Warm Hello to everybody. I cherish an enthusiasm for cars, driving and automobile technology.
It started with my Dad, who is no more. We owned a 1960 Fiat-1100 which my dad drove around Shillong and then Guwahati. He had driven Jeeps too and had very good knowledge about cars.
He had once told me that FIAT was originally an acronym that expands in English to Fabricated Italian Automobile, Turin. (Italian: Fabbrica Italiana Automobili Torino).
We disposed the Fiat-1100 in 1980 and the only souvenir I have of the car is a unique pocket-sized sliding wrench.
I learnt under-the-hood stuff the hard way:- I was a green-horn when I bought my first car, a lemon. My frustrations with the car and a few car-mechanics, drove me to learn about car parts and it open a world of fascinating stuff.
Of course I did come across several car-mechanics who are gems, really good souls. I became friendly with several. (I was thrilled when once I got a New Year SMS from the ex-foreman of AA Auto, Gurgaon). The guy moved on but I still remember him teaching me about carb fuel-pump.
I find the design of car parts very interesting. When I looked at the steering shaft knuckle for the first time, I was awed imagining the ingenuity of its creator.
I have had my share of brush with manufacturers too. I had to spend a lot of effort to get the entire set of corroded seats replaced in my WagonR under warranty. Recently I had to struggle with a dealer to replace the Horn in my 2009 ANHC.
I used to work for a private sector company in India. Now I am a freelance consultant. My wife's a doc working in the Community/Public Health sector.
Best.
Saptadeep. |