[shamik.bose]

That's a sweet picture zibby.

[Scorcher]

Originally Posted by zibby

Found this on google. The only LHD california in India till now.

Attachment 281449

One question, how did he mangae to register a LHD vehicle in India ?

[aman9393]

Hey guys,
Guess what, saw this thread just now, and recalled reading about Ratan Tata's cars in Autocar's 10th anniversary edition, i.e. the September 2009 edition.
Here is the list of Ratan Tata's cars and his quotes about them

Ratan Tata on his cars

Ferrari California: "It's the most exhilarating car i have. The sound is fantastic and it turns heads."

Maserati Quattroporte: "It's softer than the Ferrari and is also terrific to drive."

Cadillac XLR: "The roadster is one of my favourites. The acceleration is impressive and suspension is quite stiff by American standards."

Chrysler Sebring: "I just love the colour of this car. In fact, the Indica we first showcased in Geneva in 1998 was painted the same colour."

Land Rover Freelander: "It drives quite well and i love the red upholstery."

Mercedes 500 SL: "When i got it, it was terrific but it's now just another car."

Mercedes S-class: "it's for normal use and after the sports cars it feels like butter and goes like a glider!"

Tata Indigo Marina: "I've removed the backseat and put a mattress to take my dogs in it."

Quoting another para from an article on Ratan Tata.

....It's also a life car enthusiasts would die for. Quite simply, Ratan Tata is crazy about cars. He can't help it. Born a Parsi, the passion is deeply embedded in his DNA. Over the years Ratan has acquired quite a collection of cars and the pristine manner in which he maintains them explains why the term 'Parsi owned' fetches a premium. True to his clan, he is particularly possessive about his cars - no one other than himself can drive them - ans=d his gleaming collection tucked away in a basement, is pampered to look nothing less than showroom-fresh....

SOURCE: Autocar September 2009 10th anniversary edition.

[hanmust]

That photo was taken by Autocar India for their last anniversary issue.

[Car-e-ok]

After reading i did already have appreciation and respect for this guy.But my respect-o-meter has gone higher now. I was impressed about bill gates that he still lives at his old home. Drive his old car. Drive his wife around in the city just a normal person way. Nothing spectacular and nothing extravagant. I dint knew our very own mr tata has fairly simple lifestyle as well. Butofcourse he owns a good persona as well.

[Scorcher]

It seems the criteria he is taking towards his likeness to a vehicle is mainly creature comforts like upholstery, noise etc than downright performance levels and engine n stuff.

Again, will someone mind to clear my doubt on how he managed to register the LHD Ferrari California in India ?

[rjalihal]

Originally Posted by aman9393

Quote:
Ratan Tata on his cars

Tata Indigo Marina: "I've removed the backseat and put a mattress to take my dogs in it."

Perfect way to take dogs out for a walk. Wonder if other Indigo owners will follow suit!

[Car-e-ok]

Originally Posted by Scorcher

It seems the criteria he is taking towards his likeness to a vehicle is mainly creature comforts like upholstery, noise etc than downright performance levels and engine n stuff.

Again, will someone mind to clear my doubt on how he managed to register the LHD Ferrari California in India ?

May be this is how he got his car imported.
Source:TOI
NEW DELHI: Nearly a year after relaxing the testing norms for cars imported by individuals, the government has now decided to allow carmakers to
import left-hand drive vehicles into India albeit only for testing and research purposes.

The imported left-hand driven vehicles, senior government officials said, cannot be sold to Indian customers. "These vehicles can be imported strictly for testing purposes by companies. With most countries following the left-hand drive norms, we have decided to open up this small window to allow manufacturers access to the latest technology across the globe," a senior official with DGFT said.
The permission, the official added, has been granted following several requests from individual car makers and Siam).
India follows the right hand drive norm that's also adopted by countries like UK and South Africa. Though embassies and state missions were earlier allowed to import left hand drive cars, even this selective import was it was barred later.
Siam DG Dilip Chenoy said this would help carmakers get the latest technologies and try to adapt these to Indian technologies. "This will ensure the best from the developed world is available to Indian consumers faster than before," an industry observer said.

This comes on the heels of the government relaxing norms for individuals importing top-end cars, by waiving off the testing — or homologation — requirements. Under these norms, any individual can import a vehicle priced above Rs 20 lakh without sending it for road-worthiness tests.

[Scorcher]

Originally Posted by Car-e-ok

May be this is how he got his car imported.
Source:TOI
NEW DELHI: Nearly a year after relaxing the testing norms for cars imported by individuals, the government has now decided to allow carmakers to
import left-hand drive vehicles into India albeit only for testing and research purposes.

The imported left-hand driven vehicles, senior government officials said, cannot be sold to Indian customers. "These vehicles can be imported strictly for testing purposes by companies. With most countries following the left-hand drive norms, we have decided to open up this small window to allow manufacturers access to the latest technology across the globe," a senior official with DGFT said.
The permission, the official added, has been granted following several requests from individual car makers and Siam).
India follows the right hand drive norm that's also adopted by countries like UK and South Africa. Though embassies and state missions were earlier allowed to import left hand drive cars, even this selective import was it was barred later.
Siam DG Dilip Chenoy said this would help carmakers get the latest technologies and try to adapt these to Indian technologies. "This will ensure the best from the developed world is available to Indian consumers faster than before," an industry observer said.

This comes on the heels of the government relaxing norms for individuals importing top-end cars, by waiving off the testing — or homologation — requirements. Under these norms, any individual can import a vehicle priced above Rs 20 lakh without sending it for road-worthiness tests.

Whoops ! thanks buddy for the info, but as it says, Mr. Tata have not imported the car for any kind of Testing or Research purposes for his company/cars but for his personal use. Then isn't it a clear violation of the norms ?

[Cyrus43]

That Picture was featured in the Autocar in the 2009 Anniversary edition along with a full story on his California.

[MileCruncher]

Originally Posted by Scorcher

Whoops ! thanks buddy for the info, but as it says, Mr. Tata have not imported the car for any kind of Testing or Research purposes for his company/cars but for his personal use. Then isn't it a clear violation of the norms ?

There is a good chance that the car was brought in by FIAT and then given to Mr. TATA for regular. There is no law that bars a company car being driven by an individual.

[Car-e-ok]

Originally Posted by MileCruncher

There is a good chance that the car was brought in by FIAT and then given to Mr. TATA for regular. There is no law that bars a company car being driven by an individual.

Thanks buddy.I was on my way to write the same but you did the favour.Yes scorcher buddy you have got a good point right there. But i mean at the end of the day they are corporate tycoons. They have 2000 ways to manouver things and get them to work. That too on a legal means. Even if he registers the car under company name,and use it for his personal use nobody can stop him for doing that. or otherwise he can have fiat gift him the car while fiat get the car in india for testing means. They make affidavits like we make toast for breakfast.

[Scorcher]

Originally Posted by MileCruncher

There is a good chance that the car was brought in by FIAT and then given to Mr. TATA for regular. There is no law that bars a company car being driven by an individual.

Originally Posted by Car-e-ok

Thanks buddy.I was on my way to write the same but you did the favour.Yes scorcher buddy you have got a good point right there. But i mean at the end of the day they are corporate tycoons. They have 2000 ways to manouver things and get them to work. That too on a legal means. Even if he registers the car under company name,and use it for his personal use nobody can stop him for doing that. or otherwise he can have fiat gift him the car while fiat get the car in india for testing means. They make affidavits like we make toast for breakfast.

Thanks guys ! These corporate giants and their ways !

[DocG]

Originally Posted by Car-e-ok

I was impressed about bill gates that he still lives at his old home. Drive his old car.

True that he still owns his old home, but have you never heard about his USD 60 million tech castle outside of Seatle? Dude the guy has one of the best houses around! He's not into cars, so what difference does it make?

Originally Posted by rjalihal

Perfect way to take dogs out for a walk. Wonder if other Indigo owners will follow suit!

True, my neighbour a while back in Delhi had a Baleno wagon just for his 3 dogs, he simply folded down the seats and stuffed cusions in the back at the time lol the dogs were kept in an AC room in the house (St bernard in Delhi lol)

Here in Mumbai I've seen someone in Nerul bring his dogs to the park in a camry (Old model). The driver comes there every evening with 2 dogs that sit in the back seat, he takes them for a 30 min walk in the park and then back home...

Lucky dogs

[Cyrus43]

That is nothing. There is a fellow in dadar whose Dogs are driven around in a Black 5 series!! Anyways, We are going off topic here