I have never documented my Car journey here. Here it is
Ford Escort. Had completed my Masters and was starting my job at LSU. Saw an ad from a Professor in an Agricultural Department. He was selling his daughter’s car for 2000$. Who happened to be a DJ in a local radio channel in Baton Rouge.
The car came with a 10CD changer in the boot. The bumper had Jimi Hendrix tattooed. I didnt know who he was – and then listened to him – because I started getting high-fives from people in parking lots!
Fast Forward 20 years+ ahead – Prithvi says when he listens to Jimi Hendrix before going to the exam he gets better marks!
We had this car for almost 4 years. Took us to Disney, Charlotte, Chicago and Madison.
It was a 5 stick. Never gave any problem. When we returned to India we donated it.
Mercury Cougar
San was continuing her MBA in LSU. I got a job in Madison – and I took a loan to buy this car. I think I spent 6000$. Wanted a stick shift, a sporty car and what a car this was!
Bucket seats, 2 door – of course this was a 4 seater but one has to squeeze through the front door to get to the back. Had cruise control.
Later when San started working in Chicago, and I used to commute to Madison on Mondays and return on Fridays – and this car performed so well even when there were severe snow storms.
Dug out this Ad I had put before we came back to India for good.
99 Black Mercury Cougar-city 28MPG/HW 32MPG-5Speed Manual 87K,5499$
1999 Mercury Cougar
V4,5 Speed Manual,87k Miles, Looks and runs like a sports car.
Cool features :
* Ondash electronic thermometer
* Mileage estimator and also miles till you run out of gas estimator
* Back seats fold down to fit in a futon ( with front passenger seat folded) – true !! we did it – btw – the futon is also for sale for 50$
* Power everything – driver seat height adjustment, mirrors adjustment, window up/down.
* New front tires
* Regular oil changes every 3000 miles
* alarm, auto open,lock – 2 sets of keys.
* CD, FM
* Cold AC
* Rear defroster too – Great for winter
Best features :
* At 75K I changed the transmission belt – good till 120K.
* Great mileage – this is what I get – 28MPG in City and 32MPG on Highway with AC/heater. During spring days ( no AC ) add 2MPG.
Sold it to a Dad who was getting it for his High school kid.
Honda City
5 speed manual. What a machine. Rock solid.
Had this one for 13 years. Umpteen trips to Coimbatore, Chennai. Went to Rajasthan till Pakistan border. Mumbai – Bangalore multiple times. Goa, Kodai, Ooty,Chikmagalur,Madikeri.
Prithvi came home in this car. Sufi joined us in our road trips.
Exchanged the Honda City for a BRV.
Honda BRV
Still going strong. It’s been 6 years.
Cocoa joined us in our trip to Shillong. During lockdown we drove 24 hours non stop from Bhubeneshwar to Bangalore. The only break was during fuel stops.
Has oodles of space for our Cocoa,Chica and Sufi. And space for us humans. And plants. And luggage.
Really – why did we even think of a different car?
Mahindra BE6
Our first Indian Car. An EV.
Thats us pointing finger at each other – she/he made me buy it.
We still have no clue how we will take care of this beast. The Apartment complex we are renting now is not giving us NOC to put a charger. Neither do they have a common charger for residents ( They don’t use ADDA either – can understand 🙂 ) . For now found a JioBP charger – have to leave the car overnight if I have to do a full AC charge. As of now it has got one full charge – thanks to my Brother in law installing a 16A point in his compound wall – the freedom of single homes!
Loving the amount of tech and power this car has. Very stylish. Very un-car like design. Looks like they took a concept car to production.
Every trip to Hillori will cost me 2000Rs. And will be burning fossil fuel through the Aayur Reserved Forest. We have a 6KW solar plant which is generating clean electricity and is being used only for Pump for the Overhead tank and making Maggi and tea – what a crime! That was my trigger to get an EV.
San read about how rock solid Mahindra cars are. A showroom opened right in front of our current Apartment Complex and one day while passing by I said – hey thats a BE6 test drive car there – lets do a test drive.
San got in and started driving and it will not go fast but will keep beeping. The front frunk was not closed. Thought San will lose interest. After the frunk was shut – she started driving and said – this feels like riding a bike! She got smitten with the EV torque.
We thought over a week – and paid the booking amount of 21k – thinking we can still change the mind – the cancellation is 2k penalty. Once had paid 5000 for a Nexon and cancelled it.
Then the big day came – after a month – a BE6 became available – but this time we had no second thoughts. The heart had completely won over the mind.
Made a trip to Coimbatore – loved the interiors – the moonroof and audio system. Drive was pretty good. I drove from Coimbatore to Attibele and San – the highway hogger- not once asked for the steering wheel. She was happy watching the rain drenched highway and scenery from the back.
