Mahir Majid is a regular reader of Indian Autos Blog and when we heard he was going to buy an i20, we immediately asked him to give his account of buying and experience. His car is hardly a week old and we’ve quizzed him comprehensively and his first impressions should help you decide whether this is the car for you.

When did your passion for cars begin?

I have been passionate about cars since childhood. Dad owned a Toyota Cressida 1984 and then a Honda accord 1986 which was used for a good 13 years and then got a 2007 dodge charger which he still drives. I have driven all the above.

Here in India mom got me a 1995 Maruti 800 for familiarizing me with the Indian road manners and then finally moved over to the Hyundai i20.

When did you buy the i20?

I had booked the Hyundai i20 end of January and got the delivery after almost 50 days on 7th may 2009.

Which colour is it? Why choose this colour? What were the other colours you were also thinking about?

The colour is berry red as i have always liked cars in this color. The others among the choices were black (rejected because of the dust visibility factor) white and sparkle blue.

Have you taken it for a long drive yet?

Not yet.

How much waiting time since booking? Was the dealer harsh? how was the treatment?

A little over 50 days. Got it from Hyundai motor plaza which is a factory showroom. The experience with the people was amazing and they were really helpful.

Which model is this one? Why did you choose this model over the others?

It is a magna variant. the top end variant was a good 1 lakh rupees more and gave the same engine, besides I wasn’t really interested in the safety equipment. However some of the features which I’d wish to have in my magna would be the USB connectivity, height adjustable seat, electric mirrors with electric folding, steering mounted audio controls and remote locking.

What is the fastest you have gone on it yet?

Touched a max of 100kph, didn’t feel like taking it any further as the car is still very much new.

Safety. Your take on it

Have a magna which doesn’t really come with airbags, ABS etc but the car is of a very superior built quality which should be sufficient for a safe driver like me. I keep my seat belts on wherever I’m sitting and I advise the same to all Indian Autos Blog readers.

How much your car costs

It costs Rs.5,64,000 on road (Mumbai).

Any modifications you intend to do on the car?

Window tints, auto cop and maybe alloy wheels after 5 years when I change my tires.

Have you owned other cars before? Tell us about them

my previous car here in Mumbai was a 1995 maruti 800.these cars can really not be compared except that it was very small and could be squeezed in the smallest gaps here in Mumbai but was physically demanding and the Hyundai i20 is a breeze in the city with its power steering which is as light as a Honda.

How many km you drive every day? Do you plan to use the i20 for daily trips?

I have driven a lot in the last 4 days since I got the car, close to 280 km in city. I will not be using the car for daily commute as local trains are a much feasible option for me.

Fuel. Which type of fuel and engine oil you use normally and for this car, what do you intend to use?

I am using regular unleaded fuel but i make sure that i go to a nice petrol pump. Engine oil and other fluids have been filled at the Hyundai motor plaza workshop. Hyundai recommends servo and other Indian oil products.

Dream Car

My dream car has to be the Lamborghini Reventon.

What’s so special about your i20 compared to the cars driven before?

the other cars which I considered buying prior to the Hyundai i20 were the Suzuki swift diesel which is a very powerful but the 4 year old shape will be hard to live with and so will it be with the cramped interior. The Hyundai i10 sportz was almost booked but we changed our mind as we are a family of 5 adults and have to make frequent trips to the airport with luggage.

The Suzuki A-Star was on my mind after seeing it from the outside as it has a very nice shape but it is super cramped on the inside and has a microscopic boot compared to my requirements.

A sedan however would be too pricey for us as the sedans in the range of six lakh was not at all pleasing to the eyes be it the “slap on boot” swift or the “new front end but 8 year old” Ford Ikon.

What makes the Hyundai i20 a hot choice is:

*the shape and styling of a European car.

*the space of a sedan.

*a very comfortable ride.

*the multi-information display, which will appeal to you if u like gadgets.

*amazing air con which comes with rear a/c vents, vent in glove compartment and in the hatch.

*excellent in car entertainment.(the 2-din unit and the six speaker music system is better than many aftermarket music systems and speakers from leading brands)

*the reliability and service of Hyundai.

*a super light power steering (turns with your thumb)

*a sweet and peppy engine with a nice mileage may not be as powerful as the swift diesel but won’t let you down, you can take my word.

*small children running around your car screaming “i20 i20″ like its “Ferrari Ferrari”.(this happened with me at nariman point where as soon as i parked the car, a bunch of 10 year olds eating ice cream at a roadside joint started shouting “i20 i20″like it was some exotic car ).

couple of drawbacks

* the lower side of the driver’s side dash board which rubs against your left leg if u are a tall man(above 5’10″) the solution is that shift the seat a little back which I have gotten used to now.

*roof antenna which does not fold. so if you’ve got a cover out of excitement before you got your car and forgot to check if the cover has got a slit for the antenna(like I did) then you’ll be ending up unscrewing the antenna each time you put the car cover.

*no reading light for the front passenger and driver and no vanity mirror for front passenger…it looks as if Hyundai was so busy designing this car and making it safe that they completely forgot about these basic requirements.

This is a new section dedicated to bringing you the fun and hassles in owning an automobile. Thank you Nazish for kick starting this venture.

Nazish, an avid Indian Autos Blog reader, and a Yamaha enthusiast, was kind enough to share with us his story as a Rider and how a Black Yamaha R15 transformed the same.

This section may be considered good consumer advice for all those prospective Yamaha R15 buyers who need an owner’s take. Below, is an account of IAB questions and Nazish’s responses.

1. When did your passion for bikes begin?

I am passionate for bikes since adolescence. Bikes hold my fancy for as long as I could remember.

2. When did you buy your bike?

I bought my R15 in July last year.

3. Is it 1st hand or second hand?

It’s 1st hand.

4. Where did you take it for the first time? I mean after you bought it.

The very next day I bought my bike I went for a ride on one of the expressways a few kms away from my home. I still remember how  difficult it was for me to overcome the temptation of  taking my bike full throttle on that smooth road, but since my bike was just one day old I knew I first have to complete the run-in period before I could test the power of it.

5. How many kms have you clocked in it so far?

A little over 7K.

6. Tell me about the maintenance part of it. How much you shell out and how frequently?

Since Yamaha gives 6 free services during the first 15k Kms or 380 days from the date of purchase, my each free service costs around 400 bucks. This cost is only for the engine oil and no labor charges since the bike is under this free service period. During the first service the engine oil filter is replaced as well.

Apart from this I had to get the disc pad of my rear brake changed once which had worn out, that part was a bit expensive and it costs around Rs.1100

Since my bike is still covered under free service I follow the regular maintenance schedule as suggested by Yamaha. As of now it costs me around 400 bucks at Yamaha Pro (Service station). Apart from scheduled visits to the service center I also ensure to wash n polish my bike on weekends so that it always looks brand new.

7. What is the fastest you have gone on it?

The maximum I have touched so far is 130 Km/hr.

8. What is the max distance you have covered in it?

Not much, around 2- 3 Kms before the road came to an end. Otherwise I’ve covered 50kms in one stretch. I have not taken it out of the city as I have not had the opportunity or the interest to do it.

9. Safety..your take and the brand of gear you wear

I wear Vega Boolean helmet which works pretty well for me.

As for my take on safety I think that one should at least wear a helmet if not the rest of the safety gear, it not only ensures safety but it looks very cool and adds to your look and style.

10. How much your bike cost (Approx amount)

It cost me 1.03 lacs on road + the little bit of accessories I have on it added another 2.5 K.

11. Any modifications you have done on the bike?

Yes, a few. I have gone with some of the original Yamaha R15 accessories like Billet clutch,  brake levers and rim stripe tape. All of these are in golden color as they really look cool with the black color of my bike.

12. Some of the other similar bikes you have ridden and how they compare.

My first bike was Yamaha RX 100 then I switched to Hero Honda Ambition 135 ( was just fuel efficiency conscious at that time) but R15 is totally class apart and there is no way you could compare it with these bikes.

I have also tried the Apache RTR 160 which was my favorite bike before R15 but then the thrill I have while riding R15 is second to none.

The styling, the sporty riding posture of this bike make you feel none the less than Valentino Rossi. The ease with which this bike touches 100 km/hr mark is amazing.

13. How many kms you ride everyday..frequency of use

30-40 kms on an average per day.

14. Fuel. Which type of fuel and engine oil you use

I stick with Indian Oil premium because of high octane number it has.

15. Dream Bike

One of my dreams has already turned into reality. Now I aspire to own a Yamaha R1.

16. What’s so special about your bike compared to the ones you’ve ridden before

Well there is no need to tell that Yamaha R15 is the best looking bike in India so far. The killer looks of the bike attracts everyone around. Apart from the looks, this bike has the most advanced technology offered by any other counterparts in India.

Being a 150 cc bike it can still compete with a P220 which is about 70cc more than R15. This bike is light in weight which adds to the handling, if you compare it with a pulsar then it is about 20kgs lighter in weight.

The 4 valve liquid cooled engine, disc brakes in both rear and front, 6 speed, dual head lamps all of these adds to the uniqueness of this bike.

17. What you like most and what you dislike.

As they say there is always a room for improvement, I would love to see the following enhancements in the current model:

a. A little more power at lower revs

b. A better designed tail light would have done wonders to the looks (Something similar to R125).

c. A split seat which is missing from this bike and which can be seen in many other bikes nowadays in India.

d. In the end not to mention the thin rear tyre which everyone speaks about.

The Fiat Grande Punto arrived just in time to save Fiat from biting the dust. It’s a fine example of the modern Fiat. The styling, performance, design, presence all of them point to one thing- Fiat is here to stay. The Grande Punto will meet Indians later in 2009. For those who don’t know, the Linea is to the Grande Punto, what the Indigo is to the Indica.

Donald Lopes works for the acclaimed Brembo in Italy. He’s a mechanical engineer who occupies a high position in the company which manufactures high performance brakes for application on supercars and Formula 1 cars. He came to us with this review last year, but we decided the best time to put it in was shortly after the Linea’s Indian launch. So it’s all Donald and his Fiat. Listen to what he says.

1) When did your passion for cars begin?
I have always been interested in  cars and bikes and that’s the  reason I opted to go for mechanical engineering .Even today, I am working for a company which makes disc brakes exclusively for supercar OEMS like Ferrari, Porsche, Lamborghini, Alfa Romeo etc. So my life always revolves around these man-made beauties.

2) When did you buy your GP and does he/she have a name?
Actually, I did not buy this car. This car has been given to me by my company around a year back.  I had heard a lot about Grande Punto and knew that It was  amongst the top 10 best selling cars in Europe. So getting a Grande Punto was like my dreams coming true. It does not have any particular name but is called  Grande Punto 1.3 Multijet 16v, from the famous Fiat 1.3 multi-jet diesel engine under its hood (The engine is so reliable that even Maruti-Suzuki prefers to buy this engine from FIAT and put it under the hood of Swift Diesel)

3) Is it 1st hand or second hand?
It’s a new car.

4) Where did you take it for the first time,? I mean after you bought it.
There’s an interesting anecdote behind it. I had just arrived in Italy and didn’t know much about the driving conditions here and so also the fact that vehicles are driven on right side of the road, made matters even more complicated for me to start driving.(Italians are known to be rash drivers who are always in hurry for no apparent reason). Also I hadn’t driven much in India too. One of my colleagues who knew only Italian language asked me to come with him without telling where we were going. When we reached our destination I realized that we were in a Fiat showroom. I had no option but to drive up to home with my new Grande Punto. I had to drive on Italian highways with a left-hand drive car . It was a memorable journey but scared the heck out of me on many occasions.

5) How many kms have you clocked in it so far?
Till now I have done only approx. 5000 kms on my car. But in the last one year, I have driven more than 15,000kms with Fiat cars having the same famed Multi-jet engine with absolutely no problems in any journey.

6) Tell me about the maintenance part of it. How much you shell out and how frequently? Where do you get it serviced?
Grande Punto is known to be maintenance-free car. Till now I have only done one oil change and first service. It has not given any problem in last one year. Many of my friends own Grande Punto and I have heard for them that it needs almost zero maintenance other than the regular services. Fiat has very extensive service network here and you can find a Fiat showroom virtually in every village. So got my car serviced in a nearby Fiat authorized service station.

7) What is the fastest you have gone on it?
The max. I have gone is 155kmph. It could have gone more but car was not on full throttle and the fines for crossing the speed limits are excessively high here.

What is the max distance you have covered in it?
The max. I have gone in one journey is 350 kms.  But the engine is very well suited for very long journeys  as I have made a journey of apporx. 1100 kms with my friend’s Fiat Stilo having a Fiat multijet engine.

9) Safety..your take and the safety gear that your car is equipped with (eg- ABS, EBD etc)
The car is very rugged. It has 2 front Air bags and also ABS. Also the very important fact is that the Grande Punto achieved a  five-star rating (best possible) for occupant protection in the European New Car Assessment Programme (Euro NCAP).

10) How much your car costs (Approx amount)
The cost of my car was around €14,000 ( approx Rs. 8.5 lacs). But you have to note that FIAT brand is considered to be a comparatively more prestigious brand in Europe and so Fiat can charge a premium for its vehicles. But most Indians have a different image about Fiat (from the ubiquitous Premier Padmini) . So Fiat will price it far lower in India (in the price range of Swift).

11) Any modifications you have done on the car?
No. I haven’t done any modifications to my car

12) Some of the other similar cars you have driven and how they compare.
Till now I have driven Hyundai i10, Indica, Fiat Stilo, Fiat Punto (old version) and Fiat Bravo 6 speed. I find Grande Punto a very stable car with awesome drivability. Of all the cars I have driven, Hyundai i10 and Grande Punto fall in the same league. I love my i10’s interiors but except for the steering feel of i10, I love  Grande Punto’s all other aspects. Grande Punto is far more spacey with a better driving position. Grande Punto gives you an impression of driving a big car. It also has a huge boot as compared to the i10.

13) How many kilometers you drive everyday?
My daily use is approx. 10 kms per day and I use  the car on all weekdays. On weekends I use it for some short trips around the town.

14) Your point of view on bringing GP to India.
It is a really great move by Fiat. It’s a very practical and frills-free car giving an awesome fuel efficiency. And that’s what we Indians look for in B-segment cars. If marketed well, Grande Punto can do very well in India.

15) Fuel. Which type of fuel and engine oil you use
It’s a diesel car and I use normal diesel.

16) Other cars which you have owned
In India, my first car was a Maruti 800 and now I own a Hyundai i10 (Magna) in India. Maruti 800 is a not match for Grande Punto. But I do keep on comparing my i10 with my Grande Punto and always feel that Grande Punto is far better in all the respects except for interiors.

17) One thing you like and one thing you hate about the car.
The aspect I like the best about my car is the space inside. It absolutely feels any a very big car. One thing I hate a bit about it is its turbo-lag. But as soon as the turbo-charger sets in, you stop feeling the lack of  torque (I didn’t encounter the same problem with Stilo having a multijet 1.9 engine. Thus Grande Punto fitted with 1.9 multijet will not have this problem)

18) What are the problems you have faced with the car.
I have faced absolutely no problems with my car till now. I am thoroughly happy with my car.

IAB Comment- Donald, we thank you so much for this review. I know so many Indians are going to benefit from this little effort of yours. The high quality pictures is another treat to the troubled Indian Fiat fan whose day we hope, is a little more exciting after this.

We’ve kept you waiting for so long with little or no updates, but frankly speaking, we had no other alternative man.

Donald’s a happy GP owner and he’s going to stay that way throughout the time he owns this beauty. Can we say the same thing with Indian GP owners later this year? We’ll have to wait to answer that question.

P.S- If you have any questions for Donald Lopes, fill it up in the comments box below. We’ll try and get Donald to answer them for you.

Cars are a much-loved possession, which every man dreams to acquire. Be it a person earning Millions or just few thousands desires to own a car. One’s first car is nothing less than a family member – for the attention it gets.

Porsche has always been up there in the pinnacle, apart from posing as cheerful posters on a million bed-room walls! this is a car brand for automobile purists, the precision obsessed, for those who would walk the extra mile for motoring perfection.

These are cars, one could only dream of.  ‘Porsche’, which surmounts the peak of car companies with the slogan, ‘There is no substitute’, is a blend of style and exhilaration practically infused with passion and a rich heritage, where the body is designed to seduce.

Any Porsche owner hence should obviously be a proud man. Webmaster of 993C4S.com with two Porsche models, is no exception.

You can subscribe to his blog, if you desire to learn about the latest updates.

IAB: When did your passion for cars begin?

I have been a car fan for as long as I can remember.  As a kid, on road trips, I would entertain myself by trying to name the make and model of other cars on the road from as far away as possible. Surprisingly, I still find myself doing the same thing today.  I fell in love with Porsche in the early 80s the first time I got to drive in a friends Porsche 930 Turbo.  The raw, visceral feel and the way it physically forced you deep into the seat during acceleration really got me. It didn’t hurt that all the girls seemed to think it was the coolest car ever..

IAB: When did you buy your Porsche?  What other cars do you own.

I bought my first Porsche in 2001. It is a 1973.5 911T (CIS). In addition to the ’73 I have a ’97 993 Carrera 4S, ’85 Jeep Grand Wagoneer ’03 Mercedes CLK 430 AMG cab, ’04 Mercedes E500, ’04 Toyota 4Runner Sport and a ’63 Ford Country Squire

IAB: That’s a lot of cars, Now about your Porsche- Is it 1st hand or second hand, does he/she have a name and where did you take it for the first time? I mean after you bought it.

Both of my Porsches were purchased used. In each case, I wasn’t able to drive them upon delivery/purchase.  With the ’73, I purchased in mid-winter(2001) in New England (lots of snow and rust causing salt on the ground.)  It wasn’t until May of that year that I could first take her out for a ride and I spent the better part of two-hours driving around getting used to the handling and trying not to turn it “ass out” in the corners.   In the case of the 993, I took delivery of this car late on a Friday afternoon.  Where I live, there is no such thing as temporary tags so I had to wait until Monday to go to the registry and get all the paperwork sorted out.  I remember going out to dinner in that car for the first ride and having the valet simply leave the car right in front of the restaurant vs. moving it away and parking it.  I thought that was pretty cool.  I’ve never been into naming my cars.  The Country Squire gets called “woody” but then again, so does the Jeep.

IAB: How many kms have you clocked in it so far?
I’ve put about 12,000 miles on the ’73 in the last 7 years and about 7,000 miles on the 993 in the last two.

IAB: Tell me about the maintenance part of it. How much you shell out and how frequently? Where do you get it serviced?

Both cars are basically bullet proof.  Outside of routine and scheduled maintenance I have not had to do anything to either of my cars.  I do the basic maintenance myself (oil changes, detailing, etc.) Fortunately, I haven’t had anything major happen to either and don’t expect anything any time soon.

IAB: What is the fastest you have gone on it?

Hmmm. Should I answer this one.  I might as well seeing how I’ve written about it in How Fast Have you Driven in Your Porsche.  The ’73 isn’t built for top speed. Anything over 100 mph and the front end starts to get a little squirrelly (meaning you start to lose down force and the front-end starts to lift.)  The 993, as a more modern car, has yet to have the limits tested. To date the needles has reached just north of 150mph.  I’m pretty sure it won’t get that high again unless I have some massive straight away, on a track, at my disposal.

IAB: What is the max distance you have covered in it?

Two years ago my wife and I did a 1500 mile road trip (round trip) to Prince Edward Island in Canada.  It was one of the best trips we ever took. Something to note is that I’m a fairly big guy (about 6’3″ tall and 260lbs) and I was comfortable throughout the entire trip.  We traveled more than 600 miles on the way up and covered the distance in just over eight hours.  Says volumes about the driveability of a 993 in my opinion.

IAB: How much your car costs (Approx amount)
I paid a premium for both of my cars because of their uniqueness, service history and low miles.  Early 911s have been escalating in price year over year and seem to be holding steady even in these troubled financial times.  For a ’73 911 I would expect to pay anywhere from $20k (for a reasonable low end T) to $100k and over for an S model with low miles and excellent service history and provenance.

The 993 is the last of the air-cooled Porsches and arguably the “King of All Porsches.”  Prices are all over the map for these cars and will depend greatly on year, model, mileage and service history. When purchasing any Porsche, the service history is more important than anything.  If you purchase a used Porsche without knowing its service history you run the risk of repair bills that could easily match your purchase price without even batting an eye lash.  For a nice condition low mile 993 C4S I would expect to pay between $45,000 and $65,000.

IAB:Any modifications you have done on the car?

I’m not into mods.  I’m a Porsche Purist as some would say. I like my cars stock. If it was good enough for the good doctor, then it’s good enough for me.

IAB: Some of the other similar cars you have driven and how they compare.

I’ve been fortunate enough to drive many, many different luxury and performance cars and written numerous reviews and comparisons on these cars vs. Porsche.  I’m of the opinion that each car has its own set of good and bad.  However, if your after a pure visceral driving thrill combined with over 60 years of quality and heritage, nothing compares to a rear-engined, rear wheel drive Porsche with no electronic helpers to keep the rear-end in line.

IAB: How many kms you drive everyday? frequency of use?

I drive my cars whenever I can and as much as possible. Unfortunately, given the part of the country I live in, the driving season is limited to 5 or 6 months.  I try to take the cars for drives on any day the sun is shining!!

IAB: Your point of view on the Indian auto market. Your thoughts on the Tata Nano

I’m fairly new to the Indian auto market and have just recently started reading your site to learn more.  Tata seems like a fantastic company and I would like to see them enter the US market in a big way. I think competition from efficient and well engineered auto makers like Tata can only help everyone involved.

IAB: Fuel. Which type of fuel and engine oil you use ?

I run premium fuel (93 Octane) in all my cars and use Mobil 1 Synthetic oil in all as well.

IAB: What is your next car ?

I’m trying hard to decide between a Porsche 951 (944 Turbo) for a track car or a 914-6 for my next toy.  It’s a tough decision, but one I’ll enjoy making.

IAB: Any message to our readers?

Thanks to everyone for looking.  I hope you enjoy reading Indian Autos Blog as much as I do.  There are so many sites out there for the auto enthusiast and sifting through them can be difficult. I keep this one right up on the top of my reader and find the content to be timely and helpful.

Note to the Reader- If any of you have an interest in Porsche, I’d love to have you check out my site and add you as a subscriber.  The best thing about subscribing is if you don’t happen to like that days post, you can simply ignore it or delete it.

Thomas from Oregon, USA, is a email subscriber of Indian Autos Blog and a die-hard biker. Not just any bike, but Cruisers. We asked him to talk about his passion which has been living in him all through his life. This is what he said-

Daddy always had motorcycles, so I was raised around them. This one i bought about 6 years ago, its a 1976 superglide, designated FXE, it has been made into a model FL by the previous owner. had a 1200 cc engine, or 74 Cubic Inch. though I have since replaced it with a 93 Cubic Inch S&S stroker motor, runs on 92 octane gasoline. Premium, and is rated around 100 Horsepower as compared to the 67 horsepower from the factory.

I rode it into the Redwoods in Northern California, around 800 miles, round from where i live, I do the maintenance and upkeep myself, She does cost alot to keep in good shape, Tires, oil, tinkering and little this little that from time to time. I’ve put about 13,000 miles on her. and have had her up to about 115 MPH. This year I took a week’s vacation and ran 1,300 miles camping along the way, was great fun. She is valued at $10,000 but i have much more in her than that.

Safety- Watch out for cage drivers (slang for ‘car drivers’) mostly. Modifications I have carried out are a new motor, wide glide front end, twin piston calipers, and hope full modifications include powder coating the frame and some new paint this winter, along with a 3 inch open belt drive, a 6 speed transmission.

Other bikes I own- 2003 FXDP Harley Davidson and it’s rubber mounted engine is very smooth, 88 cubic inchs, its a ex Police bike I purchased in august 2008, its nice but my 76 shovel will smoke it, I also had a 1978 FX Superglide, brand new, had it for 3 years till it was stolen. I like the stylin of her. road machine , cruiser, the gas mileage is about 37 MpGallon with the STROKER motor, not that great, but power is the trade off.

Chitkaran Singh of CarMods Delhi emailed us a handful of snaps of their latest creations. CarMods Delhi is a car boutique which specializes is exterior customization and once your car receives their treatment, it will never look the same again.

Given the number of cars in India on the rise constantly, you find that your car is just like your neighbors or friends’. Your car calls for a change, just like you, and that’s where customization workshops like CarMods come into the picture.

CarMods offer after market fitments like projector lamps, custom bumpers and skirts for your car. They brag of having body kits for all cars in India in their store. If you happen to like their work and desire your car to be modified by them, you can email them at carmodsdelhi@gmail.com asking for the cost, details and availability.

Would you like your dealership or customization store to be featured here on IAB? Then, use the contact form to get in touch with us.

Asst. Vice President Retail Banking Axis Bank Ltd, and a huge fan of Indian Autos Blog, Rasik Narula stands first in IAB’s ‘most passionate riders’ roll call. Having grown up with an assortment of bikes, Rasik can’t cease talking about them. We interviewed him on his experiences on two wheels and comprehensively quizzed him on his Fireblade RR 929, and this is what he had to say.

First of all I’ll talk about the Fireblade’s comfort rather than the power, performance:

As I am just a short arse. 5’7″ I found it to be a perfect bike for me as far as comfort goes. Tall enough to reach the bars without having to transfer all my weight to my wrists, so no problem there. As for the seat, I was fitting in just fine,as if it was made for me ! Rating given by me 10. A bit scary for the pillion. Just sat out there in the hurricane blast while I hid behind the screen.

As for the handling:

There had been nothing like the Blade before. It turned so sharp, if you were not giving it full concentration. It’s got Ohlin’s up-rated fork springs as a treat and I dropped the fork oil. Then spent the next week riding up and down the same stretch of road while I got the front and rear set how I wanted them. Its amazing how many different combinations of set up there is to suit ur style & comfort.You can really screw it up big time if unlike me you did not keep a log of every setting, both before you alter and when you alter. When I had got it how I wanted it, it would go round just about anything as if it was on rails, and the harder I pushed the more firm it felt. A true thoroughbred.

Smart Tip:

I ran the tires at the manufacturer’s pressure settings. Just slightly different to the Honda settings. On really hot days (do you remember them) I would run the front at a bit lower than recommended. This gave a more stable ride, less lightly to skip. So I gave handling top marks. (If yours don’t handle then get it set up properly, you don’t know what you are missing)

Also you have the option of filling Nitrogen in your tires, currently I am doing that and i feel a better grip on the road.

Braking:

I had always wanted one of these bikes from the first time I saw it. I am so pleased I was lucky to have owned one of the first models. This bike took the world by the throat and gave it a good shaking up. We should all be grateful to the HONDA FIREBLADE for making biking what it is today. And even more thankful to Tadao Baba for the vision and ability to think outside the box.

The HONDA FIREBLADE is everything to its owner. Be you fat, thin, tall, short, man or woman. You should all at least experience the bike that started it all for the sports fans.

I had ridden may super bikes that stopped better than the Blade. (Hanging head in shame)That was  R1 & R6 and the Suzuki’s. It stopped on a dime. Besides that one, the Blade did all I wanted and more as far as the brakes were concerned. It had braided hoses when I got it so I cannot say how it was before. The one thing I have to say is that it was very forgiving on the brakes.

Fuel economy:

It is not really the right word when talking about the blade. Although you could return about 150 miles on a full tank if you were careful, we have to remember it’s a sports bike. They don’t lend themselves to just popping along. Why buy a race horse then just canter it? If I used it how it should be used, I would have to fuel up at about 100 miles, which considering, was not that bad. (Not that I ever broke the speed limit, honestly) If you want good returns on fuel buy a MOPED.

Reliability:

What can I say? It’s a Honda. Solid as a rock. Just do the daily / weekly things and get it serviced when it needs it. Beside that mine ticked on endlessly. Although I am a bit of a fiddler, always checking things. What cost safety?etc etc……….HONDA RULES FOR ME!

Performance:

I know it’s an old cliche, best fun you can have with your clothes on. It was the only bike I have ever felt butterflies in my stomach as I was about to get on! I just did not know what adventures we would have next. All I knew for sure was it was going to be exciting, no matter how far I was going, I always knew it was going to be great. It could nearly rip your arms off or it could be gentle as a lamb. Just about always forgiving, but sometimes it would shake its head just to let me know I needed to not get complacent with it. Every ride was full on focus at all times, no time for daydreamers here. Leaving the world behind as you wind the throttle open was such a rush, it could become addictive. (Not good if you want to keep your license).

Really every part of the whole biking experience was a pleasure. Brakes, tires, ride ability, suspension, balance. Fun factor.

Quiz section–

IAB – Tell us about your Riding history.

Way back in school, i always admired my Dad’s “BIG IRON STEED” the ENFIELD BULLET. I just couldn’t wait to grow taller to take control of it. Then, I inherited the bullet way back in my school days and then bought another one way back in 96. I then bought a brand new 500cc bullet – post MBA and then there was no looking back. I then  bought two RD 350/HTs one second-hand and one brand new. The latest addition is my dream machine, a HONDA FIREBLADE RR 929CC.

IAB – Any Memorable road trips?

Oh boy! I rode non stop for 800 KMS, the day I got my New Bullet 500, Pune, Bhimashankar,Lonavala you name it!. Then one fine day I formed INDDIETHUMPERS, the Mumbai Bullet Club.

IAB – Tell us more about your FIREBLADE- your clocked distance,top speed,price,the lot!

Always wanted one of these from the first day I saw it new. I first came across this bike when I went to check it out with a friend who was looking to buy it. It was like LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT! Amongst so many super bikes parked,the Honda stood apart for me. I had the sparkle in my eyes, after seeing it for the 1st time, my dream machine HONDA FIREBLADE RR 929CC. Since then, i have clocked 24000 kms already! On the Blade, 190 kph is as fast as i could get in India.

IAB – How does your bike compare with its rivals?

I know it’s an old cliché, best fun you can have with your clothes on. I have ridden the Yamaha R1, R6, MT01, Suzuki HayaBusa and Honda CBR 954……of all these bikes i find the handling of Honda and Suzuki to be super best and dam efficient.

It was the only bike I have ever felt butterflies in my stomach as I was about to get on! I just did not know what adventures we would have next. All I knew for sure was it was going to be exciting, no matter how far I was going, I always knew it was going to be great. It could nearly rip your arms off or it could be gentle as a lamb. Just about always forgiving, but sometimes it would shake its head just to let me know I needed to not get complacent with it. Every ride was full on focus at all times, no time for daydreamers here. Leaving the world behind as you wind the throttle open was such a rush, it could become addictive.

The HONDA FIREBLADE is everything to its owner. Be you fat, thin, tall, short, man or woman. You should all at least experience the bike that started it all for the sports fans.

IAB – Tell us about the Maintenance part of your bikes. Any maintenance tips?

The Bullet hardly requires any maintenance. The RD 350 requires regular maintenance.

HONDA FIREBLADE – maintenance purely depends on the state of the bike,my bike is always clean and requires no maintenance, nonetheless the bike goes to Johny in Bandra for regular check ups.

Just a tip, I ran the tires at the manufacturer’s pressure settings. Just slightly different to the Honda settings. On really hot days (do you remember them) I would run the front at a bit lower than recommended. This gave a more stable ride, less lightly to skip. So I gave handling top marks. (If yours don’t handle then get it set up properly, you don’t know what you are missing). I never use Synthetic oils,one can use the normal Castrol range of oils,coolants etc

Recommended fuel is – any high octane petrol.

IAB -  What is your take on safety? Which Riding gear brand do you wear?

Safety is the most imp thing to a sane rider, riding on any kind of 2 wheeler.To begin with u must have a decent head gear,proper riding shoes, gloves with protection,riding suit!

I personally use a customized riding suit,which is a local make and is made to order.

IAB – Your point of view on bringing Sports bikes to India. What are the problems one could face?

Super/Sports bike getting down to India as of now may not be a VERY welcoming idea for me, as the masses still talk about average, spare availability etc. Plus the cost of maintaining it, the kind of average(mileage) these machines give, may not be very appealing.

Besides all, cost is also another great factor, i really don’t know people who would like to shell out 9-11 Lacs for super bikes, it is still a very niche segment.

Nilesh Sawant, an avid reader of IAB has emailed us a comprehensive review of his Zen Estilo. He has owned it for over a year now, and some of his observations and feedback, we believe, will help a lot of potential buyers.

I have been using the Zen Estilo Vxi for over a year know. Already clocked 15,000 kms on the board so I thought know is the right time to write a review of the vehicle. And like all others do, let me share Pro’s of the car first with you all and then the Con’s

• Electric Mirrors are a blessings in disguise, You really can change the position of the mirror with a touch of the button.
• Getting in and out of the car is simply trouble free. Due to its tall boy design, getting in and out is easy. A boon for those who suffer from Arthritis and other muscle related problems and of course how can I forget senior citizens.
• Drivability in and out of the city is silk smooth. One Just can zip in and out of traffic without any real hassle or bothering for the traffic.
• The carries 4 people with ease and is really smooth to drive. Infact the car behaves better on road when it is fully loaded.
• AC cooling is fantastic and one gets feeling chilly within minutes of switching on the AC
• Know comes the best feature, Self central locking of the car, which locks the car automatically after the car attends the speed of 20kms/hr. How cool is that, this feature is restricted to only some luxury cars.

Cons:

• The tall boy design makes the car misbehave on the road when you are driving alone. Specifically on curves, the car tends to leave the track.
• The phone charger in the car is located behind the steering wheel, making it cubersome to charge the phone.
• Gearbox though well meshed with the engine does not arouse you to push the car to its limits.
• Engine is sluggish compared to the other cars in the market in the same segment.
• The car feels space cramped for the third person in the rear.
• Like all other Maruti cars, the headlight is not good enough for the night mode, so the first thing that you need to do post you buy this car is change the headlight to much more powerful bulbs.
• And last but not the least tire size of the car should have been bigger which would have added to the stability of the car on high speeds.

All and all it has been a fantastic one year of owing this car. Trust me I have only spent Rs.5000 in the whole year for servicing this car, and in return the car has taken me to places such as Jawahar which is 7000 ft above the sea level with full on A.C and 5 people on the board and through out the journey keeping the mighty Verna and the Getz in distant view of my rear view mirror.

Jawahar was only one such destination that I mentioned but there are many more places that I have traveled in this small wonder. And before I end this review, how can I forget to mention the Mileage figures!

City commutes, I get close to 12kms/ltr and on highway run, anything in the range of 15kms/ltr to 18kms/ltr depending on the road and traffic condition.

Oil prices have gone up, people have changed from SUV’s to small cars, diesel engines are favored over petrol engines, public transport has broadened and all of this influences one thing- Traffic Congestion.

What once took minutes cover, nowadays takes hours. Point A to B is crammed with cars, bikes, traffic signals etc, and that’s what has propelled manufacturers to build city cars, cars that are particularly intended to operate effectively in the city.

The Smart Fortwo was one the first of its kind. Daimler and Swiss watch maker Swatch, joined hands to formulate this two seater car which was a immense hit as soon as it moved out on the market. City cars are making more sense now than they ever did, and who better can you talk to other than Aydar Rakhmatullin, the owner of a 2008 Smart Fortwo in the U.S.A and a regular visitor of Indian Autos Blog. We queried him a lot of doubts and questions, and this is what he had to say.

IAB- Tell us something about your car. When did you buy it and more importantly why did you buy it?

I got my Smart about 5 months ago and even though I’ve got a few other cars,  I only drive them occasionally, to just keep them running. This car is blast to drive and gets a lot of attention. So if you are a shy person, this car is not for you.

First time I saw and drove one was in Switzerland back in 2002. That was when I knew that I MUST have one. Unfortunately at that time, it was almost impossible to get a Smart here in the States. By the end of 2006 some rumors started to float around the internet that it finally might come here. Smart USA started take reservations in spring of 2007, so I placed my order and a long wait started. Smart went officially on sale in February and I finally got my “Surfmobile” in April. I’ve had it for almost 5 months and I love it. It is more then just practical transportation. It is very unique and different and not like any other car you will see on the roads today.

Currently, there is a wait time of between 12-18 months to get your pre-ordered Smart, but to me it is well worth the wait.

IAB- We do see that you love your car. Have you given it a name?!

I love cars and surfing, while I have another “proper” surf car, I named my Smart “SURFMOBILE”, just to emphasize it`s small size (most surf cars are quite big to accommodate long boards)

IAB- Tell us something about the other cars that you own. How would you contrast your car with some of the similar city cars?

At the present time I also own PT Cruiser, Chevy S10 4×4 pickup truck and my wife drives Scion XA. It drives similar to any other small car despite of it size. The first thing that almost everyone who has ever sat in my car says is that how comfortable and spacious it is inside. Once you are inside, you do  not even realize how small it is and it is the only car I have ever owned where I do not need to push my seat all the way back.

One thing to expect is a little bit more bumpier ride because it has such a small wheel base, and the transmission needs to get used to. Technically, the Smart transmission is 5 speed manual with an automatic mode. You have a choice to drive it in Auto or Manual mode and can shift from one to another on the fly. In the Manual mode you can up-shift or down-shift with paddle-shifters or use gear shifter to change gears. Some drivers who are used to only driving cars with auto transmissions report sluggish performance.

I personally drive 99% of the time in Manual mode and for me, the transmission is one of the best parts of driving a Smart.

IAB- Some People say the Smart Fortwo is one of the safest cars around due to the ‘tridion’ frame and its complex engineering. How do you feel when you sit in the car? Do you feel safe and secure?

I strongly feel that car is very safe, at least if compared to the subcompact cars like Honda Fit or Toyota Yaris. Even though Smart was designed as city car I feel very confident driving it on the highway at high speeds. As I said earlier, I decided that I wanted a Smart the first time drove one.

Smart got top safety ratings from Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), Euro NCAP, and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Smart is very small but packed with safety equipment: Front and side aibags, Antilock Brakes (ABS), Electronic Stability Control (EPS), Acceleration Skid Control (ASC) & Engine Torque Control (ETC), Cornering Brake Control (CBC), Hill Start Assist (HSA). The highlight of the safety management system is ofcourse the tridion safety cell as you pointed out earlier. Basically tridon safety cell is roll-cage similar to one in the racing cars.

IAB- Tell us something about the modifications you have carried out on your car.

Some of my upgrades include performance exhaust by “Breathless Performance Products”, Evil Twin Cold Air Intake, K&N air filter, ScanGage II trip computer and diagnostic tool, blackened out headlights, custom rims to name few. In the near future I want to add black 17″ Lorinser rims, body kit and custom wrap (graphics). I don’t plan on doing any extravagant alterations on my Smart. I want to keep it street legal because it is my daily driver.

IAB- What is the fastest you have gone in it?

Speed is limited by ECU (Engine Control Unit) to 90mph (145km/h). Some people do not believe me when I say that such a small car can do 90, so I posted a photo of my speedo clocked at 92mph on my CarDomain page. Some owners reported maximum speed of 110mph (177 km/h) after reprogramming ECU.

IAB- Tell me about the maintenance part of it. How much you shell out and how frequently? Where do you get it serviced?

I’ve got around 6000 miles so far on my Smart. Smart recommends oil change intervals 10,000 miles (around 15000 km).  The car is pretty reliable and I do not have any problems so far. I do all basic service on all my cars myself, not because I`m cheap, but because I like to work on the cars.

There is a network of dealerships here in the States, and from what I’ve heard service/repair/parts prices are comparable to any other brands. All the red panels on my car is made out of plastic. I can get a new full set or separate pieces from the dealership. Full set cost around $800 – $1200  depending on the color. All the panels easily replaceable. So technically I can change the color of my car in my garage in about 90 minutes. This will definitely cut cost in the case of a small fender bender because I can just buy a new panel and replace the damaged one.

IAB- What is the maximum distance you have covered in it? How did you feel at the end of it?

Usually I drive around 90 miles a day a few days a week to work, I think my longest trip was around 400 miles. Trust me, I felt good!

IAB- Your take on the Indian auto industry

Do not know much about Indian auto industry for exception of the Tata and that Indian company owns Jaguar….

IAB- Our Indian readers are so bothered about gas mileage, and this being a city car, they would hunt us down and shoot us if we don’t talk about the mileage aspect. How much does your Fortwo return anyway?

After almost 6000 miles, I am averaging somewhere between 42 and 48 MPG driving in mixed conditions (city/ highway). I guess this car should work wonders in India.

You can get more pictures and information on Aydar’s car at his Car Domain page

If you would also want to literally see the benefits of this car in the city, click here.

A regular visitor of Indian Autos Blog and Kuwait resident, 27 year old Debargha Mitra, is terrific and charming. Born and brought up in India, Debargha invariably desired to play Rossi on the tarmac once he grew up and began earning enough to pillar himself. His dream came alive, approximately a year and a half after he arrived in Kuwait to take up a job . His dream bike, a Honda CBR, found itself a home in Debargha’s garage. Let’s hear to what he has to say-

“Take the risk if u want to achieve something…. May be you will get more than what you want…”

In 2005 I got an opportunity to go abroad as I was given an irresistible offer by a reputed firm in Kuwait . I earnestly did not have any idea about this country as in India no person understands what Gulf countries are all about. What everybody relates to Gulf countries is money, but practically things are unlike. However, I’m only allowed to speak about my bike here, therefore I’ll stick to that!

Nevertheless, when I came outside the Kuwait Airport after a few hours of flight from India, straight away I saw Lamborghinis, Ferraris, Porsches, BMWs, the things that you find in kid’s bedroom walls in India. I stared at them for long enough to cause the taxi driver get annoyed and unwillingly walked across to the parking lot. There, things got even better. SUV’s, the size of Venezuela donning badges that read ‘GMC,’ ‘Chevrolet,’ ‘Dodge’ etc, stood all over the place, where I only habituated of Tata Sumo, Tata Safari and Mahindra Scorpio- the popular SUV’s in India, which were fifty percent their sizes.

So Debargha labored hard and finally the day came when his dream turned into reality-25th dec 2006, a day to remember, he says. A partly used CBR 1000 RR, dressed in a black attire, was now at his disposal. He paid 2600KD (roughly U.S. 9700), for it. How excited he was, he attempts to explain-

“I can’t explain or express to you guys how important 25th dec 2006 in my life was, as I realized my dream on this day … I can try but I cant tell u how delighted I was that day….”

So, one happy man he is. Debargha rides 214 kms to and fro everyday to his office. He’s been doing that for nearly two years now, and so we queried him a few question about his experience with the bike.

IAB- You ride 214 kms day to day, don’t you feel weary or doesn’t your back ache? You might have gotten used to it, but the comfort the seat offers and the riding position plays a large role, doesn’t it?

Debargha- The handling of this bike is really cool, and it is made for travelling at high speeds, not for comfort, which is the case with cruisers like Harley Davidsons. A cruiser bike is like a luxury car, while sports bikes like mine are like Formula cars. They shake you up when you feed the power in. Even so, you will at no time feel uncomfortable, as in your joints and muscles won’t ache after you learn to ride it well. But always rememeber, speed is entertainment only when you know how to shed it. Braking control, even if varies from one rider to another, is a vital thing to master, before you try and push the bike to high speeds.

IAB- Is owning the CBR 1000 a costly excersice? How much do you shell out at the service station every time?

Debargha- In order to avoid unscheduled maintenance, to save time and leave out headaches, one must learn to take care of his/her bike. Otherwise, maintenance is not much of a fuss. Maintenance also helps you get the highest performance from your machine. Here’s the schedule I follow for my bike- Same as the one prescribed by Honda.

Engine oil change after every 2500KMs
Brake oil change after 1000KMS
Brake shoe change after every 10000Kms
Tyre change after every 15000kms
Chain change after every 20000kms

If the aforementioned is followed properly, there won’t be much of a difficulty. All you need to do to apart from that is refuel and enjoy!

IAB- What are the safety equipements you armour yourself with, before climbing onto your bike?

Debargha- Some people get back onto their bike after a fall. Some don’t, while some can’t. Fate is something which we can believe in, but we need to ensure that we are fully protected, so that even in an occasion of an awful fall, we can reduce the damage on our body.

One must always wear gloves, helmet, jacket and shoes before riding a bike like the CBR. There are plenty of good and established brands in the market, but I personally suggest Alpenstars for gloves, AGV, ARAI, NOLAN for Helmets, and I have two types of riders jackets. The one I use in the summer is SWIFT, and for winter its ALPENSTARs.

IAB- Well, what you ride is no 50 cc moped. But we would still like to know what fuel consumption figures your bike returns. This one is for the Indian audience.

Debargha- Lol! Yeah, I can understand. As I ride most of that 214 kms on a freeway with little traffic or stop signals, my bike returns 14 to 15 kms/ltr. As this is the middle-east, and fuel is dirt cheap, I really don’t bother about gas mileage. Furthermore, as you said, this isn’t a moped, it’s a 1000 cc monster.