I’m done with small cars
Last week, when I had parked my car on a side of a street, this jeep came and banged my car on the side, jamming the side door window. After taking the car through bad road of BR hills, I had given it for servicing earlier this week and picked it up yesterday after a fat bill. Today afternoon, a truck come and crashed into my car from behind on hosur road. My seat broke, back doors are jammed and the whole of back is smashed up. The driver said sorry and there is nothing more that I could do but drive it back to the service station.
Vehicle scene in India has changed. Once upon a time, a good fancy car was the one which was long and short. This is the age of SUV’s and cars which are 5-6 feet high (Hyundai Santro etc). Because of this, guys with small, short cars are getting suffocated. In all the traffic jams, I always have a huge vehicles all around me and I have no idea what’s happening beyond them. With so many Tata Sumo’s and Qualis in the city, they always look down on smaller cars and bump you off roads just coz of their size. I, for one am going for a larger vehicle even though it means parking problems in the city.
Remember, if you are from a city like Bangalore, think twice before you buy a car like Maruti 800/Zen, Matiz, Hyundai Getz etc. Or even better, get out of this damn place
>they always look down on smaller cars and bump you off roads just coz of their size
just imagine the plight two-wheelers.
>Or even better, get out of this damn place
I think frustration levels are raising exponentially in last one year.
One of my friend who always used to say “namma bengaLuru” now says that she wants to get out of this city.
Why did you let the truck off? You should have gone to the cops…FWIW
And do what ??
Umm make the lorry chap pay for damages?
He’ll rather sit in jail for a week then pay up because he cannot afford it. And even to get that done, I’ll have to run around police station many times, for which I neither have the time or energy.
Oh ! Feel bad for you.
-nerdy
And probably your car costs less than the reapair-work ! 😕
-nerdy
the other side, when you are a responsible driver…
Oh my Kalyan…what an awful thing to happen. Your point of view opens up a new line of thought to me, because I have always (well, for the past year or so since we got a Honda CR-V) had the opposite point of view. I always say that if there was a Maruti 400 I would buy THAT for the roads of Blr…..if–by necessity, I assure you, we keep the SUV *ONLY* for highway driving– I take the car out in Blr traffic, I feel as if I have got an elephant on the road. Small gaps in the traffic, which my Wagon R would slip through and get ahead, cannot be utilized, and I am always worried about these don’t care lorry drivers and auto drivers clipping the car on the side (what we call a “glancing kiss” in traffic terms!) giving rise to dents and scratches which would cost a bomb to repair….without a hope of getting the perpetrators to pay up.
But yes…there was the time when I brought back our low-slung Honda City in pouring rain from Hosur in the dark. I had exactly your experience. I was walled in by behemoths and had no clue, most of the time, where I was on the road, and when I should prepare to start bearing left for the Silk Board turning. It was a most unnerving experience.
I took a resolution, more than a year ago, not to take out the car(s) unless it was necessary. And most of the time, for my daily chores, I walk or cycle…both fairly dangerous things to do in Blr traffic. But as far as driving goes, I realize that each of the cars has its specific function, that’s how bad Bangalore traffic has become….
…And having read of a multinational’s drive to promote cycling, I called the number given in the news item…the first time, the gentleman just hung up on me; when I persisted, I was told that this campaign was only for young (and presumably newsworthy celebrity-type) people, and that I was too OLD. It is “cool” to be a CEO or celeb “cycling” around a few roads; it is NOT cool to be a middle-aged person who wants to integrate cycling into her daily life. Read my blog about my cycling experiences!
On my little Wagon R, I just let the dents and scratches accumulate nowadays….hope you have better luck when you get your car back!
Re: the other side, when you are a responsible driver…
> I am always worried about these don’t care lorry drivers and auto drivers clipping the car on the side
well, big cars come in two kinds – the ones that are elegant and the ones that are mean. when driving the elegant ones you are the lowest in the “road food chain” – one scratch or a dent and your heart sinks to mighty depths of sadness and pain. the means one are right in the middle – after the buses and the lorries and can scare quite a bit of autos and two-wheelers and are very useful in heavy traffic (especially if there’s a nice horn attached to it)
Re: the other side, when you are a responsible driver…
You are right to an externt. My father has a Santro and I take it once in a while and I’ve realised its really nice for bangalore as its small enough to fit into gaps and its small type radius makes it possible to take auto-style turns in the traffic. What’s really nice about santro is the height factor. it’s almost as high as most of the SUV’s. 800 is not.
And I was planning to get myself a Zen or an 800. Hmm..
Kallu – nothing less than a Sherman tank will do for Bangalore roads!
The Zen was significantly nicer than the 800 about 4 years ago. I don’t know how they compare now, but if that was any indication, I’d certainly grab the Zen if I could. I drove a zen for about 1 year, and an 800 for about 3 years, both shiny new releases, just a couple days old each, when I got them.
Thats unfortunate having two accidents in a row.
Considering the kind of wild shoots u do, u shld head for a utility vehicle.
This is the right advice!
Yeah, Mahindra classic open top jeep!
bigger cars=bigger bills
I think bigger cars lead to bigger bills – bigger service/repair bills, insurance bills , fuel bills …
I dont think driving a Honda CRV would have helped you avoid the truck accident. But you would have to pay much more to get the repairs done.
Re: bigger cars=bigger bills
You’re right about the traffic accident, but I’m sure one will have lot less road rage with taller vehicles.
Insurance?
All jokes apart, the man does have a point. You have to get above a certain critical mass to get the respect that you are talking about. Moving from an 800 to a SUV will make little difference with reference to the respect bit.
I see no easy solution.. and I hope you are fine and it was only the car that got busted..
My car got bashed from the side by a truck while dad was driving.. and the car was actually standing still at a signal, when this happened. I am yet to get it fixed 😛
Buy a heavy duty second hand jeep with something rhyming with “POLICE” written in the front. Other vehicles will dare not touch you.
Better still, wear white kurta over ur faded jeans and put big red tikka on your forehead and drive. I am sure you will be able to get the money from guys, even if there were an accident and second hand diesel vehicle will not break your heart – Mahesh 😀
get a truck ….what fun that will be ..but the only vehicle that u can drive on bangalore road and not get hurt/damaged is the BTS bus..not very glamorous option but safe one…then we will see which big vehicle owner can act arrogant ..muahahahahaha
Any place is good or bad. Problems are there everywhere in one form or the other. Getting out is not a solution i think.
he he.. thats true
hey, I was happy living in Bangalore till 2003 – early 2004. It’s in the last one year that things went crazy.
Why not a hummer 🙂
When I was with JLR, I had a jeep with “Gov of Karnataka” written in front. I sure did get a lot of respect 🙂
My car is 10 years old and have already used them up twice this year.
Me too 😉 this B’lore traffic just sux
Couldn’t agree more
I’m very sorry to hear about what has happened to your car, especially just after putting a bunch of money into it. Not fun.
I have to think that the frustration that you are experiencing is one that many people are going through in Bangalore right now. It seems the traffic has become exponentially worse over the past 10 years, as have the roads, and there seems to be no solution in sight. However, if everyone’s solution was to drive a larger vehicle (as no doubt it already has been for many) it will just further accelerate the problem. It’s just not sustainable. Plus, larger vehicles cost more to own and operate, are harder to park, and are no fun to drive on the highway.
I guess my only advice would be to give up on keeping the outside of the car nice. If buying a car, buy used, buy cheap, and just keeping it nice beneath the skin. Otherwise, the jeep idea sounds best, so perhaps a decent compromise would be a used Gypsy? Only issue then would be safety. Jeeps aren’t made to protect the occupants as much as to protect themselves, and a shorter version of the Gypsy in particular was sold in the U.S. in the 80’s as the Suzuki Samurai, and had to be quickly yanked from the market because of rollover problems.
RE: I’m done with small cars
Hi Kalyan,
I knda agree with you on that. There have been a lot of times I have taken the Hosur raod stretch and found a crash or rub-past almost everytime I did.
I ride a motor cycle and everyone feels that is dangerous. I don’t understand why that should be. Big cars can scare off motor cyclists and smaller cars, but why should they? I say most people on the road (including motor cyclists) have a lesser sense of discipline.
I do not criss-cross my bike around small openings, do not overspeed at junctions and most importantly not honk meaninglessly! Doing all that agitates people on raod.
Desperation causes most damage on raods and Hosur road chief,by GOD, is infested with despots. I gather all motorists need to catch up with a shrink!!
Yeah, this has lost it… Find another place.
wow…
That’s two excellent suggestions! Whoever you are…you know how to get ahead in Bangalore, literally and figuratively!
Am just stepping out to buy my “sonia ji” saree, and the template for painting “Holice” (Kannada for police…Tamizh Poo = Kannada Hoo; Tamizh Puli = Kannada Huli, and so on) on the sides of my car!
Thank you! And come and visit me in jail…
Re: wow…
Yep, you need to have some political connection in the place where you stay in india, or at least fake having connections.
As for who I am, I met kalyan at K Gudi (around june 05) where we had a nice tiger sighting at 10am in the morning on the BRT Temple road, and thats how I know him.
– Mahesh
Banging on Bangalore roads
Your car must be something that the other vehicles want to bang it! And that too from different sides 😉
But seriously, getting a bigger vehicle doesn’t solve your problem because there is always someone bigger on the roads. I have a sedan-size car and I keep thinking I should rather have a smaller one to aid maneuverability. But if only we could wish away the traffic.
What the city needs is reliable public transport networking all the points in the city. Till that happens and you think of leaving your car at home, you will always keep thinking of the next big vehicle.
Re: Banging on Bangalore roads
When I say BIG, I really mean a car which is ‘tall’ like a santro. Not a ‘long’ one 😀
Re: Banging on Bangalore roads
Well folks, saw the whole thread. Debating on a hummer to truck will just drill a hole in your pockets. Be sufficed with the car which you own. Be a citizen of the city and then move to be a citizen of the nation maintaining calmness and obey traffic rules strictly. Start from you and t would spread like fire and we all can live in harmony.
As rightly said please take care of your comfort within the car forgetting the looks.
Hail to build a nation rather than cribbing.
Thanks,
B.
Re: Banging on Bangalore roads
hi kalyan,
I know what happend to you was very bad, but right now i need a help from you. i’m trying to find a road map from bangalore to brhills and from there to mysore visiting talakkad and sivasamudra.. Please help me out. Sorry guys for interrupting ur discussion on car size, still i’m not in a position to have a car and can’t give any view either.
rgds,
Bhupesh
Re: Banging on Bangalore roads
HI Bhupesh,
Usually Blr-kanakapura road used to be very good. But after the rains that’s in a very bad state. I suggest you go Bangalore – Mysore – Nanjangud – Chamrajnagar – BR Hills
Re: Banging on Bangalore roads
Thanks kalyan for the info,
but if we choose to go through mysore, all our timings will get shattered. we are planning to start in the early morning and reach BR hills by some 8 or 9 am.
rgds,
Bhupesh
Re: Banging on Bangalore roads
There is no kanakapura road. If you do go that way, I can assure you it will take atleast 7 hours to reach BR hills
Re: Banging on Bangalore roads
That was true… it took around 7 hrs to reach BRHills as we took that kanakapura route. we went through malavalli and by the time we reached BRHills, we had driven 235kms. I’m still wondering where i found we can reach BR Hills by driving 89kms from bangalore.
rgds,
Bhupesh
Re: Banging on Bangalore roads
Whats more important is that u dint sustain any “damage” .. in a city small cars are always beneficial because of tehir fuel efficiency , manoeuverability and also in finding a parking spot … not to the cheaper maintenance on these…
however i wish the safety standards are also upped to the euro norms.. the small cars in europe all come with abs, airbags and crumple zones.. cant say any such thing abt the marutis or santros here… i think of the smaller cars in india palio is safest and maybe the indica can follow…
With so much traffic .. small cars are the only way dudes… big ones are useful only out of the city…
Thanks for the information. I thought to buy maruti car. In our city, we have also traffic problem but i did not face this type of problem.
Road Rage & abusive driver of a Honda City -White
On 2nd February 2016 between 10 am & 11 am on ORR – Service Road towards Marathhalli an abusive white Honda City driver – kept pushing us towards the drain on the right side by trying to cut in. When I tried to keep to the road – he started abusing and ranting. I ignored his abusing and then he got even mad and hit my car with his hands and started to stall and block the car. This person is crazed – other drivers must watch out for him and avoid this crazy chap. In all that fiasco it did not occur to me to note his number or take his picture/video.