[shiv11bhargava]

As a 6 year old in August 2001, I picked up an Autocar India at New Delhi railway station when I was boarding a train to Bhilai with my mother!
The event left an indelible mark.
The same year also saw me become a Formula 1 fan and I never looked back! Ferrari-MSC forever.

Miss you mom.

I am Shiv. A bhpian by heart since the late 2000s. I recently joined in June! For months I had no idea that my membership was approved!Out and out BMW fan here with massive respect for eveything German! Especially Porsche. Big Ferrari/Lamborghini fan as well.

I have driven a lot of cars till date and a few bikes as well! A few favourites due to memories attached!
A BMW 320d, Honda CBR 650R, Jaguar XJ L (Diesel), Yamaha R15, Duke 390, Porsche Cayenne 4.8L V8, BMW 530d, BMW 330i (G20), Honda City, Polo TSI and Baleno RS!

I am the kind of guy whose Google Discover feed is always full of recommended reads/ articles from Team BHP and sports news!

Such a pleasure to be a part of this family.

20 years this year as an F1 spectator. I am an out and out automotive enthusiast.

I respect all brands and people who are driving or help a vehicle be good. (drivers, car cleaners, mechanics)

This member here has always given buying and maintenance advice to aplenty and just wants people to be happy and safe on the road.

As a young lad, I loved drawing automotive interiors and even designing cars.I hope I someday get to a career where I am helping customers have a reliable car.

I have had my share of ups and downs on the road, but I always strive to be calm on the road going back to golden advice my dad gave me when I got my DL in 2013.

'' Not everyone is an intelligent or safe driver.''

I try and be safe and avoiding any problems when driving.

OUR ENTHUSIASTIC GARAGE!

2018 Baleno RS

2019 Aprilia SR 150 (ABS)


My father and I are residents of Gurgaon. Delhi-ites who moved to Gurgaon you know? We also lived in Noida for a while.



My father tells me how he learnt to drive in a Padmini in the early 80's. I learnt in an Alto, thirty years later!

We have had our fair share of vehicles over the years:

Maruti 800 (1997-2002) White.
Ford Escort (2001-2005) Dark Blue.
Maruti Alto LX (2006-2014) Red! HR 26 registered!
Honda City V (MT) 2011-2016. Beige.





Bhargava Sr. got rid of the Alto by the end of 2014 and we had the City!
We also had a 2008 Hyundai Accent 1.5 (P) that we recently let go of. It primarily stayed with my maternal aunt in Dehradun. A family car of sorts! Sometimes here, sometimes there!Amazing work by Hyundai.


A reliable product! The 13 year old Accent sounded like an angry Tiger by the end of it's life! It sounded so raspy I tell you.
We let it go for around 130 thousand rupees.

2017

Dad let go of his prized City by end of 2016! Sweet as a peach. I have had my share of 'fast driving' with that car! An icon. The Honda City! I could create a separate post for her.

Overshare.
(As an immature, irresponsible early 20s lad, I once made it to Amity Noida from Agra in 89 minutes! 161 km/h average speed. Never again.)
The Honda was meant to be enjoyed, not abused.

We were using the Accent again and Dad decided to shortlist a new, comfortable hatchback by Dec 2017.

We test drove a Baleno 1.2 AT and a Baleno RS.

Dad likes to enjoy driving his cars. An automatic was the preferred type of transmission due to the stress on the knee for people above 45 It was an interesting situation!

The 1.2 AT was nice and easy. We then moved to the 1.0L Boosterjet Baleno.

The Polo was dropped as it was old and cramped. We did consider a Honda City(V) again but it was too familiar.

BALENO RS, test drive!

The joy of a turbocharger! The RS has a 1.0L 3 cyl with a Variable Geometry Turbo. Boy is it sweet!

We switched from the 1.2AT to a thrilling 1L Turbo-petrol! 1600 RPM and the boost kicks in. The 1.0L Boosterjet is a stunning product by Suzuki. The same 1.0L is now on offer on the most fuel-efficient car in India now? The new Wagon R with the1.0L making 67 HP sans the Turbo.

I have a great memory! I always try and forge significant events into a journal and the Dec '17 RS test-drive was one such day!

December 25, 2017. Dad took delivery of the RS in Dark Blue from Nexa Golf Course Road. I was travelling!

2018. The RS went into limp mode twice. MSIL were prompt and once the car came back from the second repair job, the car never limped and nothing like that ever happened!

There was total power loss in any gear post 2000rpm. No Turbo. It was a strange situation!

2019-2020. The car was perfect. Zero issues! I mean zero! The service was always done on time and we are a dynamic dad-son duo who want zero fuss!

2021. End of the year. The Blue beauty is at around 67xxx kms. Zero fuss in 2021. Kudos MSIL.

Only a 1.0L Boosterjet owner knows why he wants Suzuki to bring the 1.4L Boosterjet! You know?

2021 also saw the car have a new set of Goodyear Assurance 195/55 R16s at around 62-64K kms.

An issue? The Baleno RS has a bumper lip! So we have now spent around 8000 rupees on two of them. The most recent one, the third overall fell away while driving a few months ago! Bhargava Sr feels it is irritating and annoying!
We will get one again!? Maybe?

2023, I would want Dad to get a new AT SUV/Sedan for himself!
Till then? Smooth sailing!

I could go and on about the refinement and purity of the 1.0L Turbo. I love all Polo's with DSGs and without them! The same love is there for all Baleno owners. Heck, Baleno owners always respect each other in traffic! (I am sure it happens with all sister cars/ siblings!)

Very tempted to tune the Blue beauty to 121-125 HP with an ECU remap with Quantum Tuning. 20K.
Borla Exhaust, another 15K.

Power will be at 121-125 HP and 190-195Nm. ( Stock Detuned 1.0L Boosterjet in the Baleno RS in India is
102 HP/ 150NM.

Better rubber? PS4s? 205/55 R16s I guess? 30-33K for a set of 4?

All this maybe after two years!? I need to save, dad would call all that rubbish! Just saying, I am always tempted!

MY Aprilia SR150ABS!

As an owner I can tell you that it's superb!
I would like to share a few points.
Completed 2 years as an owner this November.

1. Superb Bybre front disc brake! Absolutely superb. I have avoided a few falls due to the same. Really powerful!
2. Single Channel ABS. Works well.
3. 33-39 KMPL mileage. 28-29 if you ride really hard!
4. 154.8 CC Engine. The suspension is a bit hard, high speed cruising and cornering are AMAZING.
5. Use fuel additives, fuel cleaners and good petrol. The SR150 demands 91RON+! Using IOC XP95, not all the time.
6. Great throttle response! I have driven from CyberCity to Noida in 44 minutes via NH8,Barapullah and DND.
7. Carburetor cleaning is a must. Please get the vehicle serviced on time!
8. This vehicle is for people who love riding and just enjoy 2 wheelers! Great work Aprilia.
9. Upgraded my halogen headlights to Night Eye LED Headlights LM 6500K 12W for around 1100 RS. It does the Aprilia a lot of justice! The halo looked terrible. Love the white light now.
10. 2 Years on 7th Nov,2021.

18750 kms done. Service done 4-5 times. Had the last oil change at 17400 after 5000 kms.

The SR150 is just a tad bit quicker than the SR160. The SR160 does offer a catalytic converter and Fuel Injection.
Cheers Aprilia! Ride safe everyone.

2021 End. Aprilia SR150 ABS update. Got a new MRF Zapper for the rear, Vee Rubber was dangerous and the tread had vanished by 19500Kms. The front is still doing well with the Vee, will shift to another Zapper. I think my throttle friendly nature blew away the rear tyre!

Using Liquimoly Scooter Engine Oil. At 20170, I shifted from Castrol/Gulf.
Just wow?! The engine now seems to be at full power, more torque and it's just running beautifully.
I would recommend LiquiMoly to everyone out there, just wow. Fully synthetic. I will change it after 5000kms, even though it can run for 6K.

Thank you teambhp! I am so glad to be here.













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