Update After Two Years and 42000 Kms
The car is now 2 years young and I couldn't have asked for a better companion in my journeys. The 2 year ownership period has been blissful, trouble-free and quite exhilarating to say the least. Every time I take the car out for a drive, I am impressed by its driving manners, delighted by its fuel economy and overjoyed by its power delivery. Though the pandemic has made sure the car has not run as much as it should have but nonetheless, 42k kms on the ODO is still quite good.
Current ODO reading
It is due to this love for my car that I have decided to name it, something which I have never done for any of my earlier cars since I never felt so connected to any other car before. So, presenting to you all my
"Azure".
The above pics were taken after a well deserved detailing session in March 2021 and the car still shines like new. Full marks here to Aquatint, Pune guys who have made me a detailing addict and for keeping my Azure in top shape.
Service Updates
Even after 42k, I have no significant issues to report. Only gripe being the brake pads had become hard and created creases on the brake disc due to which both pads and brake rotors were changed in the 40k service. Bills attached below.
The service costs have been very reasonable thus far and this was the most expensive service due to parts being replaced. I am pretty happy with the competent service guys too and my wallet too is happy! They also provide a vehicle report card after every service and I was surprised to find the tyre tread depths to be above 6 mm even after 40k kms. Barring the fact that I have one of the most problematic tyres ever due to their profile and brand, Bridgestone Ecopia, I am pretty happy with their overall performance and longevity. I have never had any tyres run more than 45k kms for me but these seem to be still going strong. I always get alignment and balancing checked at every 5k kms and never get it done from Ford ASS.
Travel Updates
Azure has seen a lot of highways after the lifting of the first lockdown in 2020 and after my promotion at the job, my territories have expanded which meant I needed to travel a lot more. Azure was at 20k kms in May 2020 and it is now at 42k in May 2021, but not all travel was work related.
In November 2020, me and wife traveled to my hometown for Diwali where a new garage member awaited to meet Azure. This was one major drive after the lockdown restrictions were lifted and we were both dying to meet our family. We planned to drive down since we were scared of taking any public transport like flights, trains, etc. The trip was planned well in advance and all safety precautions were followed during the trip since we were going to meet our elders and were worried that we might be carrying the virus. But nothing of the sort happened thankfully.
Meet the new stablemate of Azure, Honda City ZX MT 2020.
After driving the City for quite sometime and on highways during the trip, I fell in love with Azure more. The City does what it is designed to do, takes my father to his office daily and my parents to their shopping trips in utmost comfort and in a totally effortless manner, but highway is not its forte if you are planning on anything enthusiastic. The bouncy nature of the rear suspension of the City was quite noticeable when we had to take the same highway two days in a row for some personal work. Even my mom appreciated the suspension of Azure more on the highway. But, in the city and on potholed roads, Azure is decimated by the plushness offered by the City. Both have their own distinct characters and I love Azure's more (Yeah I'm biased
![Rolling Laughter](https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/images/smilies/Rolling laughter.gif)
).
In January 2021, we decided to drive down to a friend's place in Ahmedabad since we had not met since quite long and it also presented us with an opportunity for a long drive. Also, it was fueled by the desire to check my buddy's new car which he had recently picked up, the Hyundai Venue SX CRDi, after waiting for 4 months for his booking of Kia Sonet and Kia not being able to deliver, he finally picked up its sibling. He did not go for Ecosport since I already had it and we wanted variety! We stayed at his home and did not even dare to go anyplace touristy and just visited my earlier usual hangout spots at Ahmedabad when I worked there earlier.
With the newly delivered Venue
Azure munched the miles quite effortlessly and my wife slept most of the time during both onward and return journey while I enjoyed my music and beautiful, yet full of traffic, roads.
The trip was quite refreshing for both of us and little did we know the impending second wave of Covid-19 and its repercussions. I'm glad we made that trip since it looks like the only other road trip we will be able to take is again our diwali hometown trip only.
I wish everyone to be safe and pray that we get past this corona situation soon. I hope we can soon travel like in the pre-covid era and Azure munches more miles plastering a huge grin on my face while traversing the length and breadth of our beautiful country. Many travel plans are on hold due to the current situation and Azure and us haven't been able to undertake those and I pray we would be able to do so soon.