I Drive my Own Life

Fit and Fat

2009-05-29T02:50:00.000-07:00

Fat people are funny. When they run, when they jump, when they try to stand and especially when they try to turn around. It takes a lot out of them. I know that because I'm a fat guy. And when I say that fat people are funny, I don't even think they are aware of it.

I've been made fun of being fat ever since I was a kid. I was lethargic, inactive, averse to athletics and definitely not the fastest around. I always wished I could have been like those strong and sporty guys. Well, I've had to wait for 23 long years but my wishes have finally come true.

So what happened? Did I start taking steroids? Did I change my diet plan? No. I just purchased the brand new Maruti Ritz. No longer am I the guy who never reaches the finishing line. Now I am a powerful machine with ample power and torque for those high speeds and a great pick up.

I'm aerodynamic and fast. Zipping through the lanes with graceful movement. I still may be big with a large and strong frame that provides for my stability. But that doesn't mean I'm not flexible. With a tight turning radius of 4.7 metres, I shall be doing the turns in no time.

And no longer shall I be huffing and puffing after every round. With an excellent fuel efficiency of 21.1 kmpl, I think my lungs shall be game for more.

The Ritz website.

2009-05-26T00:43:00.001-07:00

I happened to log on to the Maruti Ritz official website today. All the buildup in the auto mags only served to tickle my curiosity. More to find out how different it is from it predecessor, ‘Splash’, than anything else. The official Maruti Suzuki site lists a direct link to www.marutisuzukiritz.com on the page detailing Ritz specs.

First things first – it is a neat design, no doubt about it. The navigation is smooth and simple and the layout is eye pleasing. What takes the cake though is the interactive introduction to some of the Ritz key features. Hovering over the car, both its exterior and interior, you get quite a good idea of what those techie terms like ‘Flexible 60:40 Rear Seat Split’ translates into reality. Clicking at different spots pops up a message box simplifying the lingo into the layman’s tongue.

A nice little intro to the most awaited hatchback, I would say. Unless of course you are already on your way for the test drive.

My Daddy Strongest…

It’s the K12M engine. The word is pretty much being thrown around nowadays. But only someone who’s been tuned into the Indian auto scene can really make any sense out of that alphanumeric combination.

The Ritz brouhaha is reaching its crescendo now. The K12M engine that the slick car nestles under its hood is far from cute, no matter what impression the car gives. The four-cylinder is a behemoth at 1197 cc and packs in quite a punch with 85 ps at 6000 rpm. Among the domestic products Indian roads have played host to, this one promises to be the daddy of them all.

The car is stylishly packaged, no doubt. However, what makes the Ritz launch worth the wait and the shout is really the power and torque the new Maruti is capable of unleashing from under its hood. The waterfall interiors and the boomerang taillights notwithstanding, it is what this mean little machine can do on the Mumbai Pune expressway that I’m waiting to experience.

Aqua Car

2009-05-26T00:38:00.000-07:00

I met an old friend the other day. From college times. And then followed the usual reminiscing about the past. But it wasn’t the usual “do you remember the time we…” sort of regular boring chat. Thankfully, yours truly and the man in question had been involved in more than one incident no short of hilarity.

The guffaws came in droves when we took to talking about an years old weekend trip to Gorai. Our man had just bought a second-hand Santro and was on cloud nine over his first car. The wee hours of Sunday morning saw us and the car parked on the beach gazing into nothingness, listening to the waves, guzzling beer and solving African poverty.

The high tide was supposed to mark the time of departure. And stick to the plan we did. But unbeknownst to us, the beach kid of curves inwards towards the part that we were parked at. Needless to say, by the time the waves got to our car, the rest of the beach, which was further extended, was already under the waves, literally trapping us. I can remember a few moments of panic and then stepping out of a car bobbing with the waves. Frantic attempts of retrieval, feelings of confusion, a man with a bullock cart and a rope, a car being pulled out of waves by two sturdy bulls and a hysteric friend guffawing and cursing the fact that he had no camcorder to immortalize the tragedy…

We didn’t see much of the Santro after that. He has moved on. To a Zen and then to a WagonR to be precise. His next buy is going to be a Ritz. Wise choice, I would say. The Ritz is being touted as the car with the best drivability to hit Indian markets. Its suspensions have been modified from the ‘Splash’ version to meet Indian road conditions. The ground clearance too is apt for our ever potholed roads. Not that it is going to help against the waves…

Gorai is going to be a far throw from the Ritz, assures my friend. For his sake, I hope he is right.

What a show

2009-05-05T23:36:00.000-07:00

I was in Frankfurt last year when I decided on visiting the IAA International Motor Show. Being a huge fan of automobiles, this was my dream chance to see some hot wheels alongside some conceptual ones. I reached a little early as I didn't want to miss out on any spectacle.

Upon reaching there, I was bewildered by the sight that stole my vision. I was amidst these fascinating creations that would be driving the future. The Jaguar XF, a 600 BHP Bentley, 580 BHP Audi, an Aston Martin DBS, mini coopers, maserati's, nissan's and the works.

They all stood in shimmering glory. Even touching them was a privilege worth flying half way across the world. I was simply stunned! Even the show girls didn't seem half as attractive as some of these cars. And it would take a lot out of me to even vouch for that.

But one sight really baffled my mind. Amongst these legendary cars was the debut of another. And behold! it was an Indian car to boot by a manufacturer that is well versed with my family tradition. The car was called 'Splash' made by none other than Maruti. A sexy looking hatchback that not once looked like a misfit in the showroom. Heck, it even managed to get a lot of foreign car aficionados gawking at the beauty.

A breathtaking dashboard that looks like a waterfall, blue coloured interiors, massive storage space, music remote on the steering wheel, revolutionary shape, jazzy orange lights on the meter, a brand new K12 engine with BSIV compliance. This car had all it takes to become an international car.

When talking to some of the foreign nationals about the wonders that is car-making, they seemed to be very well surprised by my language skills and expertise on the subject.

Going by the Splash and my new found international acceptance, I'd say 'we Indians have arrived'. ;)

Runny Cost

2009-04-29T03:59:00.000-07:00

You know, many a times, people buy cars without taking into consideration the future costs that will have to be met. These costs, knows as the running costs are pretty much ignored from the elements that go into making a decision on what car to buy. A friend of mine did the same thing. Now, he is finding it so hard to maintain the car that he is ready to sell it off. And because it is not in good condition, he will have to let go of it for cheaper then the market price of the second hand car. Such a shame I tell you!

But now look at the new Ritz from the house of Maruti Suzuki. There are two main reasons why I am really looking forward to get one. ONE: Servicing a Maruti is never a problem. These guys have servicing centers everywhere... City, Town, Village, Highways, maybe even in the middle of a lake (It’s supposed to be a joke, but you never know!). TWO: Owing to superior technology, these running costs are significantly reduced. Here’s how...

Higher Grade Engine Oil: Improves first changeover time from 1,000 Km to 10,000 Km

Increased Spark Plug Life: Spark Plug change over time has been changed from current 20,000 Km to 40,000 Km

Silent Timing Chain: Longer life in comparison to conventional Belt Design

Valve Clearance Adjustment: Due to Tappet Design, Valve clearance re-adjustment frequency has been reduced

What a beauty eh?

Standard of living

2009-04-24T02:01:00.000-07:00

Which standard are you in? Haven't you been asked that question as a kid at least a gazillion times? And depending on your answer, your intellectual ability was automatically associated to the grade you were in. Well, that was a long time ago because the entire idea of standardization has transformed over the past few years and especially in India. There was a time when Indian made, distributed and certified products were not of international quality. They didn't really imply anything to the potential customer. But now, Indian standards are as good as their western counterparts.From the internationally recognized ISO, to its makeover as BIS, to automobile certification using the Bharat stage 4 compliance, or the BS4, India is getting stringent about its produce.Talking about the bs4, its emission standards are on par with the Euro IV compliance. With the new Bharat Stage IV, emission of sulphur and benzene from vehicles can be further minimised.Maruti, India’s largest car manufacturer, has already upgraded itself to the new compliance and shall test it on its forthcoming release by the name of 'Ritz'. The car is already making news with its K12M engine, revolutionary features and now happens to be BSIV complaint as well.Looks like we are about to witness a birth of the highest standards.

Show me the money!

2009-04-23T05:22:00.000-07:00

There are a few things that money can buy, while the rest can be completely ignored (lol). Well, that’s my personal philosophy and one that I’ve been trying to inculcate in my best friend, Anahita, for a while now. You see, my best friend has recently graduated from her diploma course and her father, who happens to be a wealthy iron-export merchant, has given her a gift to die for. A handsome and extremely attractive cheque worth Rs.5 lakh.

Quite obviously, she was very excited and agog about her cache, me a little more than her, and wants to spends some time deliberating on what she plans to do with the money. So she came over, and we talked, rather bitched, and watched movies and spoke about our boyfriends and our favourite actors and finally got down to what she home for.

We have managed to come up with a list of things that will prove to be beneficial for her in the long run.

a) A Swarovski diamond necklace. But she rarely wears off shoulders or gowns. She’s more the sporty yet casual type.
b) Further education at one of the leading universities in London. But she hates cold weather. So that’s out.
c) Book property in the suburbs so that she and her boyfriend can live happily ever after. But her father already has a grand house in town under her name. Useless
d) A total fashion makeover from dentistry, hair styling/rebonding, to skin touch-ups and the works. But honestly, I love the way she looks and would never want her to change.
e) A small compact car, probably the ‘Ritz’ so that she can come over and meet me whenever she wants to or take long drives without having to worry about too much else. Hmmm, sounds interesting!

Guys, we are seriously confused. The last option seems like the most feasible one. But we need some help in deciding and picking the right choice. Any takers?

Engine Engine No.9

2009-04-21T01:49:00.000-07:00

What is it about an engine that makes men go crazy? Is it the raw power that they exhibit? Or the sheer sound they produce that makes every testosterone level reach its peak?

I've seen men act like animals in front of them. They growl, bend on their knees , holler and scream and watch in absolute awe at every perceptible angle that the beauty has to offer. I wouldn't be far fetched from saying that, on good days, they can even be a serious competition to women. Just because they are so damn popular.

Aircraft's use them, the the military does, you see them in the cars, our household appliances as well. It's a whole battalion of them that have invaded the planet while producing heat, water, gas and a lot of power along the way.

Every engine is a enemy of another. And the more recent they are, the more effective they can be. The K12M being the latest in the long legendary line of automobile engines. It's technologically superior, with an all aluminum construction that makes it lighter in weight and extremely fuel efficient. From hearsay, the Ritz which happens to launch in May is all geared up with this hot baby. I expect to see a lot of monkey behavior from then men on our streets then :)

Redefine!

2009-04-21T01:46:00.000-07:00

Have you ever wondered where the components of a car get their imaginative names from? Well, the ‘bonnet’ was actually material worn as headdress, or in common terms, a cap. The ‘dickey’ was the rear seat for servants in a carriage and ‘chassis’ comes from the French language translating to ‘a frame’.

While these words might sound really nice to use, I’m all about bringing in the new. To redefine my life and change the way things are said and done. It starts with the hot new Ritz that’s gonna come into my hands real soon. No longer is life going to be the same. I’m going to set a few things straight. The bonnet is all set to become to my ‘baby’. The dickey is going to be my ‘darling’. The gear box my ‘love handle’. My steering wheel is going to be called the ‘Hotstepper’ as I shall be dancing with her a lot. And then there will my brakes that shall be christened as the ‘Big Daddy’, considering his ability to put a halt on my much wanted enthusiasm.

All in all, everything is going to transform itself. And it’s going to begin as soon as ‘The Ritzer’ gets into my hand. Yeah! I’ve changed her name too.

Going Global

2009-04-17T03:49:00.000-07:00

All this talk of globalization makes me happy. It means the world is getting smaller. Border lines are being wiped out. Cities are getting connected. The world is coming to India and India is taking off to the world.

Speaking of the Indian phenomenon, in the recent past we have achieved quite a bit in terms of our exports/ in-house facilities reaching international shores. The BPO industry, the music industry, even our movies and people are constantly moving abroad.

But the one area that I feel deserves a noteworthy mention is our automobile industry. In the past few decades, we have seen a quantum leap in terms of quality and quantity of produced machinery. Gone are the days when only cars from Germany and Japan were considered as the best in class. Today, India has put its wheels into motion and have set high standards in this very competitive space. From the merger of Tata and the prestigious Ford company, to witnessing the arrivals of brands like Porsche and Audi, the Indian automotive industry is turning a new leaf over. One Indian company that has been ruling the roost though is Maruti. From completing 25 years of driving the nation last year to consistently producing efficient and state-of-the-art cars, Maruti has gone from strength to strength and put India on the global map. They are now set to launch their sixth global car next month by the name of Ritz. It is another feather in the illustrious cap of the company and one that is definitely worth watching out for. World, get ready, here we come!

Welcome to India!

2009-04-16T03:25:00.000-07:00

Europe is such a fascinating place. This is my second visit here. However, the first time doesn't count because I was merely a toddler with the memory of a goldfish. But now that I have a certain sense of consciousness and an ability to relate to my surroundings, I shall put this trip into my diary.

I'd promised myself another chance to visit Europe in an attempt to soak myself into everything that's foreign. Foreign land, foreign food, foreign customs, foreign women. So here I was in Lester. A place with great weather and roads to its credit.

The first thing that struck me though was the number of Indians out here. I am not sure how many were around the last time I was here but they certainly seem to have stayed back. You go shopping and will find an Indian selling you wares in the mall. You go to a restaurant and there's an Indian attending your table, irrespective of what food the hotel is serving you. They are practically everywhere. In your pool, on the streets. Punjabi's, gujju's, the southies and the rest of India, all gathered under the big banner of our mother nation.

I do remember one thing which wasn't typically Indian though. Parked outside the Lester Football stadium was a bright new compact car with a revolutionary exterior design. It was called the 'Splash'. Boomerang tail lights fitted stylishly on a tall body that had a refreshingly sporty look. The more I kept my eyes on it, the more appealing it looked. A total knockout. A car that gave my trip to Europe a silver lining.

I'm back in India now. And I've heard of some pretty interesting information. The car that I'd seen back in Lester is now going to be launched in India. In India its going to be launched as Ritz – even cooler name. It makes me come to the realization that we, as Indians, will never let anything stay international. Welcome Splash!

I love Ritz

2009-04-11T02:52:00.000-07:00

I am going to cut the crap and get straight to the point. I like the way the Ritz performs. I used it for a month when I was in Europe. My girlfriend, loves the way it looks. I know i am going to love it in India as well when you think about the traffic situation. Just two formalities left. One, Test drive it with Natasha (My girlfriend) and two, sign the paper! :)

Car bhalaa toh Ho Bhalaa!

2009-03-27T02:08:00.000-07:00

Hey guys!

Apologies for not being a regular. Been shit busy lately. My car’s been giving me mad troubles. I have the old Fiat Padmini. I don’t think I can afford it any longer. The petrol costs, the maintenance and at the end of it all, I don’t even get the desired performance.

So, after much prodding from my wife, I have finally decided to buy a new car! *clap clap*. My options are most of the hatchbacks out there like the Estillo, Swift, Getz, Spark, and ‘m waiting for the Ritz to come out. I’m a little excited about that one owing to some of the pictures of the Splash (That’s what the Ritz is called in the European markets).

Here are some...

I think the design is quite wicked! The boomerang taillights look simply yummy on the sporty design. And from what I heard and read, there is also a diesel model slated to release. After enduring the high fuel prices, I really wouldn’t mind a change! I am kinda stuck as far as choices are concerned between the Getz and The Ritz.

HELP ME!

Anyway, it’s time to take off
Write in with your suggestions guys!

Anish