[jhaji]

Friends

The title refers not only to the fact that I am writing this introduction now after having been accepted as a member in October '11. It also means that I became interested in cars only recently at a rather late age. I am almost 50. I work as a librarian in a research institute.

I have studied physics and philosophy before I somehow landed up working as a librarian and I quite enjoy it. I also do research in Philosophy and am enrolled for a phd. I work on the philosophical problems of perception. I enjoy travelling and travelogues on this site were one major reason I decided to go for a diesel car.

I used to find my daily travel by metro+bus(or auto)+cyclerickshaw (or walk) quite okay and I believed that the real luxury of having a car is when you also have a driver. A few months ago I began thinking in terms of self-driven car and that changed the scenario. I felt once I am driving around, I will feel more at home in Delhi, which I don't, even after having lived here for 9 years (I was living in Mumbai+Pune for 15 years before coming here). It would also be a pleasure to take my family out just for pleasure more often.

Then I began researching cars and looking more closely at all the cars on the roads and in the parking lots. Then I found Team-BHP site and was amazed to see the wealth of information and experiences shared. I was delighted to see the enthusiasm and also commitment to safe driving displayed on the board.

I did not know driving. I began learning to drive and also looking for a car that I could buy. I chose to book Toyota Liva (Diesel) in October and also requested for a membership of Team-BHP. To my delight, my request was accepted and I got the car also sooner than expected. I got the car on 26th November and have clocked more than 1700 kms till date.

I have a learner's license and I drive with a driver on my side. I drive around 25-40 kms everyday on average and quite enjoy it. Fortunately my daily drive is mostly bereft of any bumber-to-bumber traffic.

More on my driving experiences and on choosing and buying Liva diesel and perhaps an ownership review later. Meanwhile I must say that my experience of buying and driving a car has been truly enhanced by this community at Team-BHP. I am delighted and thankful.

Jhaji

[anekho]

Welcome to the Team, Jhaji!

I'm sure you'll feel very much at home here. Glad to see you nurture your interest in cars by learning to drive and purchasing your new Etios! Congratulations

Originally Posted by jhaji

I believed that the real luxury of having a car is when you also have a driver

Originally Posted by jhaji

I drive with a driver on my side.

Ah, the irony!

[jhaji]

Originally Posted by anekho

Thanks, Anekho. It feels nice to learn something new especially when you are not so young any longer.

I was told you have got to have somebody with a driving license when one drives with a learner's license. Therefore the need to have a driver on the side. It was also helpful in learning no doubt. But now I have got the receipt from RTO for my driver's license (waiting for the license to arrive) and have been driving without a driver for past two days.

Thanks again for the welcome message. I don't know what it would have been like to buy and drive a car without TBHP.