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The best and the worst thing about the modern car is that nothing ever goes wrong with it. Tell me, when was the last time your average Indo-Jap-Korean-European car gave up the ghost on you? When was the last time you actually opened the bonnet of a car to see whether it really had an engine under it? Trust me, there are souls who’ve bought, used, serviced, used more and sold a car without ever staring at a plastic shroud that read ‘16 Valve DOHC’ or ‘Caution: Hot!‘ Sure, there are exceptions in the form of real lemons in the market, but generally speaking, cars have become almost as reliable as wristwatches with quartz movements. Almost.
Not so long ago they were not, and buying, owning, driving and generally living with cars required a certain mindset. Those who had cars drove them to far-flung places and enjoyed motoring, and those who didn’t quickly befriended the local mechanics. The apartment complex where I live has, at last count, 160 cars. It was less than 50 when I moved in some six years back. Assuming that I can safely count up to 200 and the fact that there has not been an addition to the concrete structures, the reason for so many cars around is simple – second cars. Okay, some people are buying new cars and since they are appalled at the value of their depreciated asset, have decided not to part with them. Some double income families genuinely need two cars and a few, of course, are buying a second car simply because they can.
What alarms me is the fact that most of the second cars are as reliable, as new, as similar and therefore as dull as their first cars. It looks like we Indians do not want to experiment with cars. Alright, what if we make a list of comparatively reliable yet outright quirky second car options? Hope you read on, since these are not merely automotive solutions but will work hard to ensure you that you remember the ownership experience – whether it is good or bad!
Maruti Suzuki Gypsy
You like the convertible idea but want something that is more mainstream and maybe macho, right? The Maruti Suzuki Gypsy is still the best off-road vehicle money can buy in India today. The ride quality, with leaf springs all around, is on the bouncy side and weather protection (unless you opt for a GRP roof) is not very good. What is going to hurt the image though is trying to park it properly – the Gypsy does not come with creature comforts such as power steering and air-conditioning. It never did and looks like it never will. Splurge on balloon radials, some nice graphics and the obligatory Hellas and bingo, you are the dude on the move. Sure, some people will suspect that you are a plainclothes policeman – especially if your Gypsy is painted white. But when the roads crumble and water-logging stops other cars in their tracks, trust the Gypsy to make its own way. Holiday to Ladakh? Do you know what the low-ratios in a Gypsy gearbox can do?
Where can I buy one? Maruti will make them till our armed forces buy them
Does it cost the earth? Rs 5.5 lakh for new ones – they are built to order for civilians though
Why should I avoid it? Spinal injury at a later stage is a possibility!
Why should I succumb? It is a car, a convertible and a proper off-roader all rolled into one. And with its fuel-injected Esteem heart, its reliability can be termed bullet-proof
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