[supremeBaleno]

Originally Posted by born_free

Another group of my colleges would never understand the utility of tachometer. One of them never actually observed it, on his car while driving. Many would argue that they would change gear based on speed rather on RPM even if they are driving two different cars with totally different engine specs.

While I do find the tacho useful (at times), I don't check it to change gears. If a car I drive did not have a tacho, I don't think it will make me stumble on gears. Maybe because I started driving on an M800 with no tacho. IMO speed or engine-sound or feel is all that is required to change gears.

But yeah, if you want to shift just before rpm hits the redline, then you need a tacho. But not really for daily driving.

[Tgo]

A friend of mine (from back when he started driving when I was still cycling):

"L" sign on cars means the driver is a lady.

[AlphaKilo]

Originally Posted by born_free

I had just bought car and was new to car experience.

One of my college who owned Ritz would not agree to fact that handbrake acts on rear wheels.

Another group of my colleges would never understand the utility of tachometer. One of them never actually observed it, on his car while driving.

Many would argue that they would change gear based on speed rather on RPM even if they are driving two different cars with totally different engine specs.

I mean they would hypothetically change to second at 20KM/Hr gear, irrespective of whether they are driving al santro or a merc.

My landlord claims, he once traveled by Tata Indigo flight.

He has clubbed the Pre-Independence era(erstwhile Tata airlines) to the new age(Indigo airlines) like what we say for any a/c bus to be volvo bus

Originally Posted by shashank.nk

This happened when i was in college, we were all new to biking then, a friend(very rash rider) had met with an accident when he was hit by a speeding Maruti 800 and had a fracture. He comes to college the next day, this was the conversation:

Me: How did you meet with an accident ?
Him: Was hit by a Maruti 800 dude! We were racing and i was at 80 km/hr and his car brushed against my bike.
Me: Oh! What speed were you doing ?
Him:Must be 90 km/hr or so,not sure.
Me: (All puzzled) If you were at 90, and he was at 80 you'd be way ahead of him right?!
Him: Fool! It was a 800cc car, so 80 km/hr in his car=90 km/hr in my bike(150cc Unicorn) na? Bigger cc engine always goes faster at 80 km/hr than a 150 cc bike at 80km/hr.
Me: (Trying very hard to stop myself from laughing) Get well soon man!

May be he was inspired by this video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qhm7-LEBznk

[skandyhere]

Originally Posted by Tgo

A friend of mine (from back when he started driving when I was still cycling):

"L" sign on cars means the driver is a lady.

Originally Posted by AlphaKilo

May be he was inspired by this video:

I'm tempted to suggest to the mods through the 'Suggestions' thread to PLEASE find some way, technically, to add a few buttons exclusively to this thread:
'LOL', 'LOLL', 'LOLLLL', 'Beyond'!

Or can I just click the 'Thanks' button to thank you guys for giving me a GOOD laugh today?

[thoma]

Originally Posted by supremeBaleno

IMO speed or engine-sound or feel is all that is required to change gears.

Even I do the same and never go by the tacho. Wonder how we would have changed gears in a rear engined Volvo, if we were Volvo drivers. But then, that might be why they come in automatic too Quirky me!

[apachelongbow]

Originally Posted by supremeBaleno

True. Pre-tbhp I never knew that there was a car called Duster and when I first came to know of such a car, I did think, why would someone name a car as duster ?

My wife makes this funny blackboard rubbing guesture everytime she says duster and I fall of my chair laughing

[mallumowgli]

On the topic of the name Duster here is what James May BBC has to say about it

"We live in a world of aspirational car-cleaning products branded to invoke performance motoring - Turbo body polish, Supercar tyre dressing - but here is a car humbly named for the thing you might use to clean it. I hope we can look forward to the Dacia Sponge and the Dacia Bucket."

"The Legend ‘Duster' is writ large across the tailgate with individual letters, as it should be. If you're going to give your car a silly name, there's no point in being a puss about it."

(Well, I wouldnt call James May as a non-petrol head friend, but I thought this goes with the flow )

[mahesh.kolary]

Originally Posted by shashank.nk

This happened when i was in college, we were all new to biking then, a friend(very rash rider) had met with an accident when he was hit by a speeding Maruti 800 and had a fracture. He comes to college the next day, this was the conversation:

Me: How did you meet with an accident ?
Him: Was hit by a Maruti 800 dude! We were racing and i was at 80 km/hr and his car brushed against my bike.
Me: Oh! What speed were you doing ?
Him:Must be 90 km/hr or so,not sure.
Me: (All puzzled) If you were at 90, and he was at 80 you'd be way ahead of him right?!
Him: Fool! It was a 800cc car, so 80 km/hr in his car=90 km/hr in my bike(150cc Unicorn) na? Bigger cc engine always goes faster at 80 km/hr than a 150 cc bike at 80km/hr.
Me: (Trying very hard to stop myself from laughing) Get well soon man!

Haha, this reminded me of an incident involving my classmate. He was thoroughly convinced that a Pulsar doing 60 kmph is faster than a Splendor doing 60 kmph because the former had "Extra cc's" and thus that made it faster.
It took me quite a while to convince him otherwise.

The same guy also had the impression that there are three kinds of two-wheelers; The Bullets which included all the old bikes such as Rajdoot's and Yezdi's, The scooters and then the 'Normal' bikes.
I had to show him the Royal Enfield website to convince him that the Bullet is just a brand name and is a specific bike and not a generic term that includes all the 'old, big bikes.'

[shashank.nk]

Originally Posted by mahesh.kolary

It took me quite a while to convince him otherwise.

Your friend would atleast listen, this guy told me i was 'ignorant' to not know something so basic about automobiles, and claim to be an auto enthusiast!

[Pedaltothefloor]

I am confused. The title of this thread seems to draw a line between petrol heads and diesel heads. But when I read through, it's about informed and ignorant people. Maybe the title should be changed.

[mahesh.kolary]

Originally Posted by Pedaltothefloor

I am confused. The title of this thread seems to draw a line between petrol heads and diesel heads. But when I read through, it's about informed and ignorant people. Maybe the title should be changed.

Petrol head refers to an automobile enthusiast who is crazy about vehicles and related things. Though it may mean someone who prefers petrol over a diesel engine, the term is a generic usage for any enthusiast who has a thing for automobiles AFAIK. I am also unaware on whether the term diesel head is existant. Please correct me if I am wrong.

As far as the title goes, it perfectly sums up all the illogical, crazy blunders that 'non-petrol heads' have committed or said. It doesn't draw any distinction between petrol or diesel lovers.

[born_free]

I was accompanying a lady friend in Maruti showroom, after fiddling with demo A star, she asked question to SA.
"Can you also show us Santro".
I gave a smile at SA who was already smiling , and quietly made her realize that we had to visit Hyundai showroom to see a Santro.

[black12rr]

Originally Posted by Pedaltothefloor

I am confused. The title of this thread seems to draw a line between petrol heads and diesel heads. But when I read through, it's about informed and ignorant people. Maybe the title should be changed.

Quite a logical question ! .But the fact is generally petrol heads category included diesel , gas and kerosene heads as well .

[man_and_machine]

Originally Posted by supremeBaleno

why would someone name a car as duster ?

The same some one who named a computer Apple, a mobile Blackberry perhaps?

[Pedaltothefloor]

Originally Posted by mahesh.kolary

Petrol head refers to an automobile enthusiast who is crazy about vehicles and related things. Though it may mean someone who prefers petrol over a diesel engine, the term is a generic usage for any enthusiast who has a thing for automobiles AFAIK. I am also unaware on whether the term diesel head is existant. Please correct me if I am wrong.

As far as the title goes, it perfectly sums up all the illogical, crazy blunders that 'non-petrol heads' have committed or said. It doesn't draw any distinction between petrol or diesel lovers.

Diesel head exists. It's a whole bunch of Diesel fueled enthusiasts and these guys love their low end torque more than their free revving motors. Nevertheless, I understand that the intent of this thread is to discuss an enthusiasts vs non-enthusiast scenario.