[krish3]

So true. I was on the same road on the same day. The traffic was unbelievable.

Had to fill fuel on the way, and the petrol attendants had no qualms about wearing mask or reducing contact points. I asked for Paytm code and he said its not available. He took my card and them realized he had the Paytm scanning code.

Restaurants were crowded as usual, people crowding around the restrooms. I avoided such places.

NICE toll personnels were mostly without masks or gloves. Didn't see sanitizers even.

[abirnale]

Hello!

June 2020.. and then nothing much? I cant say that for sure - no excuses, I am just plain lazy and finding excuses to not update this thread!

Actually a lot has happened since last year June 2020. Although in pandemic and lockdowns, a lower mileage compared to all the earlier years of ownership but still a ok-ok progress.

What I missed to update here:
- The Orange Cheetah is now past 140K Kms mark
- Multiple weekend get-aways, a couple of long drives (basically to home town to visit seniors in the family) and
- Some exciting updates about cars health!

While I collate/ gather all pictures and put it in a flowing story, I just wanted to share this with you - exactly summarising how things stand as-on today:

https://youtu.be/i1OT249wo9c

This week, more updates shall flow in. Stay tuned.

[arao]

Originally Posted by abirnale

Hello!

June 2020.. and then nothing much? I cant say that for sure - no excuses, I am just plain lazy and finding excuses to not update this thread!

...

This week, more updates shall flow in. Stay tuned.

Very impressively maintained paintwork- how did you manage it, specially for a car of this colour?

[abirnale]

Old Updates - Service and Repairs:

Last year in October, the orange cheetah suffered a big problem. I was driving back to home from a visit to Vani Vilas Sagar dam near Hiriyur. The open roads and my favourite stretch - I noticed whenever I hit the triple digit speeds, i heard the turbo making too much noise. Initially I thought it is normal but then more and more i paid attention, it started worrying me - the car is just out of warranty. The next thing I did is, visited Chrome Motors immediately next day. We found that the actuator arm of the turbo was making noise. Due to dust and heat the actuator arm didn't work as expected and that was a signal to something large looming around. Before i did the work, i explored non-mass options and figured out that the turbo has to be replaced. It would cost anything about 40K or so. A FNG even told me that this is cheapest it can be - the Verna turbo would cost around 80K! I then thanked my stars and decided to take up with M&M. They have been always cordial with my requests so far and never had any troubling issues but this.

The gents in M&M listened to my arguments and decided to waive off the cost of part - I finally have a brand new turbo with the cost smaller than routine 100K service! The reason why I love M&M customer care!







Fast forward, there are no more issues with the car - have driven about 10K kms after this incidence and the car feels just like the day it was acquired! *touchwood*.

Just before 140K kms mark, got the brake pads replaced, wipers replaced.

Out of the MASS, I also got the scratched windshield replaced by windshield Experts - the glass is clean and shiney as before.

These are the two important updates other than routine service, pads replacement. Now we look for ward to completing 1.5 lakhs on odo and to make more memories to cherish for the years to come.

Oh and by the by the way, I also got the car "touched up" by my good friend Sunnyboi - he has been taking care of the car from first year. Once a year wax, wash and polish is all we do. This time we focused more on interiors than exterior.

















More to follow!

[abirnale]

Exploring continues:

Pulling together few pictures from June 2020 onwards - We did not explore as expected but also haven't been completely idle

Day trips are norms nowadays - just load the stuff you need for the day and keep exploring:













The day trips are especially fun if you know how to make bet of the times you got: any farm owner will allow you to take his space for few hours, make your own bbq, enjoy and nature and get back to city - along with your own garbage

















Bangalore is blessed with many lakes - almost around the year water. just make sure to carry your own snacks, enjoy the scenery as well as calm around. Bring back your own litter as well as memories:






Continue to go where not many goes:

[abirnale]

More exploring - last year's monsoon:

We love rains - we all do here. Last year was a ok year - couldn't do overnight stops but didn't fail to head to western ghats, take a long drive and be back home with memories - some solo drives, some with family, and some with close friends:



































I would love to do this again and again. Hopefully this year gives that opportunity.

[abirnale]

Slightly longer trips:

We hadn't met our senior family members for long so we took a trip to our home-towns. We went to our usual places - Sanquelim, Sangli and Pune. Things weren't as great as they were expected but we were happy to reunite with our extended families.

Eating the home food, eating at road side with your own setup continued. We explored places where we were either at very early in the morning or almost zilch crowd. We made efforts to go to where not many would. This was very fulfilling - our own dedicated time, no disturbances. We visited our farms, went to friend's farm. We shared our stories and shared how we have come to realise the value of small things in life. So much so that, we love this new normal now:











































This has been a year extraordinary!

[abirnale]

And more to come: sharing some more pictures from our various small and short drives in and around Bangalore:

















































And the saga shall continue

[Dr.AD]

Wow. Some really fantastic photos there Avinash! Your XUV always looks great and your photos and travels are truly inspirational.

I think in all your exciting stories, you forgot to mention one small meet we had where we had a chance to see your Orange Cheetah in person after a long time. If you do not mind, then please allow me to share one photo. Hope that is OK.

[abirnale]

The summary of the year went by:

• Least running year in the entire ownership
• Other than going to home-town, we did not do any long drives or trips
• The car is in use except those complete lockdown weeks
• We explored the Bangalore and surroundings so much so that now we believe there is more close by than we ever thought.
• We did not miss eating out at all!

And to summarise the experience with the car so far:

• It has been great 5 years and 9 months of ownership
• Not even once we regretted our decision - every time i get behind wheel, i still experience same feeling as i did in first year of ownership
• I can say its *almost* niggle-free ownership - there have been few kinks here and there but nothing to get angry about. (Except when the CEL came out and we returned from Krishnagiri and the flatbed experience when the clutch went kaput)
• If there was a reset button, what could I have done differently: I wish I would have had AWD option. Nothing of a bummer but I refrained myself from exploring a little more due to the lack of AWD support.
• What I love the most about car: It's ability to do marathon runs at the speed of a sprinter! Load the luggage as much as you want, it wont complain. Highways are a bliss to drive. Bad roads and country roads aren't great but nothing to complain! The size of the car is just right for all kind of exploration. The brakes are just right for my needs - never had a edgy moment on the road.
• The car is still easy to maintain on the pocket. It doesn't ask too much of you - all you need to do is shower some TLC and routine service. This i think is apt for most of the cars anyway. You love your car and it loves you back!
• I never thought I would own the car for so long - 100K kms was a stretch but here I find myself gunning for 200K kms mark! Ask about doubling your target!
• When I think about upgrading, there isn't anything worthy or enough to wow unless I jump a segment or two. This *SUV* has given the taste of the cars i always want to own - though I love the corner craving cars, SUVs will do just fine for me as long as it has the ability to dance on the highway, take to that last mile to my farm or a homestay and gobble up the unpaved country roads without a fuss and yet be easy on pocket - I doubt if that would be anything unless I am willing to adjust na parameter or two. And I don't need to mention about those annoying 80kmph speed beeps for my frequent highway drives if i were to upgrade right now! So net story - this car has to stay with me for at least another year or two.
• There are still bunch of things I hate about the car - the abysmal cooling ability for middle row... the not so perfect suspension... I still carry two phones - android because it supports Android Auto but I am an iPhone user for ages... That space immediate next to bonnet is hard to see when you are navigating on a muddy/ rocky terrain and can't guess if you are about to hit something... NVH is just ...ugh... more with those AT tyres... And when I am enjoying the spirited ghat drive, sometimes the occupant of my second row is on the verge of throwing up.

While once in a while I lust at other modern cars, I am unable to find a reason to upgrade - other than of course an itch to look at the more powerful and more aspirational brand values. And financially, it still makes sense to spice-up things a little with this car itself that strengthens the bond of ownership:

• Further upgrade the amp with slicker DSP setup.
• Add auto-diming IRVM with direct feed from a new 140 degree camera from front bumper for those tricky negotiations in the tougher terrains when I am driving alone
• I there anyway I can use Apple CarPlay to this existing setup without giving up on any stock features (tesla like ICE is no - i love my manual buttons to operate and no full touch screen.
• I need to replace the steering wheel leather cover - its almost deteriorated. And so is the base of the drive seat.
• And it is on my wish list to paint the alloys with shiney black paint!

Regardless, there is still no reason strong enough to consider for upgrade. And hence the car will stay - if you were thinking this to be reason for why the thread is not updated It's just work - and my eternal quest for healthy life: it should be visible form the pictures by now anyway

Originally Posted by Dr.AD

I think in all your exciting stories, you forgot to mention one small meet we had where we had a chance to see your Orange Cheetah in person after a long time. If you do not mind, then please allow me to share one photo. Hope that is OK.

He he - no worries at all. I was just focusing on the updates first and then get onto these things as they deserve the special mention of its own post - did i say the newest 340m on the town is what we were going to spot. Love that orange shade on doc's car. I remember taking video of his earlier 330i on my car's dashcam - it was too great. Now that is with Viddy! This m340 is insane but then your red car is the real cherry - I love it the most for the emotions it evokes!

Originally Posted by arao

Very impressively maintained paintwork- how did you manage it, specially for a car of this colour?

Thanks to my good friend SunnyBoi who has been personally helping me shower this TLC.

[Warlock]

Read this line with a smile:

"When I think about upgrading, there isn't anything worthy or enough to wow unless I jump a segment or two. "

Exactly my thoughts. I have a 2015 XUV 10 (O) with AWD. I do confess to waiting to see what the new version XUV 500 has, and if its enough to move to it. My XUV was parked for most of 2020, and 2021 currently isn't promising any long drives either.

[Drive Head]

@abirnale: Exactly same thoughts on almost all points. You instigated me to open up my heart a bit for my partner too.

My partner (2015 W10 M) has clocked almost 1,30,000 KMs and still runs like new. Fill fuel, check air/ lubes, and you are ready for a highway trip.

I may be wrong but I have the feeling that, as the car is aging, it's performance is slowly increasing. The smoothness and mileage has increased considerably after 1 lac mark or may be we have adapted to each other so much that we know the sweet spots where to play around for a better performance .

Whenever the thought of upgrading comes, my heart aches to think that I will have to part with my partner.

Low maintenance cost, excellent fuel economy, the apt size, abundance of space for my family of 3, that high stance from the cockpit, that flat bed experience where I have slept many nights in petrol bunks and my daughter occasionally stretching up her legs on long journeys till the middle row with the 40 split bent down, excellent service support from my local ASS, everything goes "for" the car to keep her till the NGT rule in Delhi NCR compels me to marry her off to someone competent.

I plan to wait till the new XUV 500 launches + 1 year or the new Thar in 2022 for an upgrade.

I have been troubled only once in the entire ownership till date, that too near my home due to the famous slave cylinder failure but even then I could drive her home. So haven't been literally ditched by her on the roads.

I was once discussing with the service center guys about my initial intention of getting the new Thar, and they themselves prohibited me to sell my partner off, as, as per them I have maintained her so well, and she reciprocates so similarly and she still behaves like a newly wed . Hearing all this, my love for my partner has doubled instantly.

Partner gets her personal little pampering every weekend. Even after a complete detailing by someone, I still have to do my own bit to my liking, like wiping of the water marks dropping from the ORVMs - from rear number plate - door handles etc, interior dash buff to a matt finish, to clean the little specks of dust in the absolute corners of the screen and in between the switches.

The rattles in the car were marred down to almost nil by inserting double sided tapes/ cello tapes in between the panels and sometimes opening up a panel, taping it etc. Almost all joints/ panel gaps are attended similarly. Jack, spanners and other tools are wrapped in cloth with individual wraps in between and secured and padded properly for no sound. All seat belts are properly secured for no noise while on the roads.

Last few months have really compensated for all the total locked down months and I have totally enjoyed every bit of it.

Nov' 2020; did a solo Delhi Assam round trip covering more than 5000 KMs. Crossed Brahmaputra on a ferry with her (It's quite an experience to drive in and drive out of the ferry to the banks). Traveled on very very bad roads. Never had a trouble with the car. Due to some very bad patches of roads, which I crossed at high speeds and on two occasions where the car flew for few feet after crossing river bridges where the roads are lower than the bridges, it gave me a heartache and I totally suspected of a suspension damage or cracks but nothing observed up on an inspection in a garage.

Dec' 2020; did a family Rajasthan trip covering more than 2000 KMs. Excellent ride on the empty good tarmac roads of the desert state.

Mar' 2020 ; did a family Jim Corbett trip. Rode on the dried river bed of Kosi river and bathed her with the little stream of cold mountain water.

It's an emotional bond which I have developed with my partner and her faithful nature to all my adventures is the sole reason of loving her so much.

Hope my next ride to be a good one.

[Guru_Shikhar]

Quite an achievement with your lovely XUV5oo. Looks like even the pandemic also was not able to stop you from getting out and having good times.

The cost of the turbo is quite high in general; but one can only hope things don’t go wrong.

The way you have maintained your vehicle is something noteworthy.

Have another lakh km on the odo with this beast.

Cheers.

[Drive Head]

Adding few snaps from my recent travel.

[abirnale]

Originally Posted by Warlock

... Exactly my thoughts. I have a 2015 XUV 10 (O) with AWD.....

Thanks for same pinch! The new XUV and when it comes will be just routine exchange - I don't see it as an upgrade either. It's just next generation, slightly better. Unless I am short of vitamin M and don't want to move to a different world, I will consider replacing the orange cheetah to by another orange.. well XUV!

Originally Posted by Drive Head

@abirnale: Exactly same thoughts on almost all points. You instigated me to open up my heart a bit for my partner too....

Very nice summary and great pictures too! You live an area where the heavenly climate is an everyday affair! Love that part of my country and your car too. And welcome to the TBhp

Originally Posted by Guru_Shikhar

Quite an achievement with your lovely XUV5OO. Looks like even the pandemic also was not able to stop you from getting out and having good times....

He he, thanks. I wish I could add another 15-20K kms last year. Missed my routine Monsoon drives, had planned to hit north east earlier but that plan didn't materialise. It won't happen this year too, unfortunately. Hopefully the car will continue to take us to routine places and those highway cruises.

And as the luck would have it, I am going to take the drive out this weekend to our most loved destination... Goa!

Stay tuned. Ciao!