Memorable trips
This is the latest casuality on my Bolero. The indicator light simply popped out of it's socket at the end of my last drive. Intriguingly, this has happened without any external impact on that side of the vehicle. Has anyone else faced this issue? Also, I was told by both Sireesh Auto & SKS Auto (formerly Vijai Auto) that they do not have this item stocked at the moment. So I've been driving around this last week with the indicator 'bandaged' with a strip of cellophane tape! Upon calling up India Garage today I was told they have it, so will have to go there & get it and then have it installed by SKS. Phew! MEMORABLE TRIPS
A running report regarding my Bolero would be incomplete without mentioning a few memorable trips I've made and my opinions regarding the vehicle during the concerned trips. I. BANGALORE-MUMBAI (990KMs) MAY 2009
This will probably remain THE most memorable trip of mine for a long time to come, due to the distance travelled and due to the fact that on the onward journey I was alone. I did it on a Saturday and the next day was my brother's wedding in M'bai. Started from B'lore at about 3 a.m. Saturday morning and kept at it non-stop (barring two pee-breaks & two refuellings in between) till I reached M'bai by 6.30 p.m. that evening. My concerns before the trip were A) I had had the Bolero only for a month and so I was just getting used to the vehicle and I was as yet not fully acclitimised to the characteristic bumps & vibrations of the Bolero B) The cheap/utilitarian build of the Bolero had somehow created a subconscious mindset in me that this vehicle might develop some problem or the other on the way or that some part or the other might fall off! C) This vehicle drank diesel like my bro drank beer! So I hit upon 2 measures to counter my concerns 1) I would keep my top speed to 90kmph throughout the trip 2) I would not turn on the A/C for the duration of the trip.
A majority of the route was 4-lane roads, and the one word that would aptly describe the Bolero's highway performance would be 'SOLID'! I kept getting the feeling that it had it's feet well planted on the tarmac since the steering stubbornly refused to move, infact it felt as if the vehicle was travelling on it's own in a groove/rail on the road! - so, contrary to my expectation drive fatigue was very low! Likewise in addition to the fact that I started early in the morning, luckily it was a pleasant day as well with light cloud cover throughout the day, hence with the front windows full & rear windows part down I didn't miss the A/C much. The medium speed and non-operation of the A/C apparently worked in reducing the fuelburn, since I calculated a mileage of 14.2 kmpl as compared to the 12.3 kmpl that I usually get and I needed only 2 refuelings on the onward journey with a half tankful remaining from the second filling which served me throughout my stay in M'bai.
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