[pratyush6]

Welcome aboard! I read your story today

What an intro, loved it - come from a similar humble background and you've kind of made me think about how I live and savings specially.

And, maybe it's time to look for a newer & safer car

[1lokesh]

Welcome aboard Dr. The Rationalist.

Easily one of the best introduction I have ever read. You have done a great job in making me think again the way I look at saving or rather spending money. I wish I could think like you. But then, there is always a shortage of supply when the "ideal" and "good" part comes in, as far as I'm concerned

When I read through the opening post of yours, I could identify most of the things my Dad went through to acquire his engineering degree. You know it wasn't easy for a migrating family post partition to afford means of higher education for kids especially when the family had 6 kids. Partition took all that my grandfather had once.

My dad bought his first car in 1997 - it was an M800 1987 model. The first steering wheel I was ever behind. The car on which both my Dad and I learnt driving. Super memories.

Welcome again and as like fellow BHPians, I look forward for your contribution in this forum. Especially for me, it would be medical advice since I live a very unhealthy lifestyle already

[DudeWithaFiat]

Originally Posted by The Rationalist

You wouldn't believe the kind of money doctors get from pharma companies, labs and CT/MRI centers. I could have bought a BMW 3 series at the least.

Have heard a lot about this from my Medical Representative friends. Welcome aboard Doctor.

I'm from Kochi too.

[naveen.raju]

Wow! What an introduction! The best out here I would say. Have a good time here and would love to meet you during our TBHP outings. As Deetjohn pointed out, we have a good gang here. Do join us and watch the Cochin meet thread and Kochi drive thread in the "shifting gears" section for updates.

BTW, I stay at kadavanthara .

[FORTified]

Welcome Aboard Dr...

Interesting intro and expecting similar posts in future.

Originally Posted by pyrodrive

Welcome. Nice write up there.
We have certainly got similarities, I am an internal medicine specialist too and my dad is a doctor too, and my grandad was a school teacher in a village.

Now, none of you are going to tell use that you were actually twins, separated at a mela. right?

Mod Note: Please use multi-quote option instead of posting back to back. Thanks!

[shashank.nk]

What a lovely write up to introduce yourself! Welcome onboard and wish you a pleasant experience here. My father also loves to keep his cars for long,he still has his 26 year old 800,8+year old sedan and somehow refuses to part with the 800 no matter the upkeep costs

Would love to read on how you planned your investments on a separate thread

[sumzup]

Originally Posted by The Rationalist

Where do I start? Well I will start in 1939! Yes, that would be the right year to begin a story.No, I wasn’t born in 1939! My Dad was born in 1939. What has that got to do with my introduction? It has everything to do with my introduction. This is no short story, so if you have no patience just skip this. I have no much writing skills, so pardon any short comings. My Dad was born into a family of manual labourers in erstwhile State of Travancore as the fourth child. My Dad’s elder brother (15 years elder to my Dad) had already stopped his education by 7th standard. Big deal? Even reaching 7th is a big deal for a person of his background. But the biggest deal was he was taught in a British school and was staying as a paying guest in a different town! A father who had to toil in the paddy fields had the vision that ONLY EDUCATION can uplift a society. But alas his eldest son squandered this opportunity and ended up a loser. He could have become a teacher if he passed 7th. Instead he let the chance slip by. My grandfather was dejected and was the object of ridicule of an entire village. That left a deep hurt within, he decided that he is not going to spend anything of his meagre income for the rest.

Wonderful introduction I must say. I was lost completely in the flow and was kind of deja vu like it would be to so many. Cars for a lot of middle class families had been a luxury and I like many grew up looking the ones passing by in awe and when my Dad got the first car felt like heaven had bestowed something special on us. Would be looking forward to many more of your wonderful posts in the time. Cheers

[arnabchak]

Wow, what a heart warming intro.
Seldom have intros been so engrossing that I read, and read all over again.

Hats off to your father and the discipline he has instilled in you.
Hats off to his perseverance and salute to his ethics of rationality and morality.

Welcome to the Forum Dr. Rationalist and you possess a flair for writing. Look forward to your posts!!

[raghuvir]

Originally Posted by The Rationalist

Where do I start? ........Thanks for reading through.

For the 10-15 odd minutes that it took to read your introduction, I was taken to a completely different world! It was very motivating to read through 50-60 odd years that you have encompassed in the introduction. I'm am thankful to you for joining Team-bhp.
I will be travelling to kochi sometime in September this year, lets see if we can catch up then!

[maddy42]

Welcome onboard! You my friend have a good talent with your hands.

Your thread has put together the following set of people:
1) Equity investors
2) Everyone who buys and holds onto cars without upgrading
3) Rationalists
4) Anyone who wants to go against the flow.

Hope to read more of your threads and good luck with your endeavors. Keep posting and do read the rules on this forum before posting.

On a side note my family usually never sells their cars. Our oldest right now is a 91 Mahindra international jeep which has god knows how many miles on it as the speedo has its own life. We spent about 2-3 lacs this year on this vehicle redoing the entire body and frame and giving it a new lease of life.

But as GTO mentions look at a lateral upgrade. You never know what you will find.

Maddy

[RiGOD]

Excellent write up Doc. Eight years down the lane when you won't have to worry about a job anymore, I strongly suggest that you start writing (the first one being your autobiography of course).

Your thread is turning out to be an eye opener for me, the same way GTO's happened to be for you. I mean, the importance of spending money the right way and saving/investing the remaining judiciously is something that I should start thinking about now. Thanks for the thought provoking lines mate.

An yeah, my vote too goes to the opinion that you must think of a pre-worshipped sedan with better safety features, not just for you, but for the little angel you have onboard

Last but not the least, Welcome onboard Doc. I'm sure that you're going to be one valuable asset to this tribe!

[Turbo_asd]

Boy, I'm late to the party. Nevertheless, congratulations and welcome to the forum. Many have said this and I'll gladly echo it: that was one outstanding intro, the best and most interesting I've read in a long time. Just heartwarming. You are a natural when it comes to writing; a godsend to this forum. Looking forward to more such enriching posts.

Oh, and Doc, where do you work? I'm thinking of admitting myself at your place pretty soon It'll doubtless be a visit any petrolhead would die for.

See you around!

[planet_rocker]

An introduction thread that receives 5 stars is one heck of an introduction. Superb.

Welcome aboard. Drive safe and do take good care of yourself

Surya

[krcustoms]

Rationalist, i personally feel there are two types of car "people". type 1 who look at a car from a convenience point of view. a device or motor that would take you from point A to point B , which is perfectly fine as you stated so elegantly. hey if you have a perfectly working car why bother changing it!!

The second type of people look at a car (or a bike! i am a huge bike guy) as a peice of art. when you look at something as beautiful as a GTO or Huayra you just gasp!! cause it takes your breath away!!.. its the same feeling you get when you look at a painting or piece of art (i am a little artistic LIBRA!), again its about admiring things

of course life has to be practical so yes we do whatever is necessary to support our families and loved ones but the question is when you are old and about the depart this world, what kind of person you would rather be.. type 1 or Type 2


Welcome aboard !!!



cheers
Krish