Team-BHP
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https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/)
Extremely sad news. Seems my beloved softop variants getting killed!
https://www.autocarindia.com/car-new...ntinued-435198
This is by far one of the best vehicle one can own in India. It needs to be experienced atleast once in lifetime in our carmaket. Right from dealership discouraging me to purchase this top while booking to people having untrue preconceived notions on the softop and its practicality, at each step I was told not to buy.
Thar softop has proven them wrong and how! Since past 3 years, 46,000km I still don’t have a single issue with the softop. I shifted from Lucknow to Hyderabad to Bengaluru now and use my Thar as my only car extensively and not a single time softop or the car has given me any issue. It has withered rainfalls, storms and what not and not a single leakage or discomfort from softop.
Whenever I had a bad week, one ride with the top down and all the tiredness would fly away! I still without fail try to put the top down once a week!
Lately I noticed, Mahindra had started using it as a showroom candy with the top down and that too with red color mostly!
Feeling sad for the automotive industry today. One does not and shouldn’t discontinue their icons like this!:sadface
Sharing few photos of the incredible Thar softop and yours truly posing and getting mesmerised by it.
Mahindra has reportedly made big changes to the Thar variant lineup. As per reports, the carmaker has discontinued the Convertible Top variants of the Thar along with the AX 4WD and LX (open diff) variants.
The Mahindra Thar is now available in 11 variants instead of 19. The entry-level variant is the AX (O) RWD Hard Top 1.5L Diesel. It is priced at Rs 11.50 lakh (ex-showroom).
The LX range starts from Rs 12.99 lakh for the 1.5L Diesel version and Rs 14.25 lakh for the 2.0L Petrol version.
The entry-level 4WD variant is the LX Hard Top 2.0L Petrol, which costs Rs 15.20 lakh. Those who want a diesel can opt for the LX Hard Top 2.2L Diesel which is priced at Rs 15.95 lakh.
Automatic variants start at Rs 16.80 lakh for the LX AT 4WD Hard Top 2.0L Petrol, while the range-topping Earth Edition costs Rs 17.60 lakh (ex-showroom).
Source:
Autocar India Link to Team-BHP News
Discontinuing the convertible top is a good decision, both safety-wise and sales numbers-wise. Other than a dwindling minority of hardcore convertible top lovers, everyone buys the hardtop ones any given day. In both Bangalore and Kerala's cities, other than a few convertible tops spotted during the initial years, almost all new Thars I see around are hard tops.
That is a bit sad. The soft top version should be available at least as a built to order option. That particular version has a personality that is hard to replicate :)
I am sorry but I do not feel good about the discontinuation of the convertible top.
It was the ONLY convertible SUV under 20L - something which works great as a second or third car, and can not be replicated by anything else in the market.
Hope they bring Convertible Top again with the Facelift.
How can one not fall in love with the convertible top Jeep/Thar?
All it takes is one drive with the top down - with the wind in your hair and your favourite song playing. :loveit
80-90% of 2-door Thar sales are for the hard-top. 2-door Thar sales have also fallen after the launch of the 4-door Thar (Roxx).
SO WHAT?
The Convertible Thar was marketing & PR brilliance.
1. When they launched the Thar, which car did they showcase in the press launch and all the pictures? A Red Convertible.
2. The Convertible (and soft-tops in general) look way more
bad ass than the hard-top.
3. Let it sell even 5 units a month. Build it on order. A Thar Convertible isn't a business case = it is entirely a passion project, which is in the Thar's DNA.
Here is my Convertible. This is the only Thar I'd ever buy:
This is truly sad news! Heartbroken now! :crying
I was hoping to get the Diesel 4x4 CT next year and I’m not keen on any other variants.
Like many suggest, made to order is absolutely the way to go. Buyers like me wouldn’t mind waiting for few months. I hope Mahindra listens to this. Why not take orders once a year - that way, production/delivery can be single windowed - all serious buyers can have a chance to live their dream!
Very sad with the news of Thar convertible-top being discontinued.:sadface
I am a 21-year-old who was planning to buy the facelifted Thar CT AT petrol (probably next year, as soon as the facelift was launched), and as a 21-year-old, the convertible top was the only variant which appealed to me (and my friends)!
The CT jeep is a sheer style-statement which cannot be replicated by ANY other car (trust me, I have tried the Mini Cooper Convertible as well, it just didn't match the feeling of the Thar CT in Indian road conditions; although I love the Mini for different reasons). Now my entire plan of buying a new car has fallen apart.:unhappy
I just hope that the "built to order" option is extended to buyers. I really want that.
It is now hard for me to find a new car which can replace the Thar convertible.
On the positive side, for existing Thar Convertible owners, the price of their cars in the used car market just shot up.
Im actually hoping that Mahindra will relaunch the CT in the new facelift avtar. May be with some noise in this forum.
After all, Mahindra did take a log of suggestions from here.
“We must accept finite disappointment, but never lose infinite hope.”
My guess is this has to do with capacity constraints inhibiting Mahindra from making sufficient numbers of Thar Roxxes. The Thar Roxx, especially the higher end variants are far too profitable for Mahindra, as compared to a convertible top two door Thar.
My guess is that parts of the manufacturing capacity had to be dedicated to the convertible top Thars, especially in the final assembly stage. By discontinuing the convertible top Thar, this part of the capacity can be dedicated to making highly profitable Thar Roxx models, for which there is a long waiting list.
This means convertible top owners can expect better resale values, as many who dream of owning one will now have to turn to the used car market.
Instead of discontinuing the soft top, they should have jacked up its price and made it as "special" edition available upon special request with 100% advance and longer lead time. It solves the production constraint as well gives the aura of 'Niche' limited edition product for loyalists and true offroaders.
Another option is to offer it as a dealer fitment. Quality may take a beating?
Last resort would be to do it as an aftermarket figment. I remember watching some videos in the past. But not sure how easy it would be to procure it, especially the front locking mechanism.
There is a reason the CT variants never sold well. The increased wind noise, poor safety for belongings and a low demand in used car market discouraged buyers actively.
I was in the market a few months back for a 3 door Thar. The showroom had a black CT sitting with them in the petrol AT configuration for the past 8 months. It was a cancelled booking vehicle and the showroom folk were unable to move it despite offering 1.5 lakhs discount on the sticker price (this was different from the company discount offered on the 3 door Thar briefly).
The CT Thar looks great and as mentioned it is the only vehicle of its kind available at present at the price point. However, it can only be used as a weekend drive/ secondary vehicle. Stopping production makes sense owing to the poor demand.
It is very sad news. However, when I was looking to buy CT last year after Diwali, many dealers were not taking bookings for Convertible sighting the reason that CT is being discontinued. At that time I thought they were just avoiding the booking because of the risk associated with it in case I back out of the booking. But now it seems the chatters were, in fact, true.
Thar Convertible was a style statement and a company like Mahindra could have afforded to keep the variant alive. However, it will always be legendary and the fact that Mahindra attempted to provide Convertible, which was so neatly engineered, is commendable. I hope it makes a comeback in future.
I am glad that I got mine just in time last year in December when I got a very good deal!
Here are some pictures:
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