A Brit saying hello

Thad E Ginathom · 9th June 2007, 22:16

Well, becoming not so much of a Brit as an adoptee of Chennai, settling down here with my Chennai-born wife.

For most of the last couple of decades in London I found it more effective to hire cars for the weekends and holidays when I really needed one. That also gives the opportunity to drive a variety of cars. Previous to that there were a couple of company cars, nothing flash: a VW Golf and a Ford Fiesta (but that's going back nearly 20 years).

Even earlier there was a friend's mother's cast-off original-model Civic (what a basic, tiny cart it was then)

More recently, in my last years in London, I had a Rover 620 (British Honda Accord) automatic. Sluggish thing: all the expense of a 2-litre engine with little of the fun!

Chennai traffic terrified me for my first year here, and I eventually decided that, despite having driven for maybe three decades, I needed lessons to get my confidence.

Bought a 2nd-hand 2003 Indica to get my first India dents --- and upgraded to a real car just a couple of weeks ago: Swift VDI.

Feels like I was previously driving a bullock cart

It got its first dent after five days when a motor-cyclist ran into the back of it (even he had no idea how it happened). Hey Ho! If I worried so much about the car I'd never take it out!

I woffle.

Heard about this forum from someone on the IndiaMike forum. Looked around for a while, decided to sign on......

What I'd like to see in the Indian car market is good small cars like Nissan Micra.

V-16 · 9th June 2007, 23:33

Welcome aboard Thad. Hope you enjoy the stay on the forum and its members.

Im rushing of to the mini (hardly) meet at Mumbai. To know what you've got yourself into, tune in on the
Quick mini meet - Sat 9th June 07, Mumbai
thread, tomorrow onwards...and dont say we did'nt warn you!!

see you on the forum somewhere sometime Ol Chap!!

theMAG · 9th June 2007, 23:47

Thad, welcome. I dont know if anyone told you that your name rhymes with a very Indian thing - an instruction in the traditional dance of Bharathnatyam !

Mugen_Power · 10th June 2007, 00:04

Quote:

Feels like I was previously driving a bullock cart

lol.. Anyways Welcome aboard and enjoy your stay.

Welcome to Team-bhp.

rjstyles69 · 10th June 2007, 00:47

thom thom thom thad e ginathom

. LOL looks like I got pretty close.
What say ?

Welcome mate, enjoy your stay here.

Thad E Ginathom · 10th June 2007, 01:32

Thanks for the welcomes...

And yes, even some foreigners get to learn mridangam

(a bit)

Sideways · 10th June 2007, 01:35

Welcome to the land of Idly Sambar and Dosas (I am sure you've had enough by now). Welcome aboard.

manson · 10th June 2007, 01:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by V-16

Welcome aboard Thad. Hope you enjoy the stay on the forum and its members.

Im rushing of to the mini (hardly) meet at Mumbai. To know what you've got yourself into, tune in on the
Quick mini meet - Sat 9th June 07, Mumbai
thread, tomorrow onwards...and dont say we did'nt warn you!!

see you on the forum somewhere sometime Ol Chap!!

.... and you were saying you got late cos' of work

manson.

V-16 · 10th June 2007, 02:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by manson

.... and you were saying you got late cos' of work

manson.

Shhhhh Manson dont spill the beans bro

low_bass_makker · 10th June 2007, 08:00

welcome to the forum Thad.....enjoy your stay and go through the announcement section before posting...

ajmat · 10th June 2007, 10:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thad E Ginathom

Well, becoming not so much of a Brit as an adoptee of Chennai, It got its first dent after five days when a motor-cyclist ran into the back of it (even he had no idea how it happened). Hey Ho! If I worried .

Welcome aboard from a fellow "immigrat"

Don't worry about the first dent - you were the victim of the Swifts excellent brakes

shrivz · 10th June 2007, 10:26

Welcome aboard Thad.

hope you enjoy the Team-BHP experience on the forum and off the forum..

both are completely different!

cheers!!!

DerAlte · 10th June 2007, 11:08

Welcome, Thad, and happy motoring in India. Don't mind those small incidents - adds spice to life. Try a few longer drives out of Chennai, especially on the East Coast Highway - a pleasant but different experience.

Nissan Micra? I salivate. It has a class of its own in stock car racing in Europe, and real VFM otherwise. Now, if only Carlos Ghosn sets up the assembly lines that he has planned.

Cheers!

iraghava · 10th June 2007, 12:59

Welcome to the forum Thad! Nice to see you're enjoying the driving experience in our dear country!!

And as for the Nissan I would prefer that they launched their other model, namely the Godzilla!!! I'll be happy even with an R34!!

Thad E Ginathom · 10th June 2007, 13:22

I did read the announcements, honest. [Blush].

But I expect I'll still make newbie mistakes --- even though I have experience of moderating a busy board.

9th June 2007, 22:16	#1
Thad E Ginathom Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Chennai Posts: 11,005 Thanked: 26,440 Times	A Brit saying hello Well, becoming not so much of a Brit as an adoptee of Chennai, settling down here with my Chennai-born wife. For most of the last couple of decades in London I found it more effective to hire cars for the weekends and holidays when I really needed one. That also gives the opportunity to drive a variety of cars. Previous to that there were a couple of company cars, nothing flash: a VW Golf and a Ford Fiesta (but that's going back nearly 20 years). Even earlier there was a friend's mother's cast-off original-model Civic (what a basic, tiny cart it was then) More recently, in my last years in London, I had a Rover 620 (British Honda Accord) automatic. Sluggish thing: all the expense of a 2-litre engine with little of the fun! Chennai traffic terrified me for my first year here, and I eventually decided that, despite having driven for maybe three decades, I needed lessons to get my confidence. Bought a 2nd-hand 2003 Indica to get my first India dents --- and upgraded to a real car just a couple of weeks ago: Swift VDI. Feels like I was previously driving a bullock cart It got its first dent after five days when a motor-cyclist ran into the back of it (even he had no idea how it happened). Hey Ho! If I worried so much about the car I'd never take it out! I woffle. Heard about this forum from someone on the IndiaMike forum. Looked around for a while, decided to sign on...... What I'd like to see in the Indian car market is good small cars like Nissan Micra.
	(5) Thanks

9th June 2007, 23:33	#2
V-16 Senior - BHPian Join Date: May 2005 Location: mumbai Posts: 4,594 Thanked: 950 Times View My Garage	Welcome aboard Thad. Hope you enjoy the stay on the forum and its members. Im rushing of to the mini (hardly) meet at Mumbai. To know what you've got yourself into, tune in on the Quick mini meet - Sat 9th June 07, Mumbai thread, tomorrow onwards...and dont say we did'nt warn you!! see you on the forum somewhere sometime Ol Chap!! Last edited by V-16 : 9th June 2007 at 23:38. Reason: adding
	() Thanks

9th June 2007, 23:47	#3
theMAG Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: May 2006 Location: Avon, CT Posts: 7,217 Thanked: 1,807 Times View My Garage	Thad, welcome. I dont know if anyone told you that your name rhymes with a very Indian thing - an instruction in the traditional dance of Bharathnatyam !
	(1) Thanks

10th June 2007, 00:47	#5
rjstyles69 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Bengalooru.. Posts: 4,343 Thanked: 842 Times View My Garage	thom thom thom thad e ginathom . LOL looks like I got pretty close. What say ? Welcome mate, enjoy your stay here.
	() Thanks

10th June 2007, 01:32	#6
Thad E Ginathom Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Chennai Posts: 11,005 Thanked: 26,440 Times	Thanks for the welcomes... And yes, even some foreigners get to learn mridangam (a bit)
	(2) Thanks

10th June 2007, 01:35	#7
Sideways BHPian Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Madras - India Posts: 641 Thanked: 31 Times View My Garage	Welcome to the land of Idly Sambar and Dosas (I am sure you've had enough by now). Welcome aboard.
	() Thanks

10th June 2007, 08:00	#10
low_bass_makker Senior - BHPian Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Faridabad Posts: 6,815 Thanked: 305 Times View My Garage	welcome to the forum Thad.....enjoy your stay and go through the announcement section before posting...
	() Thanks

10th June 2007, 10:26	#12
shrivz BHPian Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Pune, MH12 Posts: 604 Thanked: 96 Times View My Garage	Welcome aboard Thad. hope you enjoy the Team-BHP experience on the forum and off the forum.. both are completely different! cheers!!!
	() Thanks

10th June 2007, 11:08	#13
DerAlte Senior - BHPian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Bangalore Posts: 8,069 Thanked: 2,919 Times	Welcome, Thad, and happy motoring in India. Don't mind those small incidents - adds spice to life. Try a few longer drives out of Chennai, especially on the East Coast Highway - a pleasant but different experience. Nissan Micra? I salivate. It has a class of its own in stock car racing in Europe, and real VFM otherwise. Now, if only Carlos Ghosn sets up the assembly lines that he has planned. Cheers!
	() Thanks

10th June 2007, 12:59	#14
iraghava Senior - BHPian Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Bhaiyyaland Posts: 8,033 Thanked: 265 Times View My Garage	Welcome to the forum Thad! Nice to see you're enjoying the driving experience in our dear country!! And as for the Nissan I would prefer that they launched their other model, namely the Godzilla!!! I'll be happy even with an R34!!
	() Thanks

10th June 2007, 13:22	#15
Thad E Ginathom Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Chennai Posts: 11,005 Thanked: 26,440 Times	I did read the announcements, honest. [Blush]. But I expect I'll still make newbie mistakes --- even though I have experience of moderating a busy board.
	() Thanks