[valerie_bakker]

Hi everyone,

I have been lurking around here since the days of dial-up just out of interest for cars, but I was way too young to contribute anything meaningful back then. I am 31 now and I have a few years of motoring experience. So, hoping to participate in a lot of interesting discussions here.

My interest in cars (specifically off-roaders), led me into mechanical engineering. My career since then took a green turn and since finishing my masters, I have been working as a strategy consultant specializing in energy and climate strategy. I am from Andhra Pradesh, but I have been living in New Delhi for about eight years now.

I love driving to the hills from Delhi once every two months and I love driving in Delhi on Sunday mornings. Other times, driving in Delhi NCR can be a chore. As someone who works in climate strategy, I keenly follow the evolution of hybrids and battery electric vehicles in India. Outside of the automotive field, I follow the latest developments in climate science and climate policy. I am also an amateur baker and I have a stack of pastry cookbooks. I also enjoy trekking.

My daily driver is Sloane, a Tata Tiago XZA+ and she has been with me through thick and thin for the last two years. I sometimes drive my parents' Tata Nexon Creative+ DCA. I am planning to buy a Jimny over the next two years and in the long-term, hopefully, a Land Rover Defender. I also hope we eventually get an electric Defender.

I learnt driving on the old family car, a 1998 Maruti 800 which has now been scrapped (RIP) and I have previously driven a 2010 Wagon R VXi, Yamaha FZ-S 2.0 2015 and a Honda Activa.

[Aditya]

Hi,

Welcome to Team-BHP. Good to have you here.

Originally Posted by valerie_bakker

I have been lurking around here since the days of dial-up just out of interest for cars, but I was way too young to contribute anything meaningful back then. I am 31 now and I have a few years of motoring experience. So, hoping to participate in a lot of interesting discussions here.

Days of dial-up? That's a very, very long time ago. Good to know you have not lost your interest in cars. Do share your experiences here.

I love driving to the hills from Delhi once every two months and I love driving in Delhi on Sunday mornings. Other times, driving in Delhi NCR can be a chore. As someone who works in climate strategy, I keenly follow the evolution of hybrids and battery electric vehicles in India. Outside of the automotive field, I follow the latest developments in climate science and climate policy. I am also an amateur baker and I have a stack of pastry cookbooks. I also enjoy trekking.

Interesting. Do add your experiences on the forum. We have many threads on trekking and cooking. I'm sure you can add one on baking.

My daily driver is Sloane, a Tata Tiago XZA+ and she has been with me through thick and thin for the last two years. I sometimes drive my parents' Tata Nexon Creative+ DCA. I am planning to buy a Jimny over the next two years and in the long-term, hopefully, a Land Rover Defender. I also hope we eventually get an electric Defender.

I am a big fan of the Jimny. It's likely to be my next purchase as well. It has some faults, but still, its got immense charm and is wonderful off-road. I love the Defender as well, but unless the God of Wealth is kind to me, it will remain well out of reach.

I learnt driving on the old family car, a 1998 Maruti 800 which has now been scrapped (RIP) and I have previously driven a 2010 Wagon R VXi, Yamaha FZ-S 2.0 2015 and a Honda Activa.

Many people here have learnt driving on the good old 800. It was the orignal people's car in India after all.

Looking forward to meaningful contributions from you.

See you on the forum.

[sudeepg]

Originally Posted by valerie_bakker

I am planning to buy a Jimny over the next two years and in the long-term, hopefully, a Land Rover Defender. I also hope we eventually get an electric Defender.

Why did you pick the Jimny over the Thar?

[that_sedate_guy]

Originally Posted by valerie_bakker

Hi everyone,

I have been lurking around here since the days of dial-up

My interest in cars (specifically off-roaders), led me into mechanical engineering.

I love driving to the hills from Delhi once every two months

I am also an amateur baker and I have a stack of pastry cookbooks. I also enjoy trekking.

also hope we eventually get an electric Defender.

I learnt driving on the old family car, a 1998 Maruti 800

Hello and welcome!

I still remember the specific screech brrrrr sound of the dial up. Of course I was a 5 y/o back then so the only wheel I got behind was of our Ambassador sitting on my dad's lap

Ditto, my interest in cars and machines in general made me choose Mechanical engineering!

I was in Uttarakhand for a year about two years ago. I can resonate with your passion for the hills and their majestic allure. Be it on my lovely Pulsar or my little faithful Kwid, the hills always extended their calling over the weekends and I had to answer.

Now this is something I've never dared to venture into. I do make rudimentary microwaved cakes but I have a huge respect for anyone who has the patience to try pastry, goodness!

And, gosh I thought I was the only one looking forward to proper off roaders with electric drivetrains. Not that I can afford landrovers but hey, someone else may make one within my reach!

Ditto again! I think most of us have started on that humble 800cc pony

The community has been super cool and I've been having a blast here and I'm sure you will too.

[valerie_bakker]

Originally Posted by Aditya

Days of dial-up? That's a very, very long time ago. Good to know you have not lost your interest in cars. Do share your experiences here.

I was a child lurking around the forum because I did not have any petrol-heads around me in real life. While the home cars were a Maruti 800 and a Wagon R, I used to come here to read about the "cooler" cars. Maybe I should also clarify that dial-up was prevalent for much longer (up to 2007-2008) outside of the cities.

Originally Posted by Aditya

Interesting. Do add your experiences on the forum. We have many threads on trekking and cooking. I'm sure you can add one on baking.

Definitely, I have been getting better at food photography.

Originally Posted by Aditya

I am a big fan of the Jimny. It's likely to be my next purchase as well. It has some faults, but still, its got immense charm and is wonderful off-road. I love the Defender as well, but unless the God of Wealth is kind to me, it will remain well out of reach.

I just hope MSIL does not discontinue it considering its sales numbers.

[valerie_bakker]

Originally Posted by sudeepg

Why did you pick the Jimny over the Thar?

The short answer is the Jimny appeals to my heart while the Thar doesn't.

The long answer is I think it's the right vehicle for me as a 5'6" woman who tries to lead a relatively active lifestyle. I was in the UK for work for a few months in 2022 and I saw that the 3-door Jimny was the vehicle of choice for a lot of young people interested in trekking and the outdoors. I was so thrilled when MSIL announced Jimny, and I was hoping they would bring us the 3-door version too. I love the 5-door version as well. With a smaller width than the Thar, it comes with the advantage of easier parking in Delhi.

Originally Posted by that_sedate_guy

I was in Uttarakhand for a year about two years ago. I can resonate with your passion for the hills and their majestic allure. Be it on my lovely Pulsar or my little faithful Kwid, the hills always extended their calling over the weekends and I had to answer.

Were these the happier post-pandemic days when companies weren't forcing people to come back to office yet?

Now this is something I've never dared to venture into. I do make rudimentary microwaved cakes but I have a huge respect for anyone who has the patience to try pastry, goodness!

Overall, I find that baking is an easier endeavor compared to cooking. As long as I follow the recipes well, it turns out good. We don't find things like "Salt: to taste" in pastry cookbooks.

And, gosh I thought I was the only one looking forward to proper off roaders with electric drivetrains. Not that I can afford landrovers but hey, someone else may make one within my reach!

There is a UK company called E.C.D. that makes electric Defenders. Something like that in India would be my dream.

[Amrik Singh]

Just want to know if driving in Delhi is any pleasure?

If you drive an ordinary beaten up Car - it's not a pleasure. However driving a high end Car always keeps mental tension on high, worrying that someone may not hit or scrape past.

In any case, personally, I do not find it good for health besides constant worry of finding a Parkimg Slot (unless reserved like I have at my house). But even to reach it is a nightmare.

[that_sedate_guy]

Originally Posted by valerie_bakker

Were these the happier post-pandemic days when companies weren't forcing people to come back to office yet?

We don't find things like "Salt: to taste" in pastry cookbooks.

Something like that in India would be my dream.

We had to go to the factory but even one day off meant I was more than 100 kms into the hills on my bike heheh.

So true. My wife always complains about that exact phrase too. I on the other hand just put whatever is in the recipe, not in the recipe just to make something palatable and coin a name of my own.

Who knows, maybe with the onslaught of hatches and large coupes, proper SUVs may just be the next target of the EV industry. Oh well, we can dream, can't we

[valerie_bakker]

Originally Posted by Amrik Singh

Just want to know if driving in Delhi is any pleasure?
If you drive an ordinary beaten up Car - it's not a pleasure. However driving a high end Car always keeps mental tension on high, worrying that someone may not hit or scrape past.
In any case, personally, I do not find it good for health besides constant worry of finding a Parkimg Slot (unless reserved like I have at my house). But even to reach it is a nightmare.

Mostly, I agree. Parking is a pain and most drivers in this city do not understand lane discipline, turn signaling or when to use high beams. The city is full of SUVs and as someone who drives a hatchback, night driving can be very taxing.

That said, I enjoy my early morning drives. When the roads are less chaotic, driving can be meditative and relaxing.

[catchjyoti]

Welcome to the Team-bhp family Valerie! Hope you enjoy your time here.