The top 5 irritants on Indian roads : from honking to lane changing
An average Indian road is an irritating place to be in. Be it a biker, a truck driver, a car owner a cyclist, a scooterist or a “mere” pedestrian, it is a path full of uncertainties, dangers and at...
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Honda Civic: End of the road for an icon or a temporary pause?
The Civic has always been a car that has divided public opinion…straight down the middle. Those who loved and ended up buying it, swore by its cockpit like interiors, refinement, agility, comfort and...
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2012 : A forgettable year for Motown
Seldom is it that a year that begins with such promise and hype ends as one that is forgettable and beset with regrets. 2012 was one such example. It began with a bang with the biennial New Delhi Auto...
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Cars to watch out for in 2013
Like every other year, dozens of cars–big and small, awful and spectacular, practical and extravagant–will hit the roads this year as well. And like always only a few will hit the bull’s eye and the...
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It’s time to banish the 3 wheeler, once and for all
A thousand questions raised, a million thoughts provoked, a billion bones chilled, a nation shamed. The pangs of regret on why that evening had to be so horrid, why could it not have been like any...
View ArticleWorst car of the year 2012
We all know what the best car of 2012 was. It has bagged the maximum awards, captured the imagination of most and resuscitated the fortunes of a company. Picking that was rather easy this time. The...
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2012 : The car we would rather not have had
Among the four score odd emails that I received in response to the call for choosing the worst car of 2012, there was one that reminded me of my own promise from the year before, to not term it as...
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Maruti 800, Ageing gracefully
When it was discontinued in 13 major cities in India in April 2010 as Maruti decided not to upgrade its engine to meet the tougher BSIV emission norms, everybody thought the M800 story was over. These...
View ArticleThe seers and their cars at the Kumbh
In the midst of the riverie and small talk, the naked man with ash all over him, suddenly snaps at me. “Why do you guys call my car dog’s dinner?” he asks, his pink eyes heavy with the hash he has been...
View ArticleThe curious case of spurious spare parts and industry monopoly
Oblivious to most car owners in the country, a pitched battle is being fought by 17 car manufacturers in India and some proponents of free market economy that may alter in some significant quantum, the...
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What is hot at the otherwise lukewarm Geneva Motor Show
It has been a tepid show at the annual motoring extravaganza in Geneva this year. Arguably the showpiece event in Europe, it is one of the keenly awaited events. For one, it is somewhat neutral in...
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Dial FM to know if you have a SUV
Every year, the union budget that decides in some ways how richer or poorer we will get during the course of the year throws up a fair share of mindboggling policies. Rules that have no precedence,...
View ArticleSpare a thought for Kishan Lal
Who is he? You would ask. What is he doing in a blog that “claims” to deal with serious stuff about cars?. Anukool Rishi, remember? The 26 year old who “tragically” killed himself in a hair-raising...
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When James Bond drove a Range Rover, and wowed Manhattan
Before it starts you only knew two things. One, it was the new Range Rover Sport, the most capable SUV Land Rover has ever made. Two, there would be a prominent British actor seranading it. At first,...
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Cars as taxis — Is it a raw deal?
During the course of a week, I get numerous mails from people looking to buy cars and soliciting advice for the best purchase. Often, they also get back to me with the details of their choice and an...
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Run flat tyres : boon or bane?
Ask anybody who owns a BMW in India….anybody, and he or she will tell you what a pain in the a** it can be with those “futuristic” run flat tyres. Not that all of them have horror stories to recount....
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Duster versus XUV: New rivals on the block
They are not exactly similar vehicles. Nor do they belong to the same segment. So to call it a rivalry in the strict sense of the word would be a stretch. Even then, India being a country where an...
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The petrol-diesel conundrum
Barely a year ago, the difference in the price of a litre of petrol and diesel was at an all time high (Rs. 27.19) in favour of the latter. Following the government’s decision to decontrol the prices...
View ArticleCertified fuel economy? The joke is on the consumers
Recently, a study done by non-profit organisation International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT) revealed that the gap between the fuel economy claims made by companies has widened with the...
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Bajaj and the fuss about quadricycles
There are a lot of things that are admirable about Bajaj Auto Ltd, one of India’s most advanced two wheeler manufacturers. From its catchy “hamara bajaj” tagline that tugs at your heart, to its proud...
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