INDICA Memories…

It has been really long since I read any auto magazine, something I had never missed to do for so many years. Can’t blame it on work too… For I have not much of it! So I made it a point to go to the library and read one after dinner today. It was this month’s Overdrive and there was an awesome article on 10 years of TATA Indica. It made me quite nostalgic and I got all sweet memories of our old Indica. So here I am typing a post in the next 10 minutes!

Those were the days when Maruti 800, Omni and rarely a few Zens were the only cars one can see in my home town Neyveli. Our family also owned a white Maruti Omni, something that rattled and squeaked from day one! My dad was not very happy with it and finally decided to swap it for a proper car!

It was the time when a slew of new small cars from around the world had come into India! There were a lot of options like Santro, Matiz, Zen, Palio and Indica to consider! This was enough to leave us confused after weeks of “research” and “studies”. My vote was for the Palio. My mom wanted a Zen and my dad wanted an Indica! After lots of discussion we decided to take lots to decide the car. YES! Lots! Hahaa! And there u go I had to pick a chit to select our car out of the three…! I was really thrilled and guess what dad had won! It was Tata’s debut small car, the Indica.!

I was happy for I knew it was designed by the same design house that designed the Palio (still my dream car). Then I had almost forgotten it and left the rest to dad. One fine day our lovely white Omni was gone. I was so sad to see someone else drive her away…. I still remember peeping into the garage to see the empty space the whity had left…

But it was only for a week..! It was one lovely evening when I was cycling my way to home after school. I was in eighth standard then… From the distance I could see what I just could not believe! It was a gleaming new, Emerald green Tata Indica waiting for me outside our house!!!! I pedalled as fast as I could and just hugged her tightly…! That day I went round and round around the car.

I just loved everything about our Indi. I loved the low seating (after the Omni), the huge cabin, the remote boot release (even our current car Ikon doesn have one!), the speedo lighting… everything!!!!

She was a diesel and so would’nt have enough grunt out on the highways and with the air conditioner on, she just would be breathless, forget overtaking! But I would never let her down… For me she was a Ferrari! I would sit beside my daddy and would pester him to drive faster and faster.! I remember I used to fight with my dad if some other small car overtakes our Indi! Especially Santro for I hated it so badly! (I don’t know why, may be because it was smoother and powerful than our Indi! :P). And my dad used to mostly listen to me and at times even floor her! Ha! Thanks dad! I remember dad taking her to almost 140 to overtake a Santro that just went past! Hehee :D

We just loved our Indica and adorned her with every possible accessory that was available. Ours was the first Indi in town with alloy wheels! And also the first to have rear spoilers! She had lovely roof rails too! (silver ones! :D)

A lot of people today speak bad of the Indica. They complain of poor durability, poor refinement, low power and what not… But our Indi never let us down…Never did she breakdown.. Never did she make rattle or make a squeal. Never did she refuse to strain herself to overtake a Santro…!

Those 4 years with our Indica can never be forgotten. Finally a day came when my dad wanted a bigger boot in the car… and it was time for Indi to leave. Seeing her being driven away was the saddest moment of my life. I loved her so much… I then one day heard her new owner has crashed her….a serious rollover accident. But my Indi took it all and left the occupants with not even a single scratch… I heard she was badly damaged and a wheel just got shattered….i felt really sad for her. She was then worked on and has got back on the roads now. I recently got a chance to see her parked at a distance. Didn’t have a strong heart to go and touch her…

Love u Indi… Miss you dearly…

Christmas Tree... err leaves!

Encounter with Frozen dew!!!

Got to see this wonderful spectacle at ooty last week. It was almost 8 in the morning when i got up. This is what that was waiting for me outside the door! I was simply taken away by its breathtaking beauty and clicked till i ran out of memory on my camera!

There was a white layer of frozen dew everywhere. See the trails our car left...

Tata Nano Driven!!!

UK based magazine, "CAR" became the first to drive India's car for the world, Tata Nano! Yes, the cute Nano is worth this hype! The magazine is totally convinced about this car and that reflects in the Four Star rating they have awarded the Nano. Its not only the pricing that they are impressed about but also what they call the "Feel good factor" and its drivability in urban conditions. Yes! you read it right, Drivability! "On a short run close to 60mph the Nano didn’t feel strained or unstable, so it should cope with extra-urban duties if required" is what the test drive report says.

Here is the verdict in their words,

"CAR's first ride in the Tata Nano felt far more significant and exciting than a first drive in a Ferrari or Lamborghini, because this car’s importance is immeasurably greater. It won’t compete on dynamics or quality with European or Japanese city cars, but it doesn’t have to. 

What Tata has achieved at an unprecedented price is astonishing, although we’d guess it will cost Indian consumers closer to £1700 when it finally goes on sale, six months late, in March 2009. 

But after experiencing it in action, we’re more convinced than ever of the transformational effect the Tata Nano could have on this industry. And in times like these, we find that strangely comforting.”

The complete report can be found in this link : Tata nano test drive

I cannot help getting excited about this review and the incredible success that awaits this revolutionary INDIAN car! 

The fun of Growing older!

This was one of my happiest birthdays :) I was at Chennai that week attending a tough training session and never expected having such a great time. This is the first time i got so many phone calls right from 12 o clock! and many wishes in Orkut too. Thanks everyone! Its thanks to Orkut that many came to know of my birthday! :D 

Something that i never expected to happen was the "Surprise" party at our training centre! Though i could faintly sense people making arrangements for the party, i never could imagine it happening at that place! But it did happen! There was a big cake with a "22" candle on it waiting for me! :D But thankfully they called it a "formal" party. So got saved from all the cake splashing on the face :P It was only on seeing that candle did i realise that i am getting old! 

It was after the day's work was over did the real fun begin! After a good dinner with all my friends at Chennai was a "cake cutting ceremony"!!! This cake was cut purely to be splat on my face!! It was great fun. It was 10 o clock at night and we were throwing cakes on each other in the middle of the road! 

Then after a few friends left to catch good sleep we took a slow drive in the night to Ascendas. But those people 've closed by then! We then drove to the Beasant nagar beach. We were sitting on the beach sand listening to the hum of the waves. Logesh and I got into star gazing while ajoy and arun were busy building their sand castles! We were finally chased out by the cops at around 12:30 am. It was a silent slow drive back to our rooms. Had a really nice time with friends that day. Miss them all here at Hosur (where i am posted now). 

My dream!

Today has been a little dull for me. Its after around a month that i have come home now. After having a great time with cousins on Christmas day, i'm feeling a bit bored up today. I've been browsing from the morning (no not Orkut!) for used cars! 

Driving my own car has always been my dream. Infact as a child thats what i went to school and studied for! :D Two days back i got a chance to drive my grandpa's 800 at Pudukottai (was there for Christmas). Its the first time my dad has let me drive a car alone! It was great fun driving it around. I took that tiny little 10 yr old car to 90kmph! (couldn do more as my cousins started shouting at me!) hehee :D

I really got hooked on to it and the first thing i did after coming home was starting to browse for used cars! There is really no way i can get a car with my resources. But even then, i keep browsing.. and dreeeaminggg... :)

Caught unaware!

This is the first time i ve ever seen a sheep!!! i was simply taken away! :)