It’s sant’rocking!!!
Zipping in the traffic is no more an issue!

Hyundai Santro as is thought is one among the small cars being driven around, and there’s no denying that. But get into it and you’d understand why it’s so much bigger and comfortable than it actually appears to be.

It’s very easy to drive and parking is not a problem at all, which is indeed very important when you talk of the crowded car parking lanes which is such a common sight in Indian cities. The maintenance of the car is also very inexpensive and simple, as Hyundai service stations are easy to find, and well spread across the country. Its features like child-lock enables the drive with children tension-free and safe and the power steering and automatic windows add luxury to the car. I bought the Xing XO model just a year back and have not faced any problems as yet, except the few scratches on the body paints which are unavoidable issues when you own a car in a city.

Along with all the other cars at home, a small car is a necessity especially in a city where the traffic and road conditions are not the best. It’s truly a complete family car – and it is a little surprise that the Hyundai Santro is seen in almost every household!

Innova’tively Yours
Stop treating this like a MUV... Will you?!

Size does matter but so does style. And a perfect combination of both of them is Toyota Innova. It is a fashionable car with a cool appeal.

I love driving it even amidst the traffic of Mumbai. One quality that can be highlighted is that it is sturdy and does not squirm during the deadly and non-stop rains in Mumbai. Innova is a spacious car apt for an Indian family. It provides a great value for money and works well for both, an individual or family. Getting a 7 seater car for a decent price and one which provides a good average are a few more qualities that Innova offers. The car is very stable on Indian roads and is excellent for both city as well as highway driving.

The versatility of the car is truly very appealing and owners like its ability to perform a lot of functions simultaneously. One can balance it for both daily as well as weekend use like when I want to go out with the entire family for a picnic. Like all Japanese cars, Toyota’s dealer network is fabulous and the staff is also very helpful.

The company has not compromised on features and design. It is not a typical MUV like we have in India, instead it gives you a visual appeal of a SUV. You get ‘all you desire’ from this car and it truly takes you on a path to perfection. The Toyota Innova is truly a complete family car.

Wa’gon R my troubles
The Wagon R is a small car, but trustworthy!

My Wagon R gives me the freedom of mobility, convenience and power. I think I’ve had some of my most creative ideas whilst I’ve been in my car – the smoothness, consistency of performance, adaptability – all help in removing stress and tension. The car allows my mind to relish and enjoy the ride. Music is the way I love to unwind after a long day and my rides to and from my workplace are really the time I get to be by myself. Since I work in the heart of the town and live almost 20 kms away, the commuting time is almost an hour each way. Most of these days, 2 hours are used to plan, to schedule and also to catch up with myself. For six days of the week, my car and me are on a journey – sometimes of bonding, sometimes of discovery.

My car has also been an inevitable companion for fun times with friends, relatives & colleagues. These are special moments which are memorable. My trips out of town by road, whether on work or on holiday – to Jaipur, Chandigarh, Dehradun or to the hills are all journeys made possible due to the hassle free assurance of my car. In fact, one incident comes to mind. I had gone to Jaipur on a shoot. The crew was following me in a larger, fancier car but midway they had a break-down which took a while to get sorted out. Thankfully, my car gave me no trouble because of its easy maintenance. For me, it has been a three-year long trustworthy love affair between my Wagon R and I.

God of small autos...
Arguably the easiest to drive on crowded & busy city streets...

Just as we Burmese are known for their distinct likes and dislikes, we are also known for our liking for and familiarity with imported vehicles from Japan. When it comes to autos, we prefer the looks; mostly because other specifications of all the models ‘Made in Japan’ are not different from one another. So Indo-Japan jointly made models are the only preference for me, at least. On the whole, Alto is one of that kinds.

A new buyer looks for a new model. So I chose Alto, which was a fresh one when I bought it in 2005. Yet, till today, Alto’s look is not outdated. A hiccup was that I had to wait for a few days to get an Alto because I didn’t like to buy any show-roomavailable car for my own reasons. I don’t know the statistics, but I recognize consumption of fuel as one of the best in my car. City dwellers in India need a relatively stronger body. In that respect, Al- to has a reasonable body metal. Apart from body injuries, I don’t need any major repair ever since I started using my car. So far I haven’t had any difficulties with services like servicing, insurance, accessories et al. Even the size of my car is perfect as it is easier to drive around in Delhi, compared to SUVs.

A city within a city?!
Honda City’s features make it an easy choice

As a bachelor and during my early twenties, I spent a few years in America. And during this time, I had a fascination for sports cars. But once you are in India and specially, when you become a part of corporate world, you can’t have only a sports car. I was looking for a family car and my friends and my wife suggested the Honda City. Today, let me tell you, I agree with their choice. The car has a true corporate image atleast that’s what I feel. And it has truly comfortable attributes, which make it a great family car. In Chennai, it’s difficult to drive, so I always resort to my driver. But whenever I get an opportunity to drive long distances, I prefer the driver’s seat. Recently we drove constantly for more than 250 kms & the City was no problem all the way!

As a consumer, I also feel there are certain parameters like tubeless tyres, central locking, remote fuel-lid et al that makes the car different from other cars. In one word, the car is equipped with the latest technologies and at the same time has a very stylish and corporate image. Even its fuel economy makes it the best family car.

life’s on a co‘roll’a!!!
Style, looks and comfort... wait, do you mean the Corolla?

Purchasing my Toyota Corolla H2 model in July 2005 was the most expensive impulse purchase decision that I’ve ever made so far in my life. I remember going out for a lunch with my wife when we casually dropped by a Toyota showroom to kill time. We had a discussion with the dealer, came down after negotiating & spoke about financing deals when I suddenly gave-in and asked for a ridiculously high discount to finalise. When he actually took permissions and consented, was the time when we really got serious to think and discussed how the financing would work & decided to buy the car that I had been waiting to buy for so many months! I aspired to have a good car from my own since childhood days. Like most others, I was looking for a car that could give me good mileage, good power, a smooth drive & at the same time looked great. Toyota Corolla was always on top of my wish-list.

I’m especially fond of driving for long distances with my family and found the car to be a winner in all aspects of power & comfort. Japanese cars generally take care of a lot of unforeseen issues that one could face in using cars over a period of time. My Corolla is already a family member and we can’t do without each other. Love my Corolla!