I'm just back from my Bangalore trip, and I observed quite a few changes in the city since I had left it two years back. One of the major changes is the new Bangalore International Airport, or the BIAL. The old airport which was so conveniently located close to the heart of the city was shut down. Although that may have upset many commuters, I feel this was long overdue. The old airport was too tiny, and had a small-town feel totally incongruent with fast-growing Bangalore city. The only flip side to this is the 2 hour long, 60 km journey which a commuter has to undertake. Thankfully, that pain is eased to a great extent by the 6 lane highway that connects BIA to the city. So the later half part of the 2 hour trip can be undertaken at a decent speed of 60 kmph+.
One can hire a taxi, which sets you back by Rs. 750 or so, or one can take the bus. BIAL has started A/C volvo buses that ply at a frequency of one per 20-30 minutes, and they connect almost every nook and corner of the city to the airport. The bus fare is about Rs. 150.
BIAL really lives up to the reputation of Bangalore city as the silicon valley of India. Although, I didn't try it, one can pay the bus fare by a credit card. The conductor carries a battery operated card swiping machine. You can also buy the bus tickets online at redbus.in. However, I didn't spot any internet cafe.
BIA is HUGE (relatively speaking)!! The infrastructure will prove adequate for at least next 3 years. Although there are quite a few shops, conspicuous by its absence is a duty-free shop where one can expect to find cheap electronic goods. There are many eateries, but I advise you to check the expiry date of packaged food stuff before you buy. Sadly BIA is still not 'International' in that respect. Surprisingly luxury goods are more expensive here than you'd find them in the city. The airport economics is beyond me.
All in all - Enjoy the swank looks, relieve yourself at sparkling clean toilets, but avoid buying anything.
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Xeta - 3000 kms and going strong...
After a lot of deliberation and hesitation, I finally made up my mind and bought a TATA car. The obvious contender was the WagonR, which I had found a bit uncomfortable and lacking in space. I had my reservations about the build quality / reliability of the car, as a lot of other bloggers and online reviewers had mentioned about the nagging 'quality' issues with the car. Some had even reported that the car would 'usually stall' in the middle of a busy street (typical human mentality - blame the tool)! But, I went against all those popular opinions and decided to give the Indian manufacturer a try... After all, the car offered an amazing package at a great price. But, as they say, never buy a TATA car without power steering. This was very evident from the efforts it took to move the wheel when the engine was off. I just can't imagine how the GLE drivers survive!
Firstly, the interior space in the car is just amazing. Seats are positioned high, adding to the comfort of the passengers. An independent suspension (which arguably no other contender car has) serves you beautifully on the infamous Indian roads. Driving is quite effortless (again, if you have power steering), with silk-smooth gearshifts. That's another area where the car beats WagonR. The ride feels very stable and 'planted' especially at high speeds, which is due to the weight of the car. But the weight is a great disadvantage when you try to race off a signal. The pickup will seem a bit less than other cars in the category, but it's quite OK. The engine comes to life at around 2000 RPM and starts giving off a nice lion roar which I just love to hear. Maruti drivers who are accustomed to sub-1500 levels would feel the engine lifeless.
On the flip side, as a TATA owner you must make up your mind to live with minor imperfections like squeaking door handles and creaking (sometimes) dashboard. I guess we Indians stop at the 'good enough' stage, unlike the Japanese for whom even perfection isn't good enough. But considering the amazing value the car offers, we (as an Indian buyer) must let this go. I must add that till date, in my 3000 km driving (touch wood), I've never faced any issue with the car.
Mileage (the most important criteria for we Indians) is around 12 kmpl... again 'good-enough' for most. I guess it's due to the heaviness of the car, and not due to the engine being any less efficient than the contenders.
The Rs. 25,000 discount from the dealer (and an extra baggage of goodies worth Rs. 5000) made it a mouthwatering deal. At that time, for the first time, I regretted leaving a large corporate to work in a smaller company, as there was additional (Rs. 8000 or so) discount for employees of top Indian corporates. But all in all, it was a great deal. I bought the GLS petrol model for close to Rs. 3 lakh.
A word on prospective buyers and mileage - Do your math! Consider how much you would travel in a month, and calculate the differential cost. In most cases, paying even Rs. 20,000 more for a car that offers extra 5 kmpl isn't worth it, when these numbers are a bit on the extreme side. We often see people paying over a lakh (100,000) for those 2-3 extra kmpl.
Firstly, the interior space in the car is just amazing. Seats are positioned high, adding to the comfort of the passengers. An independent suspension (which arguably no other contender car has) serves you beautifully on the infamous Indian roads. Driving is quite effortless (again, if you have power steering), with silk-smooth gearshifts. That's another area where the car beats WagonR. The ride feels very stable and 'planted' especially at high speeds, which is due to the weight of the car. But the weight is a great disadvantage when you try to race off a signal. The pickup will seem a bit less than other cars in the category, but it's quite OK. The engine comes to life at around 2000 RPM and starts giving off a nice lion roar which I just love to hear. Maruti drivers who are accustomed to sub-1500 levels would feel the engine lifeless.
On the flip side, as a TATA owner you must make up your mind to live with minor imperfections like squeaking door handles and creaking (sometimes) dashboard. I guess we Indians stop at the 'good enough' stage, unlike the Japanese for whom even perfection isn't good enough. But considering the amazing value the car offers, we (as an Indian buyer) must let this go. I must add that till date, in my 3000 km driving (touch wood), I've never faced any issue with the car.
Mileage (the most important criteria for we Indians) is around 12 kmpl... again 'good-enough' for most. I guess it's due to the heaviness of the car, and not due to the engine being any less efficient than the contenders.
The Rs. 25,000 discount from the dealer (and an extra baggage of goodies worth Rs. 5000) made it a mouthwatering deal. At that time, for the first time, I regretted leaving a large corporate to work in a smaller company, as there was additional (Rs. 8000 or so) discount for employees of top Indian corporates. But all in all, it was a great deal. I bought the GLS petrol model for close to Rs. 3 lakh.
A word on prospective buyers and mileage - Do your math! Consider how much you would travel in a month, and calculate the differential cost. In most cases, paying even Rs. 20,000 more for a car that offers extra 5 kmpl isn't worth it, when these numbers are a bit on the extreme side. We often see people paying over a lakh (100,000) for those 2-3 extra kmpl.
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