1. Incessant honking – a butterfly flaps his wings – a honk, the signal is red – honk, traffic is moving honk – for everything !
2. Flashing headlamps – demanding everyone move aside finally when given space/there is space overtakes and then pulls to a halt at the side! If you want to pull to the side you do not have to race several vehicles to do so. An indicator is all that is required.
3. Repeated attempts to overtake when there is no place to do so safely(single lane roads).
4. Changing lanes/weaving in and out of traffic.
5. Vehicles that do not seem to know the concept of lanes and usually drive using 2 lanes.
6. Vehicles needing to turn, taking up several lanes and chocking entire flow of traffic in all directions. Also bikers/other vehicles who need to go straight who will cut in front of those turning at a corner risking an accident to do so.
7. Vehicles that follow without leaving a safe distance. They cannot possibly stop in time if vehicles in front have to stop suddenly. They will hit the vehicle in front then angrily accuse them of having ‘stopped suddenly’ !
8. People driving (some times expensive sometime cheapo) vehicles that they didn’t put in their own blood sweat and tears to buy. Usually gifted/loaned/entrusted by their parents/employer who can afford it but cannot afford the time to teach them how to drive carefully and respecting other road users. TN07AQ1665 was an example for this a silver Skoda Octavia rashly driven by a chap with a cap could be a driver on GST near the Airport .
9. People talking on mobiles without using a hands free. One idiot middle aged male in an Orange Indica who almost hit me didn’t have the grace to say sorry – I later saw he was both smoking and talking on his cell phone without a handsfree. If you know him TN07AT6004 please teach him some road sense and tell him Orange doesnt suit an Indica – it still sucks!
10. People driving on the wrong side of the central road lines/driving in the wrong direction into traffic to ‘save’ a few minutes. Almost all bikers I have seen do this. I even saw a Tata Sumo cab yellow board cut through the divider plastic thingys and happily overtake on the new big flyover on Usman road near Panagal Park. Number plate unfortunately I forgot in my shock.

**Bikers who loosen stones of ‘piled stone’ dividers to beat traffic jams deserve special mention since they do this, speed away on the other side of the road leaving the bricks/rocks on the road for several other crashes to happen later at night**

All the above listed deserve the foulest and worst local curses known to man to be heaped on their heads. Hope they reach their final destination sooner and not annoy driving enthusiasts again

Well this is the list guaranteed to boil and cook my goat. What are your top annoyances ?

In my last post I listed the basic official rules for driving in India. Most of us drive like rules do not exist.  Here is my take on why/how some people drive the way they do in India and why the official road rules are not followed. These are tied to the road rules from my previous post. Why the “Crank” picture ? Read on to find out.

Keep Left:  Some motorists think they are in America since they “Keep Right” and hog the rightmost lane next to the median. Others are probably communist and therefore “Keep Left” and try to vehemently oppose any progress (passing) and want to involve labor unions before any passing even of vehicles is allowed.  The undecided ones keep switching from Left to Right and back and forth or just drive in the middle of the two lanes – simple.

Turning Left:  To turn into a road on the left, they stay close to the far right side of the road and make the turn only at the last minute. Making sure to cut across at least 2 lanes of traffic on a minimum. Reason :  If 3 or more lanes of traffic are cut across, it makes them instant heroes in the eyes of the local pretty damsels (ugly betties actually). After turning, they check if they can scare motorists on that road for a few minutes by driving in their lane before going back to the left side of the road.

Turning Right: When turning onto a road on the right side, they first approach the left side of the road, stop, and wait till a stream of fast moving vehicles approach. Then they show off their daredevilry by cutting across the vehicles speeding towards them. If they didn’t die from being hit by then and the vehicle is still moving, they proceed to cut across the speeding vehicles on the other side of the road. Bonus points if this is done with eyes closed in front of an interstate transport bus.

Passing:  If there is a need to pass traffic proceeding in the same direction, they always pass/overtake on whichever side has less space. Why ? Because the vehicle being passed would never think anyone would pass them there and therefore wouldn’t block the overtaking. Bonus points: Honking at the last minute when realization hits there isn’t enough space and scaring the driver of the vehicle being passed.

There is no ban on passing vehicles ever.  Danger/inconvenience to others is never thought about. All that should be thought of is getting to the destination a whole 5 minutes earlier.  If the driver behind has attempted to overtake – it means he is calling for a race. Allowing him to overtake  is the equivalent of dishonouring favorite family deities.  Proving that the vehicle being overtaken(usually grossly underpowered)  is more than a match for the vehicle attempting to overtake(usually adequately powered) and also preventing  this overtaking at any cost is mandatory. Life and limb of self and others being safe is not relevant – being able to boast of having “raced and beaten a larger and more powerful vehicle” is priceless.

The solid lines in the middle of the road mean nothing. Passing is to be done whenever felt like. Most usually after overtaking a vehicle at 80+ Kmph on hills and corners they may feel the need to slow down and stop at the left side of the road. Suddenly!  To explain this watch the movie “Crank” with Jason Statham . He is injected with a mysterious toxin which will destroy his heart and the only antidote is adrenaline leading to some hard to believe sequences.  I suspect these drivers have been injected with the same toxin and have to keep getting their heart rates as high as possible and then suddenly bring it back down again.

Right of Way: The vehicle that gets in front of traffic has the right of way. This is why all buffoons on small 25cc mopeds can cut across national highways and do a wiggle of the moped in front of high speed streams of cars and trucks. They are in front and therefore get the right of way. Every one else has to stop – they have brakes don’t they ?

Emergency Vehicles:  Fire Service Vehicles and Ambulances are to be allowed free passage only to create space just large enough for a vehicle behind them. Everyone knows that driving close behind the ambulance or fire service vehicle will cut down their commute time. Only stupid people who “do not know how to prosper” move to the side and waste such golden opportunities like some poor sod needing to be taken to the hospital by ambulance since he/she is dying.

Pedestrians:  Pedestrians at zebra crossings (and wherever they feel like crossing the road) play the roles of deer  in a hunting game. The vehicle drivers are hunters and their aim is to spot a good pedestrian at 100 feet and aim for them with the vehicle. (Will Smith in “I am Legend” chases deer in a Mustang GT). Honking repeatedly increases the thrill. Speeds should be as high as the vehicle supports. The pedestrian plays the act of the “deer in headlamps” very well. They also perform classical dance steps that they know, in the middle of the road and demonstrate their deep cultural and artistic background including sublime facial expressions of horror , fear and disgust. Don’t worry it is all an act. The younger ones can put Ussain Bolt to shame the way they dance out of trouble. Older slower pedestrians usually have to be watched out for as they do not play this game well and end up getting hurt. It is not much fun scraping pedestrians off SUV tires and bumpers.

Required Signals: The hand signals to be used are mentioned in point 13 of the rules of the road. People with air conditioned cars cannot keep opening the windows to use the hand signs so they just do not bother to use their vehicle indicators. Very few people in non- air-conditioned vehicles actually have the hands to use the hand signs.  Especially the Auto and bus drivers, these poor souls have to use other limbs to indicate their lane changes. Auto drivers without proper hands usually stick their legs out of whichever side they want to turn to. Sometimes the bus/truck drivers use their big toes pointing out of the bus windows to indicate their intention of turning. If they have fingers left on their hands, a few fingers may also be used to indicate their turning. This is usually done only at night so that people do not notice their disfigurement.

Indicators: Indicator lights can be smashed as soon as the vehicle is bought. This minimizes the need to use the indicators and the battery charge can be saved thereby extending the life of the battery. Pre-smashed indicator lights are a preferred dealer installed option package on large vehicles like buses and trucks and of course autos, and low budget two wheelers. 

“U” Turns:  “U” turns may be done whenever felt like. Doing so when explicitly prohibited by a sign adds a new heightened thrill to the act.  When there is traffic or if it is safe to do so or not is irrelevant. If they felt like taking a “U” turn, they just do it. It’s all cool – they showed their little finger or big toe correct? Then it is a safe turn – why make such a fuss?

Parking: When parking the vehicle they first make sure that it does not cause any inconvenience for themselves or their family. Other road users can figure out for themselves. Basically the goal is to park as close to where they need to go regardless of whether it is the cause of a bottleneck in traffic or cause a traffic jam for everyone else.

Registration: Having vehicle number plates displayed is not advisable in India since the police could actually track people down for prior driving violations. Since it is not legal to drive without plates, make sure the plates rust in such a way that just the outline of the plates and something that looks like a number remains. This is the preferred option for cargo vehicles and trucks. If it is a fancy new vehicle with private plates the previous approach will not work. The nearest “rice writing” expert will be glad to write the registration number on a grain of rice in “Comic Sans MS or Times Roman” font and stick it onto a regulation number plate. Though costlier than the standard number plates this is a novelty plate and will make sure the vehicle stands out. The free magnifying glass provided by the rice writer will come in handy if there is a doubt while trying to locate the vehicle in a parking lot since this is getting really popular.

One Way Roads: On “One Way” roads, if travel is required in the direction indicated on the road signs then things are cool. If the direction of travel is in the opposite direction then either drive in reverse or just drive on the edge of the road – people are cool they will understand the driver is a cool dude who cannot be bothered to drive around half the city because of some stupid one way sign. Just show the peace sign while doing so re-affirms coolness.

Driving in reverse:  Ever since Tyrese Gibson acting as Roman Pearce drove in reverse in “2 Fast 2 Furious” every driver in Chennai has had a secret wish to drive in reverse. They do this every chance they get. Especially on divided highways where the spot for the “U” turn is over 10 feet in the wrong direction our local “Romans” drive in reverse to save a few drops of fuel and therefore save money and the environment. This skill in driving in reverse can also be used for “One Way” streets.

Stop Lines:  Those white lines perpendicular to the flow of traffic are markings on the roads to indicate the starting point for races with other vehicles.  The races are typically multi-segment races all on the same road, I mean track where cars, bikes, cycles, trucks buses can participate. The race starts when the “race” signal lights counting downwards flash “3-2-1-GO” just like in F1, NASCAR etc.  The objective of the race is to reach the next starting point capturing a good pole position. Each and every junction can start a race and our drivers live life “a quarter mile at a time”. Vin Diesel would be so proud if he only knew. Vehicles who have missed a favorable pole position indicate their frustration at a poor starting point by honking at those with a better pole position. Just like the 3^rd installment of Fast & Furious featured drift races in Tokyo, Fast & Furious 5 will definitely be based in India and will feature these races.

Noise: Drivers have to keep sounding the horn as that is the only way their safety is assured as their brakes do not work. If someone is honking continuously please – understand they will not be able to avoid an accident unless given way to pass. There are no “no-honking zones” since it is not safe to drive without honking. Sick dudes/dudettes in hospitals should go away to remote villages or the mountains if they want peace and quiet. What will happen to them because of a million honks? They will wake up? Or die? Bah – humbug this whole silence thing is overrated!

Loud exhausts are usually due to mufflers rusting away to create the loud sounds. This is another safety feature as it minimizes the need to keep honking.  I wonder why people make such a fuss about loud exhausts. Only stupid people go pay money to get their exhausts louder and claim to have “tuned” their cars when all that is required is to encourage the natural rusting process. If rusting is not a natural process, people in such cities can resort to poking nice wide holes in the muffler or removing them altogether. It “adds” horsepower and lots of it and actually more of bull excrement than horse power.

Traffic Lights & Signs:  Obey the traffic signal lights when there are traffic policemen or designated /authorized people present and checking is going on. Otherwise the lights are there to add some color to otherwise boring roads and to kick off races. The amber light is not required at all – removing that from signals across the country would save a lot of power for India. The reds and greens are interchangeable after the cops go home till the time they get back on the beat.

Following Distance: As long as the front bumper has a hairs width gap from the rear bumper of the vehicle in front it is a sufficient gap. If the vehicle in front stops suddenly, the best approach is to loudly and repeatedly accuse the driver of the vehicle in front of “putting sudden brake”.  The person who was driving in front becomes at fault when those magic words are spoken.

Loading: Vehicles should be loaded as much as possible in all possible directions and as long as the vehicle can still move it is fine. Protruding objects like sharp iron rods can be marked by one tiny red hankie or if not found a tiny white polythene cover should do just fine. The sky is really the limit for vertical stacking. Two to three feet to the sides can also be used for loads. All those crazy people who build flyovers and run low cable/telephone wires across the streets need to get their heads examined. Why are they obstructing the free flow of load bearing vehicles just trying to make a living ?

Documents to be carried/ produced on demand: The person driving the vehicle is to always carry just one form of documentation in the form of sufficient amounts of cash in denominations of 10s, 20s, 50s and 100s. As long as this is present no other vehicle documents are required. When these documents are demanded by any Police officer in Uniform, Officers of the Motor Vehicles Department in Uniform or by any officer authorized by the Government, the driver has to start low and start handing out 10s, then 20s etc till such time the thirst of the person demanding the documents is satisfied. The higher the rank of the person demanding the document requires a paper with a higher number written on it to start.

Request: Please do NOT follow these driving practices as this is NOT the way to drive. If you drive this way please do NOT drive a vehicle and just take public transport or do not leave your home until you learn the official rules and really Drive Safe!

The source of these rules is the official website of the Department of Road Transport and Highways. The language on the government website is a bit convoluted and difficult to read and the rules are in separate PDF files which makes it tedious to read. I have tried to make the rules easy to understand and have consolidated them all into this post. These rules are referred to as the Rules of the Road Regulations, 1989 and came into effect from the first day of July 1989. Here they are:

1. Keep Left:  Drive as close to the left side of the road and allow all traffic going in the opposite direction to pass on the right hand side.
2. Turning Left: When needing to turn onto a road on the left, stay close to the left side of the road and after making the turn continue on the left side of the road. (Do not cut across lanes from the right side of the road and then turn left).
3. Turning Right: When turning onto a road on the right side, first approach the center of the road as safely as possible and then turn to the right and stay on the left side of the road.
4. Passing: If there is a need to pass traffic proceeding in the same direction, always pass/overtake them on their right side. The only exception to this would be the case where a vehicle that is trying to turn to the right (and has indicated their intention to turn right) is occupying the center lane and therefore requires passing them on the left side.
5. Passing Prohibited: Overtaking/passing a vehicle proceeding in the same direction is prohibited in the following scenarios:
   1. The passing/overtaking would cause inconvenience or danger to any vehicle proceeding in any direction.
   2. On bends/curves in the road or on hills or there are other obstructions present that prevents a clear view of the road ahead.
   3. If the driver behind the current vehicle has already started to overtake the vehicle
   4. The driver of the vehicle in front has not yet signaled that he may be overtaken. (
      Please Note: The solid lines painted on the middle of the road indicate passing is prohibited for as long as the line is a solid line- you will notice them on bridges, curves and where visibility of the road ahead is not present. Overtaking when safe to do so is allowed when the line changes to a dashed line.)
6. When being Passed/Overtaken by another vehicle: The driver should not speed up or do anything to prevent the other vehicle from passing.
7. Intersections:  Drivers should slow down when approaching road corners, intersections, junctions or pedestrian crossings and not enter until sure that such an entry will not endanger the safety of pedestrians or people in other vehicles there.
8. Right of Way: When entering an intersection that is not regulated by a traffic signal or by a traffic policeman and which is an entry onto a main road, the driver of the vehicle is to give right of way to the vehicles already proceeding on that road. In all other cases the driver is to give way to traffic approaching from his right hand side and only then proceed.
9. Emergency Vehicles:  Fire Service Vehicles and Ambulances are to be allowed free passage and drivers of all other vehicles should move their vehicles to the side of the road to do so.
10. Pedestrians: Pedestrians have the right of way at uncontrolled pedestrian crossings.
11. “U” Turns:  “U” turns may be done only when
    1. Not explicitly prohibited by a sign 
    2. Only after indicating the turn is being planned either through a hand signal or through the vehicle indicators 
    3. After checking the mirrors  to make sure there is no traffic from behind
    4. Checking the road to make sure that there is no other traffic and it is safe to do so.
12. Required Signals: These are really hand signals are mentioned in point 13 of the rules of the road. Very few people actually know the hand signs and use them.  It is good to learn them and be prepared to use them if you have any issue with your indicator lights or with your brake lights. The hand signs for the following should be followed if the vehicle brake/indicator lights do not work:
    1. When the vehicle is about to slow down
    2. When the vehicle is about to stop
    3. When the vehicle is about to turn to the right side or pass a vehicle on the right
    4. When the vehicle is about to turn to the left
    5. When indicating that it is safe for the vehicle behind to pass
13. Indicators: The signals indicated in regulation #13 can be simplified by the use of mechanical or electrical devices (indicators).
14. Parking: When parking the vehicle make sure that it does not cause any danger, obstruction or inconvenience for other road users.
15. Registration: Loads or goods should not be kept on the vehicle in a manner that obstructs visibility, the headlamps/tail lamps or the registration number of the vehicle. If any obstruction of the registration is done a duplicate is to be kept in a visible spot.
16. One Way Roads: On designated “One Way” roads drive only in the direction indicated on the road signs. Do not drive the vehicle in reverse into a “One way” street.
17. Stop Lines: At road intersections, pedestrian crossings and stop signs make sure that the vehicle is fully behind the stop lines painted on the road. The driver has to drive taking into account this requirement of stopping before the stop line when required by a stop light or sign or by a police officer.
18. Towing: No vehicles may be towed behind another motor vehicle. The only exceptions are
    1. Mechanically disabled vehicles
    2. Incompletely assembled vehicles
    3. Registered trailers and sidecars
    4. The above may be towed only for the purpose of delivery or to the nearest garage or service station.
19. Noise: Drivers should not
    1. Sound the horn more than necessary for safety. Continuously and unnecessary sounding of the horn is illegal.
    2. Sound the horn In designated silent zones ( for e.g. such as hospital zones )
    3. Use multi-toned horns that are harsh, shrill,  loud or alarming
    4. Use cut outs for the exhausts
    5. Drive vehicles that create a lot of noise when in motion
    6. Drive vehicles without proper mufflers causing a loud sound
20. Traffic Lights & Signs:  Obey the traffic signal lights , the instructions given by the traffic policemen or by designated/authorized people in charge of regulating traffic
21. Following Distance: Keep sufficient distance behind the vehicle in front to allow distance to stop if the vehicle in front has to stop suddenly.
22. Right of Way on mountain roads/ steep roads: Where the width of the road is not sufficient for vehicles to pass each other safely, the vehicle going downhill has to stop to the side of the road and allow the vehicles going uphill to pass.
23. Obstruction of Control: The driver of the vehicle should not allow a person to sit, stand or place anything that obstructs his control of the vehicle.
24. Passing Pedestrians:  When passing a procession, meeting, troops or police on the march or road repair workmen do not drive faster than 25 kilometers per hour.
25. Tractor & Goods Carriages: Drivers of tractors are not permitted to carry passengers on the tractor. Drivers of good carriages should not allow more persons than listed on the vehicle registration to travel in the cabin or take passengers for hire or reward.
26. Loading: Vehicles should not be loaded in such a way that causes danger to other road users. Load carrying vehicles should not have anything extending outside the vehicle towards the front, rear, sides and should also follow allowed maximum height restrictions.
27. Dangerous Materials: Other than the fuel and lubricant necessary for vehicle operation, no explosive, inflammable or other dangerous substance should be carried on any public transport vehicle.
28. Driving in reverse: The driver should not drive the vehicle in reverse without first making sure that doing so would not cause any danger or inconvenience to any person on the road.
29. Documents to be carried/produced on demand: The person driving the vehicle is to always carry the following documents:
    1. Driving License
    2. Certificate of registration of the vehicle
    3. Certificate of taxation
    4. Certificate of insurance
    5. For transport vehicles the following additional documents are required
       1. The permit
       2. Fitness certificate
    6. These documents are to be produced on demand by any Police officer in Uniform, Officers of the Motor Vehicles Department in Uniform or by any officer authorized by the Government. If the driver does not have the documents in his/her possession he should produce attested copies in person or through registered post to the officer who demanded it within 15 days.
30. Additional Regulations: Drivers have to be familiar with the following additional guidelines of the Motor Vehicles Act 1988 . The numbers below are the Motor Vehicles Act numbers. These are PDF files.
    #112 - Speed Limits
    #113 – Weight Limits, II  
    #121 – Signals , Signals II 
    #122 – Leaving vehicle in a dangerous position 
    #125 – Duplicate of #24 on Obstruction of Control
    #132 – Duty to of Driver to Stop
    #134- Duties of driver in case of accident/injury -I, II
    #185 – Drunken Driving
    #186 – Driving when mentally or physically unfit to drive
    #194 - Driving vehicle exceeding weight limits
    #207 – Power to detain vehicles without required documents 

Please also look at this thread on Team-BHP which covers a lot of the fines and additional regulations of the Motor Vehicles Act. One reply by arjyamaj is fun to read.

Though these are the rules how we actually drive in India is much different. Do take a look at one of my related posts on this topic here: http://cars.zimbly.com/2009/05/driving-in-india/

A Request: Please pass these rules to your friends and relatives and if you are/know a first time driver please make sure they go through these before they get behind the wheel. Make sure your own drivers follow these rules and demand that your hired drivers (cabs/rentals/autos/share autos) also follow these rules. Please sign in through comments that you will follow these rules as much as you can and will encourage as many others as you can to do so as well.  Let us make the roads a bit safer for everyone.  Drive Safe!

It may be strange to see this post on a car enthusiasts blog where you would expect to see me post only about driving and cars .  Sorry to surprise you in this way but I think sometimes it is wiser to leave your own vehicle at home and look at alternatives in the following 10 scenarios (relevant to any city in India):

1. Political processions/protests/meetings/bandhs are planned for the day (You may be better off taking a two wheeler if you have to travel.)
2. There is civic unrest and riots/fighting on the roads(staying home is the best option)
3. There is heavy rain & flooding on the roads(if it is really bad you may want to stay home as buses may stop plying and rail tracks maybe under water- you can forget going to work)
4. Roads are severely damaged after rains/floods/riots
5. Massive roadwork is being done such as conversion of a regular road into an expressway

   

   Image by Pandiyan via Flickr

6. You are unwell or are recovering from an accident or illness and cannot take the strain of driving.
7. You have very regular work timings and alternatives(cheaper and greener like the company bus/suburban trains/car pools) are available
8. Your vehicle is not reliable because it is an older model & has problems needing repairs. (Get it fixed quick.)
9. You are under a lot of stress and tension due to either a birth/ death /illness/ marriage/fight with spouse or event prep/work/business reason.
10. You haven’t had sufficient sleep(less than 2 hours of sleep) the night before.

What are the alternatives ? Take public transport or take a cab with a driver if you absolutely must travel. Keep your “precious” car safe at home. You may need to spend more on that one days travel but you have the peace of mind of not damaging your car or exherting undue strain on yourself by driving in such conditions.

Related: Was just about to publish this when I saw another good post show up in my Google Reader on Driving With the Right Attitude on the Indian Autos Blog as part of their weekly advice column. Do check it out.

For a perspective on what all can happen when you leave your car at home check out: Is your car safe – even at home ?

A question for readers of Zimbly Cars:  Do you agree with this post or do you have other thoughts ? Please do let me know through comments.

Why & how we chose the car: In 2005 we were looking for a replacement to the 9 year old Maruti 800 and we wanted a  bigger car.  At that point we had the Ford Ikon as well so we didnt need another sedan. The 800 was used for all errands and trips to places with bad parking while the Ikon was used only when going out to places with good parking and to Church etc. The primary driver was to be my Father so the primary requirement was something easy to drive and easy to park.

Features available was also a criteria. Having been spoilt with the Ikon I wanted power windows, central & remote locking. With the Ikon’s rear glass fogging up frequently I was adamant about wanting  the rear wash/wipe and defogger.  We started the process late February 2005. The decision was made for a hatchback and the budget initially set at around 4.3 L. A quick look around showed the choices with the features we wanted as the Santro and the Wagon-R. I was not planning on even trying the Indica, the Corsa Sail or the Palio which were also available at the time for various reasons.

Wagon-R blues: We went to Maruti and wanted to see the Wagon-R.  The dealership we first visited didn’t have a demo car at their dealership when we went in so had to wait for them to bring one to us.  One silver one was brought home and I test drove it and found to my horror that its speedometer was disconnected. Decided then and there that I am not buying from that dealership at all. 

Santro Greens,Reds and Whites:  Same day a Hyundai sales guy from HMP shows up with a Santro. I took a test drive and liked it (its engine response was better than the Wagon-R). Also its odometer was working and the car had a huge “Demo Car” sticker on the side. I was sold on the interior of the Santro XLS but liked the exterior of the Wagon-R. I was very confused.

T-BHP wasnt helping me in my decision since people came up with a million points in favour and against both the Santro and Wagon-R. I kept pushing the salesguy for a good deal on the Santro but wasnt convinced the car was right for us. The main sticking point was that the colors available in 2005 were the most boring list of colors ever possible. 

We had a Silver Ikon and were moving away from a dark blue 800. We didnt want Scarlet Sage or Real Earth or a weird bright parrot green or light hospital type green that they had. Black was ruled out as well. White was the only remaiing option but I didnt want white. I annoyed the salesman as much as I could with my confusion and my requirements and multiple calls.

The middle of March was rapidly approaching. The 800 had been sold by then and we needed the car soon. On a Saturday afternoon we go in to the showroom to finalize on the Santro – I dont remember which color we decided upon –  still half heartedly.

The Getz Gets Me: The salesguy by then realized I was a car nut and wouldn’t be really happy with the Santro.  He knew I drove the Ikon 1.6 daily to work and back and everything else seemed pathetic compared to it. He finally got frustrated and told me that I should either buy an Accent or test drive the Getz. He said he would get me a great deal.  

I would have to stretch my budget a bit but he begged me to take a test drive and assured me it would be worth it. With zero expectations I agreed to the test drive. The moment I took the test drive I noticed that the car was much smoother than the Santro to drive. Clutch was lighter and gearbox was buttery smooth and slotted in well. Seating position was also good. I was having leg pain from driving the Ikon through traffic but I was pleasantly surprised at the ease with which the Getz could be moved around in peak traffic.

Seating position was good and space was more than enough for myself and my dad to sit at the back.I was sold on the 60-40 split rear seat and the luggage space. It seemed to be the only vehicle in its price with the split folding rear seats. Also the rear seat angle could be adjusted – something not found on any other car. Dashboard and instrument panel was also much better than the Santro.

The seats, door panelling and miscellaneous interiors were much much better made and looked ages ahead of the Santro. Car also had a clutch lock and a foot rest to the left of the clutch.  We took a day to decide (spent the evening reading Getz reviews on the net) and sealed the deal the very next day…after taking almost 2-3 weeks between the Wagon-r and the Santro.The sales  guy was so relieved he even came into the dealership on a Sunday a holiday for them to take my booking.  Registration done withing a few days since the car was on the lot. 

Delivery Day & first Drives: The car was ready at the time we were promised. We declined a full Pooja but allowed the staff to put on a ribbon. The paperwork was also ready and in order so all the process part of it was fine.  I wasn’t aware of the PDI checklist on T-BHP back then but I had a mental note ready of things to check. These were covered to my satisfaction. Only thing awry was that the left side rear door seemed to have a problem of not closing fully. The salesguy managed to get a mechanic to look at it and within a minute it was fixed.

We got a detailed demo of the features and we drove home from Ekkatuthangal in peak traffic on Mount Road around 7.30 PM.  This was the first time we felt the AC cool so effectively. Only issue was the front windscreen started fogging up on the outside. I ended up reducing the AC , opening the windows and using the wipers.  One annoyance for me was that I was used to the Ikon and its indicator stalk being on the left – the Getz like every other India made car had it on the right. It was a pain to remember and use the right one.

There was some issue with the VIN impression that was required with the registration papers and this delayed obtaining the registration and number plates. Car sat at home till this was fixed. It was great to finally get the plates and drive it around. We took a trip to church and said our prayers before going anywhere else. 

Accessories Added:

• PU Seat covers in light grey and black from Hyundai
• Pioneer Music system & Boston Acoustics speakers
• Alloy wheels
• Sun control film
• Remote Keyless entry and security system from Cobra
• Front & Reverse parking sensors (6 sensor Xenos) with distance indicator in RVM (added in 2007).

Ownership/Driving Experience:

• Smooth to drive and generally good in the city. The light clutch is a pleasure to use and the gears slot in nicely. However by the 3rd year the smooth feeling is beginning to loose the original feel. Its beginning to be a bit rough.
• Engine sounds strained when driven hard. Relaxed cruiser on good highways. Enough high end grunt but low end is a bit disappointing – say if you need to take off from a signal etc. It may just be my opinion since the car I drove prior to this was a Ikon 1.6 and my other car currently is a Swift. My Father who was very jittery to drive the 1.6 Ikon was very happy driving the Getz – he doesn’t drive very fast and is a very careful relaxed driver – this seemed to be the best car for him. Not too big not too small. Not too powerful not too underpowered. Easy to drive in the city.
• OEM tires (175/70 R13) were retained and just OEM alloys added. The tyres are not very grippy and I have felt them loose touch with the road under hard acceleration – again at a light. Once its moving it seems ok. My FIL has a Getz GVC which comes with the skinny 155/80/R13 tires which are just not adequate for this car. They make the car look very odd and are not safe at all for a car of this size. The contact with the ground is not enough. There is a marked difference when driving the 1.3 GVS with skinny tires and the 1.3 GLS with slightly wider tires.
• Brakes – never had to have any sudden stops in this car so for normal driving the brakes are adequate. Extended Warranty – I was pretty happy I paid the extra amount for the warranty extension for 2 more years from the manufacturer 2 years. It saved me a ton of money on the power steering parts & labour since it was covered close to 25K was told.
• Space is very appreciated by all at home. We have a family of 5 adults and one infant of 1 year. All of us fit in the car and have adequate space to sit comfortably. Of course we usually sit with the two gents and the baby in front with one of the gents driving and the baby with the front passenger. The three ladies sit at the back.
• Luggage space is very amazing for a hatchback. I have folded the rear seats down when I have needed to carry a lot of luggage when we moved house and the Getz was able to swallow a huge amount of luggage in the rear. The Ikon was able to carry just a quarter of it (not just the boot – we had even the interior of the Ikon loaded up).Another time when we had to drop my sister off to her hostel for the first time the Getz was used to take 3 adults and all the stuff required for one person to stay in a hostel for a full year – thanks to the split rear seat one person could sit at the back and we could still load up with luggage.
• The double folding rear seats of the Getz prove they are worth every penny since they also let you adjust the tilt of the seats. Rear passengers are comfortable as well as the front. 
• I have a very loyal dedicated person come home to clean the cars interior and exterior almost every day (Sundays he is off). Because of his efforts the exterior is  still looking good barring a few minor scratches from our dog and some bikers and cabbies. The interiors have also aged very well and the plastic parts still look like new after 4 years. The dash and plastic treatment done by Hyundai at every service seems to keep it in good shape.

A.S.S @ Dealership:

• Hyundai Motor Plaza is good at their work but there is a long time required to book a service and get it done
• Their customer handling process is a bit time consuming requiring you to wait up-to 45 minutes before you can drop off your car.
• They work only during the week and Saturday bookings very minimal.
• They do a pickup and drop service – but this is more effort than a regular one since you are not sure if the work will be done correctly
• Pricing is very fair and no extra charges done – estimates are usually very close to the mark. Unfortunately I haven’t kept track of the costs of the regular service. Dont remember them to be more than 2,500 each.

Issues:

• Interior roof dome light has failed 2 times.
• Multiple issues of rats/house lizards getting stuck in/under the car engine bay and dying there (and of course the god awful smell of decay)- in a spot that requires the car to be sent to the dealership to be cleaned up. One mongoose got in from underneath but ran away when the bonnet was opened.
• AC cooling which was very good suddenly started decreasing and suddenly stopped. We had to get it to the dealership for fixing. Covered under warranty. AC is now back to its old good self. Cant keep it at more than the 2nd position/
• Power Steering packed up at around 15000 KM and 3.5 years. One morning I was was planning to go out and started out just a few feet from where the car was parked at home, the car kept going straight when I turned the wheel to the right. The steering wheel was very tight and the tires were not turning. Managed to back the car into its spot. Hyundai managed to come home fix the issue temporarily then take it to the dealership for full repairs.
• After the power steering was fixed the steering wheel started squeaking. Some greasing was done at the last service but squeaks returned immediately.
• When the power steering was fixed they managed to screw up the indicator switch – now it doesn’t auto cancel the turn indication. Need to get this fixed.
• Radio Antenna has come loose (still needs to be fixed – currently managing with some strategically placed cello-tape).
• Wheels keep having a screeching noise – dust seems to get in the brake pads and after cleaning stops for sometime to resume again. This is there off and on right from the first year of ownership.
• A/C vents spewing packing foam which seems to have come loose and is disintegrating.
• Driver side door central locking mechanism broke and the car couldn’t be locked either with the key or the remote.
• The Cobra remote for the key less entry seems to have a major design flaw – it uses a rubber piece to connect the remote fob to the metal ring. That piece is prone to getting cut. We have probably changed the rubber piece at least once every year. Its very annoying to have it get cut and have to walk around with the keys separately and the remote separately.

First the list of what I don’t like in the car:

• Lots of space in the engine bay that allows small animals to get in from underneath and sit happily. Wish it was tightly packed as my previous/other cars.
• I still have not been able to get the outside mirrors to a position that I am happy with – I keep having the feeling they are not pointing where they should be and visibility isn’t all that great. I wish they were a little larger like the older Santro mirrors – it may be ugly but still functional.
• The dashboard reflections in the front windscreen are annoying.The dealership applies some dashboard shine liquid which causes a bad glare in full sunlight on the front windshield. Material of the dash shouldn’t be made so reflective.
• The power windows disable switch is very confusing – cant tell if it is enabled or not.
• Gearing – seems underpowered at lower gears but is a good highway cruiser.
• Mileage doesn’t seem to give more than 10km pl. Ever. Regardless of how you drive.
• Interior lamp is a tad dim – also positioned at an odd spot that is behind the drivers head – reaching it is a bit difficult.
• Steering wheel seems a bit plain – it has some grips at the 10 and 2 position but these could have been a bit thicker and also the wheel could have been smaller.
• Clock is built into the instrument panel – doesn’t keep time correctly and keeps running slow.
• Glove Box is almost uselessly small. Can just fit the stereo head unit cover there and the vehicle papers. 
• Door storage could have been more.
• Tilt steering is there but not really useful
• Central locking doesn’t have a separate switch to lock all doors – one has to use the driver side door switch to do that manually.
• Unlocking the hatch involves unlocking all the doors as there is no separate hatch release.
• A pillars are a bit thick and till you get used to the car they are a bit unnerving to see bikers disappear and re-appear suddenly.

What I like:

• Comfortable seating for 5 people with adequate luggage room.
• Butter soft gear shift and light clutch
• High & comfortable seating position – I haven’t had leg pain while driving this car.
• Good and easy to read instrument panel both during the daytime and at night
• The rubber strips all round the car is pure genius from Hyundai and I like the version on my 2005 car and not the hideous larger version on the Getz Prime. These are just the right size and look good as well.
• The dashboard shape is flat and has a good space with a ridge to place items in the middle. The left most side doesn’t have anything to keep items from rolling/sliding off.
• Centrally placed DC plug
• Centrally placed bottle holder that can take even a 2 liter bottle comfortably. Also has 2 other cup holders.
• Headlamps are very good. I didn’t feel the need to upgrade the bulbs or use high beam even on roads without lighting.
• Usage of space over the rear tires with small storage locations is very good.
• Luggage space is very good for a hatchback.
• 60-40 split seats is really useful if you need to carry a lot of luggage and 3-4 passengers.
• Windscreen wipers are pretty decent in heavy rain. The car has made its way through flood water without any issue.

  When/will I change this car ? I don’t have a reason to change this car yet. The reasons to keep it are more as of now. If I change it will be atleast 2-3 years from now if not more.  

Wishlist for a new Getz: @Hyundai: Please provide all the features of the Getz GLS with ABS and Airbags, tilt steering and height adjustable seats with the brilliant  CRDI engine you make and you can be sure this car will sell wellfor a long time. Please don’t make the mistake of not giving all the features with the Getz CRDI with the I20 Diesel when you finally wake up and decide to launch it . You wait too late and I and the rest of India may just go buy a Swift DDiS or D’zire DDiS or Indica Vista Quadrajet or Fiat Palio Multijet when its time to change this car.