[yaser_cyclist]

Originally Posted by Glass

Also, I bet the ride quality of the Padmini even in the deepest of bumps beats today's high end cars. My perception?

Padmini with a good suspension is the most idea car for our indian roads and they do take everything that our roads can offer with ease and won't complain much. Haven't seen anyone with a high end err well forget the high end even a mid range car throw it into the bumps else they would get a hearache. Its different in a padmini. If ever you happen to take her over a deep/high bump at some speed, you can just wink at her or say "oops! sorry babes", she will smile back and continue

[salvation]

thanks guys for starting this thread!! i am really getting emotional while writing this.
This was the car i learnt my driving on. we had first deluxe model that is with floor gears in jalandhar.I dont remember the year exactly but i do rememeber it took six months after booking to get the delivery.
My father opted it over maruti as he always considered maruti to be a toy car and not meant for people like him!! He still doesnot like my esteem.
We used to commute through potholed highways from jalandhar to kurkshetra , chandigarh long before Late Mr. Beant Singh ex- CM of Punjab built four laned highways and we came to know what exactly Grand trunk Roads are.

It had been through knee deep waters, driven us out safely during terrorism days in punjab when roads were empty after 3p.m. and not once it gave up.

i still remember smash bending my front gate while backing the car during early days and nothing happened to its bumpers.Good old steel bumpers with black paddings.

We went to dalhousie, haridwar, dharamshala, barog, shimla to name a few hill stations from jalandhar and never did she gave up apart from filling the radiator water once in a while . The car never gave up on us.

we shifted to chandigarh and kept it till 2000. Since we needed another car my father bought Guess what !!used 118NE in 1999.

Since Age had started showing on her with rusting body parts and we were not able to maintain it properly ,We sold it for 18000 bucks if i remember correctly and bought daewoo cielo .
but it had a gem of an engine. rusting of body part was the main problem , rest everything about it was so awesome.

[desertfox]

Fiat Estate Models were Kamal and Sab.

I still have Premier padmini back in my hometown in Patna. It was my Dad's car. A 1981 Model Premier Padmini Deluxe BE. Reg no. URS 183 ( Allahabad purchased and registered )

He used to drive it himself and maintain it very well.

I learnt how to drive on it.

It gave yeoman service I drove it to Kathmandu, Darjeeling, Gangtok many times over.

On the highway it used to give an average of 14.5 Km/l

In the city ( Patna ) it was 12 in 1981, 10 by 1991, 8 by 2001 and now one cant drive in 3rd gear too on Patna roads so it must be closer to 5 or 6 km/l !

There are many fond memories from those times. So much nostalgia. When I came home from my university my dad came to the railway station to recieve me always in this car.

When I first came home from Dubai, it was there at the Airport.

When I got married in 1996, it was in this car, all floral decorated that my wife came to our house.

It was painted White in 1994, and has been like that ever since.

However after 1996 it was driven by a series of hired drivers after my dad became old to drive on his own and the traffic situation worsened.

It is not in the best of shape now and the paint is peeling off. Also the engine needs a rebore and the suspension requires a complete overhaul.

My dad has a Maruti Esteem now but I plan to do a complete restoration of this car and enjoy driving it during my trips to Patna.

During my days in Dubai, the Premier Padmini BU S1 was introduced in Dubai. in 1995 It used to cost Dhs. 19,000, about Rs. 180,000 in Indian rupees at the then exchange rates.

However when presented for police passing tests in 1997 these cars failed all norms and hence were discountinued from the UAE market.

Anyway there was never a market because a second hand four year old Honda Civic or Toyota Corolla came at the same price tag.

After 199

[arun1100]

I have a Premier Padmini Economy. The economy version was model which Premier designed for cost cutting. It had white bumpers instead of chrome. Small plastic wheel caps instead of the bigger chrome ones. No quarter glass, thereby Premier used to save Rs. 40 per car. Plain black seat covers and Door pads.

But the performance in all models was rocking as ever.

I find the steering as smooth as power steering.

My car is 1991 model and is still in immaculate condition. Waiting for a complete restoration to enhance its beauty.

[Sujith1100]

MOD NOTE: Slang usage is not allowed. Please read rules before posting

[arun1100]

Here is a Pic of my car

[hillram]

Fiats are a craze for everyone in this country.Many of us had our dads own this for years and have driven various models.I can never resist owning a lovely restored Fiat.

[arun1100]

Originally Posted by hillram

I can never resist owning a lovely restored Fiat.

Instead of buying a restored Fiat, you can buy a well maintained Fiat and get it restored to your taste. I am sure its more satisfying.

[salilpawar1]

Originally Posted by arun1100

Instead of buying a restored Fiat, you can buy a well maintained Fiat and get it restored to your taste. I am sure its more satisfying.

hillram already has a lovely looking Fiat in his garage!

[arun1100]

Originally Posted by salilpawar1

hillram already has a lovely looking Fiat in his garage!

Oh ya! Car looks great!!!

[Mehul1100]

Premier Padmini S1 is really a nice car to own and drive, only worries are the spares and service. I love my Padmini S1.

[ACM]

Mehul can see you have you fiat snap in your signature, why dont you go ahead and blow post it in full on the thread.

[Mehul1100]

Originally Posted by ACM

Mehul can see you have you fiat snap in your signature, why dont you go ahead and blow post it in full on the thread.

As per your wish here are the pics.

[jaisha8]

Attaching some photos of our Padmini with the story of our Premier Padmini S1 Executive.
In February, 1996, my father bought our New Premier Padmini, Model- S1 (Executive), Colour – Superior White (newly launched that time). Though there were some other new cars being launched in the market during that time, the earliest delivery period was only for this one, nearly 2 months from the date of booking against 5-6 months for other cars. Earlier we booked a 118 NE and then cancelled it as it was 3-4 months delivery time.
Those days, my father and I were working in the same place & used to go together. It was a 12-15 kms drive from our house through the highway (Chengalpet) and it was a pleasure ride daily.
Once I had a Ford Escort back of me and he was trying to overtake me and that moment I felt an urge to test the performance of my little car. I pushed the pedal (accelerator) and it zoomed up. It was so smooth and I never felt that I had crossed the 100 kmph mark with the car at the back was also trying to gain and overtake me. There was no shaking, vibration nothing and with the A/c ‘ON’ we couldn’t hear any sound except for the song playing in the Music system. When I neared my destination, I put the left indicator and allowed him to go. While overtaking that driver looked at me and waved a ‘Thumbs up’ sign. That’s when I told my father about the beauty of this car and the speed I had put her to.
Later in 2002 we shifted to Trichur and this car is with us, still as good looking and in perfectly good condition. I couldn’t believe when the people often asked us if our car was the ‘Export version’ of Padmini as it was so good looking and my father used maintained it so well. Once we 8 adults with 3 kids have traveled in this from Trichur to Guruvayoor (36 kms) and back and it was a great drive all the way.
Even today after 13 years the car is in excellent shape, good condition and has run only 47,000 kms. It still gives a good 15 km/litre in normal driving conditions.
Though we have a Ford Ikon, I use the Padmini more often as it easy to drive without much sophistication and can take all the narrow bends in Trichur unlike the Ford. The best thing about this car is any mechanic can repair it in any part of the remote place you take it to.
Last month, we were actually thinking of replacing this car with an Omni – LPG as the petrol prices are sky rocketing. Then my father suggested that instead of buying a new Omni, we can convert the Padmini to a Gas driven car and it would give almost the same mileage as the Omni.
Recently some rust patches have developed on the left side door and I have given the car for tinkering work and painting. It has so far run only 55000 kms and still in fine conditions.
I have a Fiat Linea now, but still Padmini will remain our favourite as "She is a member of our family and remain one for ever".

[arun1100]

Pictures of Funkykar(Karthik)'s S1.