[keen.to.know]

Way to go "Citizens of Kolhapur". You are finding new ways of putting the city on people's "mind maps".

It would be fun to drive down to Aurangabad or Kolhapur this year & check how many of these cars are jostling for space on their roads

[RX135]

Originally Posted by sindabad.sailor

Kolhapur indeed was a Merc capital of India not too long ago.

AFAIK, reason why Kolhpur had Municipal Corporation and not Municipal Council, was due to high per capita income. The population size was smaller than requirement.

The city people have immense craze for cars. Forget abt cars, even auto rickshawalas w'd do something unique with interiors.

I have seen several MH-09 registration autos in Bangalore. Reason told to me by couple of Bangalore autowalas was, they were the best maintained autos available for resale.

In general, people have penchant for good quality food, clothes and automobiles. You would not see often unclean vehicles, be it a puny moped or an autorickshaw or a 7 series. The city is not expensive to live though.

@sinbad.sailor, While there are several good points about the city, IMHO, it has stagnated for last 3-4 decades thanks to pathetic local political leadership. There was/is no strong leader, who has vision and can bring in development to the city, though there always has been tremendous potential. Sadly, most of the development is through individual efforts.

[Figopian]

Originally Posted by RX135

AFAIK, reason why Kolhpur had Municipal Corporation and not Municipal Council, was due to high per capita income. The population size was smaller than requirement.


I have seen several MH-09 registration autos in Bangalore. Reason told to me by couple of Bangalore autowalas was, they were the best maintained autos available for resale.

In general, people have penchant for good quality food, clothes and automobiles. You would not see often unclean vehicles, be it a puny moped or an autorickshaw or a 7 series. The city is not expensive to live though.

@sinbad.sailor, While there are several good points about the city, IMHO, it has stagnated for last 3-4 decades thanks to pathetic local political leadership. There was/is no strong leader, who has vision and can bring in development to the city, though there always has been tremendous potential. Sadly, most of the development is through individual efforts.

Completely agree with you. A city with tremendous potential, excellent road connectivity, engineering colleges, prospered business has not been doing justice with its potential purely due to lack of political will. The municipal corporation was one of the most corrupted one, hopefully things will change soon!!

[ghodlur]

There was a news article in Hindustan times yesterday that Mercedes Benz India has got a bulk order of 90 customized C class cars from Carzonrent the mobility solution provider (Thats what they call these days for car renters). The cars will be used by carzonrent for ferrying the high flying clients of Emirates airlines.

Merecedes Benx actually bettered their previous deal of 70 cars to carzonrent done in 2008. The reason for going again for Mercs is the reliability of theses cars as some of the earlier Mercs bought have already done 1.8L kms and are still going great it seems.

[volkman10]

Originally Posted by ghodlur

There was a news article in Hindustan times yesterday that Mercedes Benz India has got a bulk order of 90 customized C class cars from Carzonrent the mobility solution provider (Thats what they call these days for car renters).

Here is the article on it.
Mercedes Sells 90 Customised C-Class Models to Carz on Rent

"Carz on Rent purchased 90 customised C-Class models from the company."

Cheers!

[sam003]

Seems Merc is planning to go big way. Started individual lease too:

Ever dreamt of owning a Mercedes? Now, lease its at 50% of price - The Economic Times

[Mpower]

Originally Posted by volkman10

Here is the article on it.
Mercedes Sells 90 Customised C-Class Models to Carz on Rent

"Carz on Rent purchased 90 customised C-Class models from the company."

Cheers!

Which engine option and which trim?

In what way are they customized?

[volkman10]

Originally Posted by Mpower

In what way are they customized?

Customization apperas to be in the interiors and services rendered!

Cheers!


The Hindu : FEATURES / METRO PLUS : Luxury on the move

"Carzonrent, one of Delhi's premium cab companies, launched its exclusive Limo Service recently. Its car fleet includes Audis and Mercedes, featuring services like Wi-fi interiors, GPRS, on demand visual entertainment and refreshments and drinks, on the move. “Understanding the needs and demands of the increasing upwardly mobile population in the Capital, we have launched the Limo service. We want to make commuting a more refreshing and comfortable experience for our customers,” said Rajiv K Vij, CEO, Carzonrent.
Point-to-Point
According to Vij, a key feature of the service is the ‘Point-to-Point' charging system. “Customers will have to pay for the kilometres travelled and not the entire day. Unlike other services which charge on the basis of packages, Carzonrent Limo will charge only for the actual distance travelled, thereby making it transparent and economical for the user.” Customers also have the option of paying through credit or debit cards via the card swipe machine installed in the vehicle"

[Swanand Inamdar]

What a way to being noticed! Kolhapur, for long had a long list of Merc's but then somewhere down the line, they faded away. But then, after Aurangabad set precedence, Kolhapur has decided to act!
Thanks to the money rich folks (sugarcane and turmeric producers) and the long lineage in Maharashtra politics, Tier 2 cities in MH have decided to be noticed! Way to go guys. Nashik & Nagpur guys- Time to rise and shine too!

[libranof1987]

It is good people are prospering but somehow such news doesn't excite me. It makes good business sense but the way the "purchase" is blown out of proportion and makes headlines isn't pleasant.

Hope they also use some of their money to make Kolhapur an infrastructurally sound place. But then again, it is their own money they are blowing so no one can really complain.

I don't think south India will make such news - most are busy buying gold or saving!

Originally Posted by ghodlur

Just thinking on those lines. Why not BHPians in cities (any no tier specific) group together for a bulk discount. Is there any way Mods where the buyer can express his desire to book a car.?

This has been discusses on the Suggestions thread; MODS have come out strongly against it. Makes sense - T-BHP shouldn't be exploited commercially.