Hilarious account of a trip to Kufri

Sudipto-S-Team · 18th June 2007, 23:24

Well in retrospect and from the comfort of my living room it now sounds hilarious. but it was a tough choice to make. i don't think it was a very courageous or heroic thing to do in absolute terms. but i am happy that i could overcome my own fear with logic. the tracks made by other vehicles before me gave me the courage to try it. anyway. all's well that ends well.

theMAG · 18th June 2007, 23:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by rjstyles69

..
I am sure you must have felt like Archimedes when you figured out how to engage the reverse gear.

Now, thats a name I'd quite forgotten till now. Now that my memory's come rushing back, lets hope Sudipto didnt have to jump out in his birthday suit.

Sudipto-S-Team · 19th June 2007, 00:04

Archimedes worked it out himself in his brain. I stole the knowledge from the driver and couldn't even thank him officially. There is a difference between the two.

Sam Kapasi · 19th June 2007, 00:41

No thread on Team-BHP has ever had hilarious as the first word of it's title. You got my attention immediately.

Well written and thank you for the smile I had throughout the reading.

Desert fox · 19th June 2007, 01:30

Nice anecdote,bought back memories of good ole cielo. Liked the way you conned the driver into teaching you how to reverse the barge.

Me? i had to eat the humble pie and ask the guy who sold me my car over the phone!

madan80 · 21st June 2007, 14:22

pretty interesting, considering the locks. I wonder how the driver must have felt, someone haivng driven all the way from delhi in a 5000 odd km car, and asking him how to engage reverse!

i remember, when we hired an espace in UK, my brother and I drove it for a bit with the handbrake on, wondering how on earth you disengage the damn thing! finally we called on of the cleaners from the car rental to disengage the thing - gwash, if only i caught that guys expression on camera! priceless!

Sudipto-S-Team · 24th June 2007, 11:33

I must explain one thing - I was not really ashamed that I didn't know how to engage the reverse gear in the Cielo and I could just have stopped another Cielo driver and asked him to show it.

I just thought that whoever I asked for help would perhaps assume that I had stolen the car and would require a lot of explaining to do, perhaps even a visit to the local PS in a worst case scenario. I am a Bong from Calcutta with very shallow knowledge of Hindi and the car had a Gurgaon registration number and we were in Chandigarh and the car wasn't even mine, though I had an authorisation letter from the owner.

The hotel chauffers in and around Delhi, luckily, are not particularly very bright people. In fact he was proud that he knew something that the babu didn't know. It never occured to him why the babu never knew it.

pjbiju · 17th November 2007, 20:39

On a recent trip to the US, I got a Subaru Outback to drive. This had an automatic transmission with a SPORTSHIFT (R) manual control. I started driving it out of the airport and I noticed that the transmission had shifted itself into the 2nd gear. But after that it never moved up. I tried everything possible to shift the gear up, without any success. So there I was driving at 60mph in the 2nd gear and continued in that fashion for the next 30 miles. Interestingly, the transmission would downshift itself into the 1st gear when needed.

It was only the next day I realized that if you push the gear shift lever while on the move, the mode changes into manual mode. I also then figured out how to use the transmission both in manual and automatic mode. Goes to say, that when we start using some new equipment/car, it does not harm to ask someone about the basic functions.

sumitkalindi · 17th November 2007, 20:59

Ha ha Sudiptoda, reminds me of the first time I drove A tata estate. I was used to the push and engage of the sumo, so I thought that estate alsp has the same system, but in the petrol pump I could not engage the reverse, after trying for some time, with cars honking from behind, and freinds sitting inside, the pump attendent came to my rescue, and told me about the ring on the gear lever. I felt really embarrased that day. But whenever I think of it I still have a hearty laugh till today.

govigov · 17th November 2007, 23:03

Well, it never hurts to ask, as i dont know. In a fiat, with the hand lever (not floor mounted ones) how do you engage the reverse?

gd1418 · 18th November 2007, 18:56

In the neutral position push the lever right back to the extreme and then bring it down; just behind the fourth. Try a couple of times & you'll get the hang of it..

Quote:

Originally Posted by govigov

Well, it never hurts to ask, as i dont know. In a fiat, with the hand lever (not floor mounted ones) how do you engage the reverse?

govigov · 18th November 2007, 23:30

Thanks gd, let me try that out. I have been trying all sorts of wierd stuff trying to engage the reverse, but never had the guts to ask how it is done.

madaboutCARS · 19th November 2007, 15:45

reverse issue happened with me as well when i first brought my aveo. I took the delivery and reached home. i kept the car outside the gate, my owner's son wanted to have a ride in the new car, so i had to do the reverse, now in the gear knob it shows extreme left is the reverse, i moved the gear lever to th max left and executed but the car was still going forward , what is the issue ... i couldnt able to make out , owner's son asked me "Are you driving for the first time" , and that kid is studying in 7th class. i told "No" but i am not able to figure out how to reverse in this... so finally he went back leaving me alone in the car.. i have to call salesperson and told " i think there is some issue with reverse gear i am unable to enggage it " then he explained how to do to ... Few days later i meet the salesperson he said "atleast you siad there is some issue in the reverse gear, one of the customer called up and said "i think you people have forgotten to put reverse gear in the car, please take the car back and put it "

Nitin · 19th November 2007, 22:39

reminds me of my first time in my dad's Astra.
The year was 2000,month of November. A family friend's driver rammed our Esteem while taking it for a test drive,post service. We got a 1998 Astra the very same day,and my dad brought it home. He asks me to park the car in the garage,and I'm all thrilled. I sit in the car for over 15 mins, trying to figure out how to get the car into reverse.

later,my dad walks upto me and tells me to push the knob,while changing gears.

DileepKS · 20th November 2007, 12:06

I rented a Mazda 6 that had both auto and paddle shift. The legend near the shift lever was a little bit confusing, so I ended up in Manual mode. I pull out of the parking lot and merge into the street, and felt something is wrong. Rather than smoothly shifting up, the engine revs up. Luckily there was a red light within 50 ft, and while stopped there I figured it out.

Being a scardy cat on the road, I never tried the manual mode in that trip. Then a senior colleague and I made a trip to Boston area in the snow. We got a Subaru Outback, and he (more american than a gora, if I may add) ended up in the same situation. I immediately told him that "You are in paddle shift", and he changed right into auto.

And during the same trip I got the onle experience of the ABS and AWD getting you out of a spin. That was awesome.

We were in traffic and saw the turnout rather late. He turned sharp like he would do in CA and ended up in a spin. We felt quick jolts as the wheels alternated traction and brake, but the car stopped without any problem.

18th June 2007, 23:24	#16
Sudipto-S-Team Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Kolkata Posts: 1,320 Thanked: 290 Times View My Garage	Well in retrospect and from the comfort of my living room it now sounds hilarious. but it was a tough choice to make. i don't think it was a very courageous or heroic thing to do in absolute terms. but i am happy that i could overcome my own fear with logic. the tracks made by other vehicles before me gave me the courage to try it. anyway. all's well that ends well.
	() Thanks

19th June 2007, 00:04	#18
Sudipto-S-Team Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Kolkata Posts: 1,320 Thanked: 290 Times View My Garage	Archimedes worked it out himself in his brain. I stole the knowledge from the driver and couldn't even thank him officially. There is a difference between the two.
	() Thanks

19th June 2007, 00:41	#19
Sam Kapasi Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Mumbai (but wat Posts: 6,997 Thanked: 2,378 Times View My Garage	No thread on Team-BHP has ever had hilarious as the first word of it's title. You got my attention immediately. Well written and thank you for the smile I had throughout the reading.
	() Thanks

19th June 2007, 01:30	#20
Desert fox BHPian Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: bangalore Posts: 228 Thanked: Once	Nice anecdote,bought back memories of good ole cielo. Liked the way you conned the driver into teaching you how to reverse the barge. Me? i had to eat the humble pie and ask the guy who sold me my car over the phone!
	() Thanks

21st June 2007, 14:22	#21
madan80 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Santa Clara, CA Posts: 1,360 Thanked: 80 Times View My Garage	pretty interesting, considering the locks. I wonder how the driver must have felt, someone haivng driven all the way from delhi in a 5000 odd km car, and asking him how to engage reverse! i remember, when we hired an espace in UK, my brother and I drove it for a bit with the handbrake on, wondering how on earth you disengage the damn thing! finally we called on of the cleaners from the car rental to disengage the thing - gwash, if only i caught that guys expression on camera! priceless!
	() Thanks

24th June 2007, 11:33	#22
Sudipto-S-Team Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Kolkata Posts: 1,320 Thanked: 290 Times View My Garage	I must explain one thing - I was not really ashamed that I didn't know how to engage the reverse gear in the Cielo and I could just have stopped another Cielo driver and asked him to show it. I just thought that whoever I asked for help would perhaps assume that I had stolen the car and would require a lot of explaining to do, perhaps even a visit to the local PS in a worst case scenario. I am a Bong from Calcutta with very shallow knowledge of Hindi and the car had a Gurgaon registration number and we were in Chandigarh and the car wasn't even mine, though I had an authorisation letter from the owner. The hotel chauffers in and around Delhi, luckily, are not particularly very bright people. In fact he was proud that he knew something that the babu didn't know. It never occured to him why the babu never knew it.
	() Thanks

17th November 2007, 20:39	#23
pjbiju Senior - BHPian Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Pune Posts: 1,358 Thanked: 1,092 Times	On a recent trip to the US, I got a Subaru Outback to drive. This had an automatic transmission with a SPORTSHIFT (R) manual control. I started driving it out of the airport and I noticed that the transmission had shifted itself into the 2nd gear. But after that it never moved up. I tried everything possible to shift the gear up, without any success. So there I was driving at 60mph in the 2nd gear and continued in that fashion for the next 30 miles. Interestingly, the transmission would downshift itself into the 1st gear when needed. It was only the next day I realized that if you push the gear shift lever while on the move, the mode changes into manual mode. I also then figured out how to use the transmission both in manual and automatic mode. Goes to say, that when we start using some new equipment/car, it does not harm to ask someone about the basic functions.
	() Thanks

17th November 2007, 20:59	#24
sumitkalindi BHPian Join Date: May 2006 Location: Kolkata Posts: 376 Thanked: 17 Times View My Garage	Ha ha Sudiptoda, reminds me of the first time I drove A tata estate. I was used to the push and engage of the sumo, so I thought that estate alsp has the same system, but in the petrol pump I could not engage the reverse, after trying for some time, with cars honking from behind, and freinds sitting inside, the pump attendent came to my rescue, and told me about the ring on the gear lever. I felt really embarrased that day. But whenever I think of it I still have a hearty laugh till today.
	() Thanks

17th November 2007, 23:03	#25
govigov Senior - BHPian Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Cochin!!!!! Posts: 1,691 Thanked: 1,092 Times View My Garage	Well, it never hurts to ask, as i dont know. In a fiat, with the hand lever (not floor mounted ones) how do you engage the reverse?
	() Thanks

18th November 2007, 23:30	#27
govigov Senior - BHPian Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Cochin!!!!! Posts: 1,691 Thanked: 1,092 Times View My Garage	Thanks gd, let me try that out. I have been trying all sorts of wierd stuff trying to engage the reverse, but never had the guts to ask how it is done.
	() Thanks

19th November 2007, 15:45	#28
madaboutCARS BHPian Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: mysore Posts: 71 Thanked: 14 Times	reverse issue happened with me as well when i first brought my aveo. I took the delivery and reached home. i kept the car outside the gate, my owner's son wanted to have a ride in the new car, so i had to do the reverse, now in the gear knob it shows extreme left is the reverse, i moved the gear lever to th max left and executed but the car was still going forward , what is the issue ... i couldnt able to make out , owner's son asked me "Are you driving for the first time" , and that kid is studying in 7th class. i told "No" but i am not able to figure out how to reverse in this... so finally he went back leaving me alone in the car.. i have to call salesperson and told " i think there is some issue with reverse gear i am unable to enggage it " then he explained how to do to ... Few days later i meet the salesperson he said "atleast you siad there is some issue in the reverse gear, one of the customer called up and said "i think you people have forgotten to put reverse gear in the car, please take the car back and put it "
	() Thanks

19th November 2007, 22:39	#29
Nitin Senior - BHPian Join Date: May 2006 Location: Houston, Texas Posts: 3,294 Thanked: 20 Times View My Garage	reminds me of my first time in my dad's Astra. The year was 2000,month of November. A family friend's driver rammed our Esteem while taking it for a test drive,post service. We got a 1998 Astra the very same day,and my dad brought it home. He asks me to park the car in the garage,and I'm all thrilled. I sit in the car for over 15 mins, trying to figure out how to get the car into reverse. later,my dad walks upto me and tells me to push the knob,while changing gears.
	() Thanks

20th November 2007, 12:06	#30
DileepKS BHPian Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Cochin Posts: 137 Thanked: 8 Times	I rented a Mazda 6 that had both auto and paddle shift. The legend near the shift lever was a little bit confusing, so I ended up in Manual mode. I pull out of the parking lot and merge into the street, and felt something is wrong. Rather than smoothly shifting up, the engine revs up. Luckily there was a red light within 50 ft, and while stopped there I figured it out. Being a scardy cat on the road, I never tried the manual mode in that trip. Then a senior colleague and I made a trip to Boston area in the snow. We got a Subaru Outback, and he (more american than a gora, if I may add) ended up in the same situation. I immediately told him that "You are in paddle shift", and he changed right into auto. And during the same trip I got the onle experience of the ABS and AWD getting you out of a spin. That was awesome. We were in traffic and saw the turnout rather late. He turned sharp like he would do in CA and ended up in a spin. We felt quick jolts as the wheels alternated traction and brake, but the car stopped without any problem.
	() Thanks