Eons ago I owned an Amby. A Honda City is my present means of locomotion. What has the journey been like?
I decided to take a drive through the winding lanes of memory, reminiscing about the various cars I owned over the years.
I regret that not being a photography buff I have very few pics of my earlier vehicles. The handful that exist (pretty smudged and jaded) are being put up.
I would love to read from fellow BHPians about the machines that they possessed in the past (down to the present) and their brief fond/unhappy take on each car. Pics (if any) would also be welcome.
My first car was an Amby (2nd hand of course) – bought in 1984 (November) - and if memory serves me right, a 1980 model. ‘Twas a kind of Bottle Green originally – I can still remember the registration number – KLM 1074. (I guess it is a bit like one’s first love – it is etched into memory). My friends used to joke about KLM Flight 1074 taking off and landing. I kept it for around six years; the car traversed through my bachelorhood into marriage onto the first addition to the family. It changed colour twice from the original green to a light (milky?) grey and finally to a gleaming black when it was parted with – and also had the engine re-bored once along with an extensive patchwork job. I remember getting fog lamps fixed (those big flat, ribbed, yellow ones) and a blower added (an a/c was way beyond one’s budget at the time) – and yes, a pair of Roots horns (Bosch was out of reach of my purse too).
Likes –
1) Spacious and comfortable (for its time).
2) Fairly cheap to maintain.
3) Easy to repair (any little roadside workshop would do, in case of breakdowns – which mercifully were far and few between).
Dislikes –
1) Portly and ponderous, it would show signs of uneasiness once over the 80/90mark. (The Fiats/Premiers of the day were considered much more zippy)
2) Pretty thirsty (being the original petrol engine). I remember folks getting Matador or Isuzu diesel engines fixed to Ambassadors those days. I wasn’t in the habit of measuring FE then but I guess it would have been 7 to 8 kmpl in town and 10 on the highway.
3) Horrendous quality (all round) – especially in the light of today’s cars – rust, omnipresent rattles etc etc.
In 1991 the Amby changed hands and I went in for a second hand, white, 1987 (I think), “original shape” Maruthi 800. I forget the regn number – it was originally a Tamil Nadu regn – I bought it during my brief Comibatore stint - which later was changed to a Kerala one when I shifted back to God’s Own. The seats were specially done up – Koyas Coimbatore I was told – and were a garish red with black stripes (the one major peeve about the car). My first A/C vehicle!!! - and I got a special kick driving around in summer with the tiny unit on full blast (didn’t cool me too much sadly). I kept it for a couple of years – it was in good shape and I had no major hassles until I sold it in 1993 (for a marginal plus over the purchase price)
Likes –
1) The design.
2) The pep in the engine (esp after the sluggish Amby).
3) The total ease of driving (again a huge contrast from the Amby)
4) FE (not measured but I guess was in the region of 12/13 in town)
Dislikes –
1) Lack of space – tiny boot.
2) Feeble A/C unit.
The ’93 purchase was a 1989 model “new shape”, white Maruthi 800 – number forgotten. The previous owner was something of a car enthusiast and had made certain modifications (that later proved to be rather disastrous for me) on the vehicle: spacers, protrusions from the wheel arches etc. The car was with me for just over a year before I decided to get rid of it. Rust had started showing its ugly head on all the modified areas. And the car did give me a spot of bother on trips. Overall it was just barely passable and I palmed it off rather hurriedly (for just about the purchase price).
Likes –
1) FE (I guess it gave around 12 in town)
Dislikes
1) More visits to the w/shop than ever before.
1994 was when I went in for a blue Maruthi Omni of 1988 vintage (KDE 2032). The seats had an atrocious fur like covering and so did the dashboard. The vehicle was in decent shape and I did some memorable trips; it was spacious enough to carry all the stuff that a family with 2 small children needed to take around. The rear portion (luggage area) also had the advantage of doubling up as a loo for the tiny tots, where the potty could positioned in comfort during journey breaks
![Big Grin](https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/images/smilies/biggrin.png)
. Large plastic cans filled with water was also lugged around with ease for the purpose.
It had a factory fitted A/C (I understand Maruthi discontinued that version pretty quickly).
The Omni stuck around for over a year till some quirk in me make me sell it.
Likes –
1) Space.
2) Manoeuvrability in the narrow confines of Cochin.
3) Ease of driving.
Dislikes –
1) Stability issues on the highway – and a niggling feeling of insecurity.
2) Ineffective A/C unit.
The 1995 purchase of a white Premier 118 NE (again number forgotten) has got to be my worst decision in car purchase to date. I think I was floored by the extra fittings in the form of attractive fog lamps, horns etc and a decent stereo system. It stayed with me for 2 years, underwent a change in colour to a slightly crude brown (the paint jobs of our desi workshops those days were a bit iffy at times) and major surgery in the form of extensive tinkering, suspension and patchwork. It was a moody one and gave me endless trouble on the highway breaking down off and on. The low point was a trip from Calicut to Cochin when suddenly (near Angamaly) it stopped and refused to move, like a recalcitrant mule. It was all the more embarrassing since I had a largish contingent of elderly relatives with me. We had to hire a cab and complete the rest of the journey while the car was towed back to Cochin.
Likes –
Virtually none – except maybe the fact that it had fairly comfortable seats.
Dislikes –
1 to 100) Far too many to list.
End 1997 was when I got my first (and last) company car in the form of a brand new (again a first for me), white Tata Sumo (KL 7 P 1107). It has been to date my only diesel vehicle as well. I got it fitted with a power steering and A/C a few months down the line and it ran like clockwork over the next three years of my use. I travelled the length and breadth of Kerala (and beyond), over different types of terrain through 3 monsoons – massive potholes, flooded city lanes and nonexistent estate roads . The big boss of my company jocularly used to refer to it as my mobile office. A real workhorse, it went through one colour change as I was (and am still) not fond of white – got it changed to a kind of steel grey. I never checked the FE and have no clue what it gave.
Likes –
1) Space
2) Ruggedness
3) Reliability
Dislikes (not too many) –
1) A bit shaky at high speeds on the highway.
2) And maybe the looks (I was keen on a Sierra but the company felt the Sumo to be more user friendly).
At the turn of the century I got myself a new maroon Hyundai Santro (well actually a little past the turn – August 2000). I can’t recollect the regn number. It was a peppy car, excellent to use in the city (the FE was not too good though). I kept it only for about 11 months before I began to salivate at the sight of attractive sedans waltzing into the market. In retrospect though, I think I was a mite hasty in selling it.
Likes –
1) Pep
2) Ease of use in town
3) High seating.
Dislikes (pretty minor)
1)Bumpy ride
2)FE not to desired levels – this was the time I started maintaining a log and filling full tank to full tank. It gave me 9/10 kms in town (with A/C on always) and around 12/13 on the highway.
In 2001 (Oct) I bought a new silver Opel Corsa (number forgotten) – my first brush with German engineering. It was a pretty good car – solid but a trifle cramped. Did a few long trips with the family. Somehow I sensed that it would not be a good long term prospect and in any case the car market had changed beyond recognition with more drool-worthy models stirring one’s desires. I ran the car for a mere 15000 kms before I switched.
Likes –
1) A feeling of solidity
2)Nice interiors
Dislikes-
1) Not very comfortable to drive on long cruises.
2) FE was not good – about 8 in town.
3) Cramped rear seats.
May 2003 saw me buy a new silver Honda City (KL 7 AM 9048). It was a superb car overall. I kept it for 3 years (25000 kms) before selling it. The only reason to sell it was this desire for an automatic. (By then the bumper to bumper pot-holed roads had taken their toll on driving pleasure and I made up my mind to switch.) It was a spacious, capable sedan and good looking to boot. FE was acceptable – about 9 in town and 14/15 on the highway.
Likes –
1) Looks
2) Space and comfort
3) Reliability
Dislikes –
1) The low slung design was pretty unforgiving on the ‘by now beginning to creak joints and back’
![Smile](https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/images/smilies/smile.png)
. The aged (late) pater also found ingress/egress a challenge.
Being happy with the Honda, the decision on the next car was simple (apart from being the only AT option at that price point). In May 2006 the new Honda CVT came home (warm silver) and has been with me to date – 60000kms and running. It has proved to be a competent all rounder – easy in town and adequate on the occasional highway trip that I make.
Likes –
1) Driving is a breeze (even my daughter enjoys taking it for spins) – the steering is light and easy.
2) Spacious enough (although the OHC had more space to let me sprawl while driving as is my wont).
3) FE is adequate – 8.5/9 in town and 12/13 on the highway.
4) So far been reasonable on maintenance – but dark clouds gather ahead in the form of steering rattle which I am told will cost around 40 k for replacement. Temporary surgery in the form of additional bushes has been conducted which will hopefully carry it on for another year or so.
Dislikes-
1) That blind spot at the A pillar (a huge peeve – I have had a few narrow misses relating to the two wheeler kind).
2) Loud thuds while going over rough roads.
3) Slightly stiff ride.
I am undecided on how much longer to keep the car – I will probably hold on for another couple of years by which time the brood should fly the nest – and then downsize to some comfortable AT hatch, which I hope will hit the market by then.
Some pics of my locomotives of the past --