Sunday, April 26, 2015
Hyde Park on Sunday
If you are in London on a Sunday, don't miss the speaker's corner at Hyde Park - it's just an amazing experience seeing anyone and everyone who wants to make a point get going, whether he/she has an audience or not, and have people stop by, get involved in some intense debates - everything JUST for the love of talking and debating, with other rhyme or reason!
Mesmerizing!
Mesmerizing!
Movie Review: Mr X
Hmmm. Do I really need to review this one?
After 3 hours of "you can call me X", all I could think of was, "Y?"!
Emraan is Emraan, including the smooch. Amyra actually is quite pretty, although a few dozen kilos too thin! And she definitely has a long way to go as an actress. The story isn't too bad, actually, and some of the nearly SFX are promising, but there is just too little to hold your interest.
And yes, someone will need to do some real convincing to get me to watch another movie with Arunoday Singh.
After 3 hours of "you can call me X", all I could think of was, "Y?"!
Emraan is Emraan, including the smooch. Amyra actually is quite pretty, although a few dozen kilos too thin! And she definitely has a long way to go as an actress. The story isn't too bad, actually, and some of the nearly SFX are promising, but there is just too little to hold your interest.
And yes, someone will need to do some real convincing to get me to watch another movie with Arunoday Singh.
Movie Review: Fast And Furious 7
Like every other FF franchise, FF7 delivers exactly what it promises - stunning action sequences, sizzling hot cars, a fantastic cast, and some great humor!
You need to keep your logic at home to enjoy scenes of cars being parachuted into the jungle, or to watch with amazement as a supercar jumps from one high rise to another, and further on to a third. But then, with FF, you never really need to question logic, do you?
Just go to the theatre, put on your goggles, sit back and enjoy the ride!
PS: The tribute to Paul Walker is really touching, and probably the only way it could have been done for the wonderful actor, who will really be missed!
You need to keep your logic at home to enjoy scenes of cars being parachuted into the jungle, or to watch with amazement as a supercar jumps from one high rise to another, and further on to a third. But then, with FF, you never really need to question logic, do you?
Just go to the theatre, put on your goggles, sit back and enjoy the ride!
PS: The tribute to Paul Walker is really touching, and probably the only way it could have been done for the wonderful actor, who will really be missed!
Movie Review: Detective Byomkesh Bakshy!
DBB! (with the y and the !) is not a film adaptation of the original writings of Byomkesh's creator, Saradindu Bandopadhyay. Neither does it have anything much to do with the TV series on DD that made Byomkesh a household name and launched Rajit Kapur.
Our Byomkesh is fresh out of college. He is socially challenged, clumsy, uncomfortable with the ways of the world. He reminds you a lot of Inspector Clouseau. He misses details, takes time to make conclusions, but he loves solving problems, and he is persistent.
The real hero of the movie is Calcutta of the 40s. The movie opens with a simple tram ride through the narrow, smoky streets with an out-of-focus Byomkesh in the foreground. Banerjee's Calcutta is like a living painting. Shadows lurk at every corner and smoky opium dens choke your breath. The threat of bombs is always in the air - it's the second world war, and Japan is threatening to over run the city at any time. This is the setting in which the young Byomkesh gets cracking at his first assignment.
The investigation into the disappearance of his client's father quickly envelops him in danger - everyone from a local politician, his pretty mistress, and deadly drug dealers are involved. Throats are slashed, a lot of blood is spilled.
The movie is very slow, and the darkness gets overwhelming at times. The plot is complicated, but pretty predictable, and doesn't really hold you for long.
The cast has an interesting mix of characters - and while there are shades of good performances, Sushant Singh Rajput is not flattering as Byomkesh. The female leads, Divya Menon and Swastika Mukherjee, barely have a role to play and fail to impress. Anand Tiwari shares a good chemistry and sense of humor with Sushant and is my pick for the best of the cast.
Not bad, but definitely not Dibakar Banerjee's best!
Our Byomkesh is fresh out of college. He is socially challenged, clumsy, uncomfortable with the ways of the world. He reminds you a lot of Inspector Clouseau. He misses details, takes time to make conclusions, but he loves solving problems, and he is persistent.
The real hero of the movie is Calcutta of the 40s. The movie opens with a simple tram ride through the narrow, smoky streets with an out-of-focus Byomkesh in the foreground. Banerjee's Calcutta is like a living painting. Shadows lurk at every corner and smoky opium dens choke your breath. The threat of bombs is always in the air - it's the second world war, and Japan is threatening to over run the city at any time. This is the setting in which the young Byomkesh gets cracking at his first assignment.
The investigation into the disappearance of his client's father quickly envelops him in danger - everyone from a local politician, his pretty mistress, and deadly drug dealers are involved. Throats are slashed, a lot of blood is spilled.
The movie is very slow, and the darkness gets overwhelming at times. The plot is complicated, but pretty predictable, and doesn't really hold you for long.
The cast has an interesting mix of characters - and while there are shades of good performances, Sushant Singh Rajput is not flattering as Byomkesh. The female leads, Divya Menon and Swastika Mukherjee, barely have a role to play and fail to impress. Anand Tiwari shares a good chemistry and sense of humor with Sushant and is my pick for the best of the cast.
Not bad, but definitely not Dibakar Banerjee's best!
Movie Review: Cinderella
Cinderella is a dazzling and beautiful story of an orphaned girl who wins the heart of a handsome prince, reproduced by Disney with a keen attention to detail - the fireplace cinders that gives Ella her nickname Cinderella, the pumpkin that turns into a carriage along with Cinderella’s best friends - the mice and the lizards, and, of course, the gorgeous glass slippers.
“Have courage and be kind” is the mantra Cinderella lives by, a promise she has given to her mother before she passes away, plunging her beautiful and loving home into gloom. As Cinderella grows up, the apple of her father's eye, she never gives up her credo, even after her father marries the wicked step-mother, and brings her home along with her two jealous and stupid daughters. Her loving and patient nature, compassion for all creatures, and self-belief is what endears her to you, and makes you root for her.
Lily James (Downton Abbey's Lady Rose) is an excellent choice to play Cinderella - she is the pretty girl next door, yet, when she rides her horse or dresses up in her Cinderella costume, you can understand why the prince will go to any length to find her and marry her! Richard Madden is also perfect as the prince, and plays his part, including managing his very tight trousers!
Do catch this with your family - it's a gentle reminder that the world can actually be a beautiful place after all. You just need to have courage, and be kind!
“Have courage and be kind” is the mantra Cinderella lives by, a promise she has given to her mother before she passes away, plunging her beautiful and loving home into gloom. As Cinderella grows up, the apple of her father's eye, she never gives up her credo, even after her father marries the wicked step-mother, and brings her home along with her two jealous and stupid daughters. Her loving and patient nature, compassion for all creatures, and self-belief is what endears her to you, and makes you root for her.
Lily James (Downton Abbey's Lady Rose) is an excellent choice to play Cinderella - she is the pretty girl next door, yet, when she rides her horse or dresses up in her Cinderella costume, you can understand why the prince will go to any length to find her and marry her! Richard Madden is also perfect as the prince, and plays his part, including managing his very tight trousers!
Do catch this with your family - it's a gentle reminder that the world can actually be a beautiful place after all. You just need to have courage, and be kind!
Restaurant Review: Peep Kitchen
Next time you are in Goa, do not miss the amazing sea food on offer at the cute Peep Kitchen, tucked away on the old Panaji - Dona Paula road. Fresh food, excellent service, and reasonable prices...
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| The amazing tandoori crabs |
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| And even better, the "Bangdyache Lonche"! |
Vistas Of UK - From My March Trip
A few of the best pics from my March-end trip to London and day trips thereabouts...
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| The beautiful waiting room of the Grand Royale London Hyde Park Hotel where we stayed... completely transports you to Downton Abbey! |
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| At the Hyde Park on a beautiful Sunday afternoon |
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| View of The Shard from the London Eye |
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| Big Ben from London Eye |
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| At the foot of London Eye - loved the fluorescent blue! |
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| The city of Bath |
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| The city of Bath |
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| Greenwich University |
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| Grounds of Leeds Castle |
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| Grounds of Leeds Castle |
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| Grounds of Leeds Castle |
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| London Kings Cross St. Pancras Station |
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| The lake in Leeds |
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| At the lake in Leeds |
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| The park at Leeds |
All That Glitters...Is So Pretty
A friend captured these leaves glittering in the glow of the street halogens in Pune...
My Audi A3 Technology Diesel - Myra (Part 5 - After Sales)
Already had my first after-sales experience too! On reaching Goa, I was washing Myra up when I realized one of the tires had a small bulge in the sidewall. Barely half a centimeter, but I didn't want to take chances. Unfortunately, being the weekend, Audi Goa was closed. I called them on Monday, but there really was no time to take the car all the way to Verna, where the service center is. Audi Pune looked at the pictures, and assured me it was OK to drive, as long as I didn't hit high speeds.
As I mentioned earlier, the spare is no use for long drives, so I put faith in the Pirellis holding up and drove back. As a precaution, I switched the tire from the front to the rear.
First thing on coming back to Pune, I took an appointment (which I only got for Saturday). After taking pictures of the tire, to send to Pirelli for analysis, Audi Pune assured me they would replace it for free, even though, as most tire manufacturers would claim, it is probably due to hitting a pothole hard, rather than a manufacturing defect. The tire wasn't in stock, so I am waiting for it to be delivered sometime this week.
As an aside, I also got my plates replaced (free of cost, again) - the earlier ones had dropped the leading 0, and a cop actually pulled me over to tell me to ensure all 4 digits were on the plate!
As I mentioned earlier, the spare is no use for long drives, so I put faith in the Pirellis holding up and drove back. As a precaution, I switched the tire from the front to the rear.
First thing on coming back to Pune, I took an appointment (which I only got for Saturday). After taking pictures of the tire, to send to Pirelli for analysis, Audi Pune assured me they would replace it for free, even though, as most tire manufacturers would claim, it is probably due to hitting a pothole hard, rather than a manufacturing defect. The tire wasn't in stock, so I am waiting for it to be delivered sometime this week.
As an aside, I also got my plates replaced (free of cost, again) - the earlier ones had dropped the leading 0, and a cop actually pulled me over to tell me to ensure all 4 digits were on the plate!
My Audi A3 Technology Diesel - Myra (Part 4 - Photos)
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| The controls for the seats - 6 way movement, plus extra push/support for the back and legs through the circular control. |
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| A very generous dead pedal! |
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| Lots of details and information on the dash. Notice also that temperature and fuel indicators are nifty leds. Also, interestingly, the dash lights go dark in the late evening, as a reminder to the driver to switch on the lights! |
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| Rear view camera and display factors in the position of your steering wheel too! |
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| Vanity mirror auto-switches on a tiny light, which has delighted every lady passenger who has ever tried it out! |
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| The AC vents and charging point between the seats makes it a tad uncomfy for the 5th passenger |
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| The signature Audi DRLs add so much to the car's personality! |
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| After her Sunday morning spa in the garage, seen with the sun roof open. Photobombing her is my 9 year old Fiesta, Reona! |
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| Most of the car's functions can be controlled through the steering wheel - notice the voice command button on the right side. |
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| Posing with the "kombdo" in Nerul! |
My Audi A3 Technology Diesel - Myra (Part 3 - The Car & Driving Experience)
40 Days, 2200 KM - Experiences Driving my Audi A3 Technology Diesel
In the last 40 days, I have driven Myra in Pune's searing heat and heavy city traffic, let her loose on the Pune Mumbai Expressway and pushed her to the limits in heavy rain and mud on a Pune - Goa - Pune trip. And apart from having to put in hours of my time washing her up after her adventures, Myra definitely gets a big thumbs up from me, and more importantly, from my very discerning daughter!
A Big Thumbs Up - All The Awesome Things!
Haven't regretted buying her, even for a minute!
1. She absolutely glides in traffic, cabin noise is non-existent. More often than not, I tend to switch off the music, open the sun roof and roll down the windows, just to be able to hear the purr of the engine. Absolutely a delight! My daughter gave a big vote of confidence in the comfort of the back seat after an almost non-stop dash from Pune to Goa. On the way back, my wife took it one notch higher, curling up and going to sleep almost through the entire journey.
2. The kick when you press on the pedal is such a high, setting off at traffic signals with tires squealing is so hard to resist! My daughter keeps complaining that she can't sit up close to us, because every time I hit the throttle, she gets pushed back into the rear seat.
3. She glides effortlessly over rough patches if you keep your speed, and that's the best way to handle bad stretches - don't slow down. I found the ride quality so much better than what I have experienced in the Beemers with their RFTs. Of course, my Endy would win hands down on the uneven and rough detours that pop up every now and then on NH4 with all the construction work in progress, which is one reason I took the longer Belgaum-Chorla route into Goa, rather than my usual one through Azara and Amboli.
4. She absolutely hugs the road on tight corners, and with the stabilization program active, I find it hard to drift - although she does allow you to switch off the stabilization. My Ikon used to give me a similar feedback on curves, and I missed that in the Fiesta and of course, in the Endy. The Audi absolutely loves it when you throw her at curves, and is rock solid. Body roll is also almost non-existent.
5. And yes, we hit the expressway a couple of times. Respecting the rules of this forum, I will not talk about high speeds here, but let's say, hypothetically, if I wanted, she would come within sniffing distance of the 215 the brochure mentions, without much of a bother.
6. So far, with full AC and all the tire squealing, she's delivering between 12-15 kmpl. On long drives, put it on cruise control, and the mileage shoots up.
7. Oh, and yes - very important - I have not yet hit the underbody on any speed breaker yet, which is a big relief as far as ground clearance is concerned. This involves every giant speed bump on the NH4 detours, and some monstrous ones in Goa, where I have seen the Hondas grind hard every single time. I have maneuvered through them with a full load of 5 adults and a child, and it's been effortless.
8. Braking is also fantastic, and a big confidence booster. On the way back from Goa, we were doing a pretty good clip when the car in front slammed on the brakes to avoid a speed bump, and for just a split second, I imagined slamming my car into the one in front. The surface was pretty gravelly, but the car responded beautifully; no harm done!
9. A special note on air conditioning. Even in Pune's scorching 39 degrees today afternoon, with the sun roof shades off, the cabin easily stays at a very cool 20 degrees effortlessly. Unlike my Endy, which really needs a long time to cool down, especially if it's left in the sun for a few mins.
The Negatives - Although I Am Really Picking Bones Here!
Cabin Space: Yes, she is tinier than her cousins, and 5 is a close fit, especially on long journeys. The rear AC vents and charging station encroaches on leg room for the 5th occupants. Headroom at the back is problematic for tall persons, although leg space is more than enough. Frankly, I love her compact sports car-like built. And for large family occasions, of course, my Endy steps in well!
Random Squeaks: After the first week or so, the front passenger seat started giving out some squeaky noises, which went away after I adjusted the seat position a little bit. On rough surfaces, sometimes, the "fins" inside the AC vents tend to resonate.
Blind Spot: The car has a definite blind spot at the driver's 5 o clock, especially if you adjust your rear view mirror to capture the side of the vehicle, as I do, worried as I am always about bikes standing too close to Myra at traffic signals. Surprised me a couple of times, and now I am just a tad more careful when turning right.
Useless Spare: The Continental spare tire is pretty useless, half the width of the Pirelli OEMs and god forbid, you blow one of your main tires on a long drive, it will be pretty difficult to get back to town on the spare. Wonder how it will even feel to steer with that combination! Check the after-sales experience later on in the article for more on this.
The Small Things That Matter
1. Absolutely awesome integration with the phone over Bluetooth, including reading SMSes. Very easy to dial using the call list. Crystal clear reception, and voice pickup is great!
2. Very nice navigation system - better than the MapMyIndia system in my Endy. Anyone knows which one this is? Tom Tom? Garmin?
3. Beautiful ambient lighting with some really special touches - foot well lighting, auto vanity mirror lights etc
4. The red body looks especially good in combination with the black sun roof, the black paneling around the sun roof and the grills (not so in the White variants, for example)
5. Electronically adjustable seats including support for the back
6. Auto fold mirrors on locking - so convenient!
7. Auto electronic parking brake in start stop traffic - absolutely delightful!
8. Voice commands activated from steering wheel, navigation control on steering, and a special driver-set button (I use it to switch to next song in the list, or the next radio station!)
9. A nifty handwriting recognition pad which really picks up my left handed scribbles very well! More over, it's the feature that gets the biggest wow when I show the car off to friends and family - especially since they never get to drive it anyway!
One thing missing from the international version, sadly, is the 3G/4G SIM card in the card with Wifi zone. But I guess I can live with that.
In the last 40 days, I have driven Myra in Pune's searing heat and heavy city traffic, let her loose on the Pune Mumbai Expressway and pushed her to the limits in heavy rain and mud on a Pune - Goa - Pune trip. And apart from having to put in hours of my time washing her up after her adventures, Myra definitely gets a big thumbs up from me, and more importantly, from my very discerning daughter!
A Big Thumbs Up - All The Awesome Things!
Haven't regretted buying her, even for a minute!
1. She absolutely glides in traffic, cabin noise is non-existent. More often than not, I tend to switch off the music, open the sun roof and roll down the windows, just to be able to hear the purr of the engine. Absolutely a delight! My daughter gave a big vote of confidence in the comfort of the back seat after an almost non-stop dash from Pune to Goa. On the way back, my wife took it one notch higher, curling up and going to sleep almost through the entire journey.
2. The kick when you press on the pedal is such a high, setting off at traffic signals with tires squealing is so hard to resist! My daughter keeps complaining that she can't sit up close to us, because every time I hit the throttle, she gets pushed back into the rear seat.
3. She glides effortlessly over rough patches if you keep your speed, and that's the best way to handle bad stretches - don't slow down. I found the ride quality so much better than what I have experienced in the Beemers with their RFTs. Of course, my Endy would win hands down on the uneven and rough detours that pop up every now and then on NH4 with all the construction work in progress, which is one reason I took the longer Belgaum-Chorla route into Goa, rather than my usual one through Azara and Amboli.
4. She absolutely hugs the road on tight corners, and with the stabilization program active, I find it hard to drift - although she does allow you to switch off the stabilization. My Ikon used to give me a similar feedback on curves, and I missed that in the Fiesta and of course, in the Endy. The Audi absolutely loves it when you throw her at curves, and is rock solid. Body roll is also almost non-existent.
5. And yes, we hit the expressway a couple of times. Respecting the rules of this forum, I will not talk about high speeds here, but let's say, hypothetically, if I wanted, she would come within sniffing distance of the 215 the brochure mentions, without much of a bother.
6. So far, with full AC and all the tire squealing, she's delivering between 12-15 kmpl. On long drives, put it on cruise control, and the mileage shoots up.
7. Oh, and yes - very important - I have not yet hit the underbody on any speed breaker yet, which is a big relief as far as ground clearance is concerned. This involves every giant speed bump on the NH4 detours, and some monstrous ones in Goa, where I have seen the Hondas grind hard every single time. I have maneuvered through them with a full load of 5 adults and a child, and it's been effortless.
8. Braking is also fantastic, and a big confidence booster. On the way back from Goa, we were doing a pretty good clip when the car in front slammed on the brakes to avoid a speed bump, and for just a split second, I imagined slamming my car into the one in front. The surface was pretty gravelly, but the car responded beautifully; no harm done!
9. A special note on air conditioning. Even in Pune's scorching 39 degrees today afternoon, with the sun roof shades off, the cabin easily stays at a very cool 20 degrees effortlessly. Unlike my Endy, which really needs a long time to cool down, especially if it's left in the sun for a few mins.
The Negatives - Although I Am Really Picking Bones Here!
Cabin Space: Yes, she is tinier than her cousins, and 5 is a close fit, especially on long journeys. The rear AC vents and charging station encroaches on leg room for the 5th occupants. Headroom at the back is problematic for tall persons, although leg space is more than enough. Frankly, I love her compact sports car-like built. And for large family occasions, of course, my Endy steps in well!
Random Squeaks: After the first week or so, the front passenger seat started giving out some squeaky noises, which went away after I adjusted the seat position a little bit. On rough surfaces, sometimes, the "fins" inside the AC vents tend to resonate.
Blind Spot: The car has a definite blind spot at the driver's 5 o clock, especially if you adjust your rear view mirror to capture the side of the vehicle, as I do, worried as I am always about bikes standing too close to Myra at traffic signals. Surprised me a couple of times, and now I am just a tad more careful when turning right.
Useless Spare: The Continental spare tire is pretty useless, half the width of the Pirelli OEMs and god forbid, you blow one of your main tires on a long drive, it will be pretty difficult to get back to town on the spare. Wonder how it will even feel to steer with that combination! Check the after-sales experience later on in the article for more on this.
The Small Things That Matter
1. Absolutely awesome integration with the phone over Bluetooth, including reading SMSes. Very easy to dial using the call list. Crystal clear reception, and voice pickup is great!
2. Very nice navigation system - better than the MapMyIndia system in my Endy. Anyone knows which one this is? Tom Tom? Garmin?
3. Beautiful ambient lighting with some really special touches - foot well lighting, auto vanity mirror lights etc
4. The red body looks especially good in combination with the black sun roof, the black paneling around the sun roof and the grills (not so in the White variants, for example)
5. Electronically adjustable seats including support for the back
6. Auto fold mirrors on locking - so convenient!
7. Auto electronic parking brake in start stop traffic - absolutely delightful!
8. Voice commands activated from steering wheel, navigation control on steering, and a special driver-set button (I use it to switch to next song in the list, or the next radio station!)
9. A nifty handwriting recognition pad which really picks up my left handed scribbles very well! More over, it's the feature that gets the biggest wow when I show the car off to friends and family - especially since they never get to drive it anyway!
One thing missing from the international version, sadly, is the 3G/4G SIM card in the card with Wifi zone. But I guess I can live with that.
My Audi A3 Technology Diesel - Myra (Part 2 - The Booking, Buying & Delivery)
First, The Buying Experience
The Dealer: Audi Pune recently underwent a transformation from the old owners, Pashankar Auto, to the Chennai-based Jubilant Motors. Along with the change in management, Audi Pune also shifted from a small outlet on SB Road to a very large 3S facility in Baner, on the highway.
When I got my car, they were still in the city. Everyone at Audi Pune were awesome! I did 2 test drives, the cars came home, and Arun, the sales rep, was happy to let me really push them to the limits without wincing. I went ahead and booked the Premium Plus variant, because it was the lowest version with DRLs and leather upholstery. Went for Diesel, since the waiting time for Petrol was way beyond my tolerance level.
However, the next day, I called up Audi Pune and had some interesting discussions (which I am constrained to not divulge in detail) after which they upgraded me to the Technology variant. This was a fantastic development for me, since I would have really hated to have non-functioning options and buttons on the car!
A lot of folks have asked me whether I evaluated any other car, especially the new C Class. Frankly, no. It was always going to be an Audi, although I had TDed the 3 series beemer 5 years back, and felt completely let down by the experience. The 3 pointed star has never appealed to me; always made me feel it's one for the oldies. Yes, the new C class does look sporty, but still doesn't cut it for me.
The Bank: As always, my bankers, HDFC, were absolutely brilliant, providing me an unbelievable offer on the loan, and documentation was a breeze.
The Insurance: I went with the insurance provided by Audi Pune (Bajaj Allianz) - it was one of the promises I made them during my earlier "interesting discussions". With bumper to bumper, including tires, 0 dep insurance with consequential damage included, I think I got a pretty good deal, especially when I factor in the NCB I enjoy.
I also went for 5 year extended warranty, although I opted out for the total service plan, which seemed quite expensive.
The Delivery
I booked on the 21st of Feb, and I had a Goa trip coming up on the 5th, and Audi Pune promised to try and deliver her before that. Unfortunately, a combination of holidays and other factors meant I could only take delivery on 10th. But I guess it was destiny - after all, that was the day Ravi Shastri had won his Audi 30 years ago, and fired up the dream in me!
We went to the showroom at 630 pm, and a few min later, we set our eyes on Myra for the first time! She looked so stunning in Red! Audi Pune helped us with breaking a coconut and doing a little puja, and a photo session, before seeing us off with a very cute flagging off ceremony! The drive from the showroom on SB Road to my home in Aundh, through the late evening rush hour traffic rates almost as scary as the first time I brought my Endy, Samara, home 5 years back!
It was too late in the evening to take too many detailed pictures, but here are a few quick snaps I took before they fitted the number plates.
The Dealer: Audi Pune recently underwent a transformation from the old owners, Pashankar Auto, to the Chennai-based Jubilant Motors. Along with the change in management, Audi Pune also shifted from a small outlet on SB Road to a very large 3S facility in Baner, on the highway.
When I got my car, they were still in the city. Everyone at Audi Pune were awesome! I did 2 test drives, the cars came home, and Arun, the sales rep, was happy to let me really push them to the limits without wincing. I went ahead and booked the Premium Plus variant, because it was the lowest version with DRLs and leather upholstery. Went for Diesel, since the waiting time for Petrol was way beyond my tolerance level.
However, the next day, I called up Audi Pune and had some interesting discussions (which I am constrained to not divulge in detail) after which they upgraded me to the Technology variant. This was a fantastic development for me, since I would have really hated to have non-functioning options and buttons on the car!
A lot of folks have asked me whether I evaluated any other car, especially the new C Class. Frankly, no. It was always going to be an Audi, although I had TDed the 3 series beemer 5 years back, and felt completely let down by the experience. The 3 pointed star has never appealed to me; always made me feel it's one for the oldies. Yes, the new C class does look sporty, but still doesn't cut it for me.
The Bank: As always, my bankers, HDFC, were absolutely brilliant, providing me an unbelievable offer on the loan, and documentation was a breeze.
The Insurance: I went with the insurance provided by Audi Pune (Bajaj Allianz) - it was one of the promises I made them during my earlier "interesting discussions". With bumper to bumper, including tires, 0 dep insurance with consequential damage included, I think I got a pretty good deal, especially when I factor in the NCB I enjoy.
I also went for 5 year extended warranty, although I opted out for the total service plan, which seemed quite expensive.
The Delivery
I booked on the 21st of Feb, and I had a Goa trip coming up on the 5th, and Audi Pune promised to try and deliver her before that. Unfortunately, a combination of holidays and other factors meant I could only take delivery on 10th. But I guess it was destiny - after all, that was the day Ravi Shastri had won his Audi 30 years ago, and fired up the dream in me!
We went to the showroom at 630 pm, and a few min later, we set our eyes on Myra for the first time! She looked so stunning in Red! Audi Pune helped us with breaking a coconut and doing a little puja, and a photo session, before seeing us off with a very cute flagging off ceremony! The drive from the showroom on SB Road to my home in Aundh, through the late evening rush hour traffic rates almost as scary as the first time I brought my Endy, Samara, home 5 years back!
It was too late in the evening to take too many detailed pictures, but here are a few quick snaps I took before they fitted the number plates.
My Audi A3 Technology Diesel - Myra (Part 1 - The Decision)
Less than 5 weeks after first setting my eyes on a feisty red A3 in Pune's SB Road showroom, we took delivery of our diesel, red with beige Technology Diesel A3 on 10th March, exactly 30 years to the day Ravi Shastri won his Audi 100 at being crowned the Champion of Champions.
Here is what influenced our decision:
1. It's an Audi. Ever since Ravi Shastri won his in 1985, it's been my dream car. The Beemers come close, but I had evaluated the 3 series when I bought my Endy 5 years ago and somehow, at that time, the 3 series' ride quality and fun quotient hadn't seemed too different from that offered by my Ford Fiesta SXi. That test drive pushed me away from the Beemers.
2. White was never in the reckoning. Blue was upstaged by black. My wife and daughter shot down the black in favor of the stunning red. And I have to admit, the red really is an eye catcher.
3. The Premium missed too many features that were important to me - xenon lights, DRLs, leather seats to name a few.
4. The Technology variant was another couple of lakhs more expensive. However, the best part - after we went ahead and booked the Premium Plus, Audi upgraded us to the Technology variant at no additional cost, a cool two big ones as a discount for being their customer!
5. I would have preferred the petrol, but the dealer tried his best at convincing me otherwise, and succeeded. He talked about all other Audis coming in Diesel only, about petrol requiring higher maintenance and so on, but the clincher was when he said (and I don't know how true it was, but that didn't matter any more) there was only one Petrol model available with Audi India as of date, and he wouldn't be able to promise me a delivery date any time in the near future. Impulsive and impatient as I am, I didn't want to wait any longer than I absolutely needed to.
6. I had seen the Skoda Octavia and Superb very recently, and while they are great cars, they didn't have the 4 rings, and that was a lot.
7. The A3 TD blew me away. I love squealing tires, I love tearing away when the traffic lights turn green, I love the sound of the engines revving, and the way the A3 pushed you back into the seats - it was beautiful.
8. I have never been able to not give an Audi a second look, and the red A3 was no exception. It's beautiful. It looks compact and strong and very reliable! The DRLs are mesmerizing, and lines are strong and defining. The sun roof fits beautifully, and the tires look hot. Compared to a 3 series BMW, the A3 is a clear winner in my eyes.
9. I can't part with my Endy, and the A3 will therefore do duty driving my wife to and from work in the city at most times. We are a family of 3, and the rear seat is no problem for my daughter. When parents and cousins visit, the Endy will step in with its cavernous 8-10 seating capacity
10. I guess specs and comparisons and logic sometimes need to defer to the heart!
Here is what influenced our decision:
1. It's an Audi. Ever since Ravi Shastri won his in 1985, it's been my dream car. The Beemers come close, but I had evaluated the 3 series when I bought my Endy 5 years ago and somehow, at that time, the 3 series' ride quality and fun quotient hadn't seemed too different from that offered by my Ford Fiesta SXi. That test drive pushed me away from the Beemers.
2. White was never in the reckoning. Blue was upstaged by black. My wife and daughter shot down the black in favor of the stunning red. And I have to admit, the red really is an eye catcher.
3. The Premium missed too many features that were important to me - xenon lights, DRLs, leather seats to name a few.
4. The Technology variant was another couple of lakhs more expensive. However, the best part - after we went ahead and booked the Premium Plus, Audi upgraded us to the Technology variant at no additional cost, a cool two big ones as a discount for being their customer!
5. I would have preferred the petrol, but the dealer tried his best at convincing me otherwise, and succeeded. He talked about all other Audis coming in Diesel only, about petrol requiring higher maintenance and so on, but the clincher was when he said (and I don't know how true it was, but that didn't matter any more) there was only one Petrol model available with Audi India as of date, and he wouldn't be able to promise me a delivery date any time in the near future. Impulsive and impatient as I am, I didn't want to wait any longer than I absolutely needed to.
6. I had seen the Skoda Octavia and Superb very recently, and while they are great cars, they didn't have the 4 rings, and that was a lot.
7. The A3 TD blew me away. I love squealing tires, I love tearing away when the traffic lights turn green, I love the sound of the engines revving, and the way the A3 pushed you back into the seats - it was beautiful.
8. I have never been able to not give an Audi a second look, and the red A3 was no exception. It's beautiful. It looks compact and strong and very reliable! The DRLs are mesmerizing, and lines are strong and defining. The sun roof fits beautifully, and the tires look hot. Compared to a 3 series BMW, the A3 is a clear winner in my eyes.
9. I can't part with my Endy, and the A3 will therefore do duty driving my wife to and from work in the city at most times. We are a family of 3, and the rear seat is no problem for my daughter. When parents and cousins visit, the Endy will step in with its cavernous 8-10 seating capacity
10. I guess specs and comparisons and logic sometimes need to defer to the heart!
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