*** Milestone#1 - 10,000 km completed. Bought the car earlier this month last year.***
Work was keeping me busy lately and I got a chance to visit Hyderabad over the weekend.
Rains + KA bandh was the best excuse to hit the highway with Bellissa.
I decided to start at 2 AM to avoid VOLVO multi axle buses and reach Hyderabad by 10 or 11.
Got a tank fill done the previous day and air pressure set to 32 psi.
It was raining like crazy outside and my tap ran out of water while I was soaped up at 1 AM at night. So, I put a towel on and ran to the ground floor to access the water pump.
Eventually I could start only at 2:20 AM. ODO read 9,170 km.
The highway was deserted save for a few local taxis who were racing each other in the wet. It stopped once I hit AP border.
It was a cool morning so I didn't even bother to switch on the AC till I reached Lepakshi. It was after I crossed Lepakshi that I put the AC on to match the ambient temperature outside at 23 degrees. It was raining heavily too.
At around 6:45 AM, I decided to take a small pee break and binge on the parathas I was carrying.
I had covered a distance of exactly 300 km and I decided to check what mileage I was getting so far and I was shocked to see what I saw.
This was diesel car category mileage. Needless to say, I went bonkers. Getting such read outs from a 1.4 petrol is crazy to say the least.
Clicked a few pics of the car and it's surroundings with the only cam I had in the trip - my Asus Zenfone 5.
After taking a good 20 min break, I hit the road again and kept paying tolls every now and then. Took the next break about 130 km from Hyderabad at Kottakota. I had met with an accident on my bike at this very place on 12th July 2014 with multiple fractures after colliding with a dog.
I parked the car at the same spot (there is a dhaba just 50 m away where I was seated after the accident and it still exists. Name is Meena dhaba).
Clicked a few pics and checked the mileage again. I maintained speeds between 80-95 kmph throughout my onward journey to Hyderabad and the AC was kept matching with the ambient temperature until it crossed 26 degrees when I left it at that value).
The next stop was supposed to be in Hyderabad. Sadly, I missed taking the slight turn to elevated PV Narasimha Rao expressway and had to drive through the city to reach Nampally, where my hotel was booked. My heart was literally in my mouth while travelling through dense market streets at 11 AM, especially Begum bazaar.
I completed my work by evening and came back to click the mileage including Hyderabad traffic and still had a big grin on my face.
Heavy rain later in the evening kept me indoors watching TV.
I planned leaving by 7 AM the next morning, but I got up early and left by 6:20 AM itself.
I tanked up after getting down from the expressway (didn't miss it the 2nd time) and almost got cheated by IOCL pump attendants.
Asked them for 1000 worth of fuel and he stopped at 300. I told him I asked for 1000 and he went to set the pump for an additional 700 when another chap came asking for my card and I saw that the meter was not reset.
I got pissed and said I want a print out from the machine for whatever fuel they put in. They realized I was aware and continued filling from 300 all the way till 1000.
Here is a crumpled piece of the card swipe receipt. Guys, you may want to avoid this pump. Fuel meter showed correct readings (tankfull), so I didn't bother with the receipt from the fuel machine.
Roads were empty with lush greenery all around.
Thereafter I kept driving and paying tolls. I was driving a bit faster than usual, between 90 to 110 kmph and I had AC running throughout.
Soon, the car hit it's first milestone.
I was only carrying biscuits and water on the return journey and hunger pangs were getting worse. But I didn't spot any worthwhile eateries that were open. Maybe I missed them.
I stopped at random places and clicked the insides and outsides of the car all the way to Devanahalli.
Since Bangalore was near, I ordered for a Dominos pizza and headed straight for home.
Reached at around 2:55 PM and took the vital stats.
I stopped 16 times at toll booths (8 each side) and paid a sum of Rs 1,298 for the same overall. Spent Rs 4,500 on petrol.
All in all, I'm a happy Bellissa owner.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SKavuri Did you feel any improvement in peppiness over time, especially after second service? |
Yes, the car revs better and mileage has improved.