and add the stuff I *need* myself. Its not exactly rocket science to add a couple of lights and a bull bar. And none of those things added make it a good offroader. Maybe some maxxis tyres, diff-locks, carbon fiber leaf springs, a winch, ah the stuff dreams are made of. Puppy love

[tsk1979]

All standard Mahindra jeeps sell more in 2WD avatar, right? So why not the Thar?

[Samurai]

The 4WD creates the reputation, 2WD brings in the money.