Had been a long time since we had been on a family trip, and when my in-laws talked about attending a wedding in Goa, we made our plans accordingly. Since I have a 15 month old daughter, my wife and I decided that it would be a better option to go to Goa by train but having installed a Race Dynamics selectable tuning box in my Swift DDIS, I was quite keen on trying it out on the highway. We finally decided that my wife and daughter would travel in the relative comfort of a train and I would drive down. The return route was planned with a stopover at Mangalore, which would be used to visit relatives.
Vehicle specs –
Swift DDIS VDI
Tyres – Maxxis 205/50R16
Tyre pressure – 30/28 (F/R)
Vehicle age – 2.5 yrs / ~20,000 kms
Recently installed Race dynamics selectable tuning box, which is selectable between Economy, Stock, Power1 and Power 2.
Had installed it about 400 kms ago and in city I was getting a mileage of 16.8 while trying out the different modes.
My mileage before the box was 15kmpl.
Day 1
Got up, got ready, started putting the luggage in the car – my wife had packed a small bag which would be enough for 2 days and taken it with her while the rest of the stuff was in my car. Left my house at 6:45 and got to a Kamat by 8:15 for breakfast, during that interim period, I was cursing the self centered bus drivers (mostly KSRTC drivers who consider themselves above the law) who would jump and bully their way into the que to pay the toll and also who believe that it is their right to stop in the middle of the road irrelevant of how many vehicles are stuck because of them. In the same breath, I must also appreciate the Nelamangala toll road. Now we just have to wait for the metro work to finish in order to enjoy a smooth drive from IISc …
The first ~350 kms was smooth and fast, despite a self imposed speed limit of 120KMPH (made a promise to my wife). I remember this road from the last time I drove down to Goa about 7-8 years ago, sadly the efficiency of our construction was not upto my expectations. There was (and still is) a railway crossing which I think should have been a priority but the bridge work is still in progress. Continued on and while the roads were good, really wanted the 4 laning to be completed, to enjoy a hassle free drive not involving any diversions. As I approached Hubli, turned off towards Karwar as I remember the roads being less crowded and also that it was a more scenic route.
Landed up in Margao for lunch by 2:30 and after some sandwiches went on to Vasco where I was staying with some relatives overnight, which I reached by 3:10.
My odo reading was 677.8 km and wanting to know my mileage, decided to fill up at Vasco. Full tank (with shaking and filling) was 34.9 ltrs. Giving me a mileage of 19.4 KMPL!!!
Day 1 stats
Distance covered – 678 Kms
Time taken – 8.5 hours (6:45 – 3:10)
Stoppage time – 1 hour (Breakfast, Lunch, toll plaza’s and level crossings)
Driving time – 7.5 hours
Average speed – 90 KMPH
Mileage – 19.4 KMPL
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