Exploring unpaved Goa in a few Mahindras

It would be a rare occasion, if ever, when we might want to take our cars, even sports utility vehicles (SUVs), off the road and into the slush and mud. Who wants to see their prized possessions on four wheels, loaded as they are with premium features and high-tech electronics, get all dirty, wet and grimy. But, if our cars can remain their gleaming selves and, instead, we get to chuck another’s into the slushy corner, kick up some dirt and get all wet and wild – then, that can be serious fun.

What if that is part of a well-oiled machinery, one that keeps the fun going like in a holiday while making sure that all the necessary safety and hygiene issues for man and machine are taken care of? Mahindra & Mahindra under the banner of Mahindra Adventure tries to bring that feeling of fun and adventure with their various organised off-roading drives to some of the most beautiful locales in the country. 

There are few SUVs today that are built without any bells and whistles, a vehicle which is just all machine and pretends to be nothing more. The Mahindra Thar is one such and at the fifth edition of Mahindra Adventure’s ‘Authentic Goa’, we got a chance to also ring in the new version of the Thar.

For those who have driven it, the spartan interior of the outgoing Thar would be no surprise. But for those who haven't, it is an experience from another age. There is quite literally nothing on the centre console except a three-speed air-conditioner control and four vents. A basic instrument panel with a speedometer, rev-meter, fuel gauge and engine temperature gauge is all you get and that too without backlighting. 

With a heavy clutch and a gearbox that feels like it has been borrowed from a tractor, the Thar is not a comfortable vehicle on the tarmac or in city traffic. But unleash it in its true surroundings and it will make a driver fall in love with the basics of motoring.

Mahindra Adventure’s ‘Authentic Goa’ had saved the off-roading aspect of the tour for the very last day. But the wait was by far worth it. 

As we start off, heading out for a day of off-roading, rain has been pelting down relentlessly in Goa. A quick breakfast later, everyone in the trip is ready to get down and dirty. With a couple of old Mahindra Scorpios and four Thar’s, the convoy headed out of Panaji towards a mining site. 

The trip’s co-organiser Western India Sports Association had prepared an off-road track, which to a certain extent would test the car and the driver, but primarily provide the thrills of off-roading. Where the Scorpio got stuck, the Thar kept pushing on. Through slush, rocks, deep puddles, the Thar kept splashing its way through. 

The rain added to the slushiness. The lack of protection against the elements was clearly visible that day in the Thar as we kept getting drenched. But getting wet was part of the experience and although we were dirty and mucky, the car was worse and still wanted some more. 

The drive brought the little child in us and for a fleeting moment the thought of actually buying the Thar to have such adventurous interludes crosses our minds. Whether that is the true intention of Mahindra Adventure, one would not know. But what the Authentic Goa event does achieve is give people a taste of motorsports (at least the navigation side of it) and the joy of driving through scenic locales.

The event started with what is known as the Time, Speed and Distance Rally. With organisers handing us a professional road book a minute before the flag off, the challenge was to figure out the route, the speed at which to go from each checkpoint to the next and the time at which one was required to arrive at the next checkpoint. 

As drivers, the real challenge we faced was to maintain speeds which rarely tipped over 40kmph on roads where double that was the norm.

It was also a day that reminded us how far Mahindra & Mahindra had come as a car maker and that it learns from its mistakes. For example, the immediate change noticeable in the new Scorpio is the comfortable clutch – more refined, and no longer a pain in the leg. The gearbox, however, remains sticky and needs to be addressed in future variants. 

For a paying customer, the charges of Rs 50,000 for a three-day driving holiday in Goa in a four-star resort with meals taken care off and an adventure organised by Mahindra, the deal should not sound bad at all. Perhaps that is why there were smiling faces all-around after the off-roading event, though all of us were drenched and tired.

(The reporter attended the event on an invite from Mahindra & Mahindra)

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