[laluks]

Well, when I thought I'd go for a 15K checkup, all hell broke loose and did a great run of 9000Kms, 13 states, spanning 18 days to draw a hole in whole of central India.

(W)Hole in Central India





Well this picture says it all


Travelogue is in the making. It will take some time due to the magnitude of the drive.

Milestones during the run







Kungfu panda is now at 24000Kms, and have done the 20K service



The bill details




Items changed as per 20K service recommendation by Maruti
1. Engine oil and Oil filter, Oil drain plug,
2. Fuel Filter,
3. Brake Fluid,
4. Coolant,
5. Air filter,
6. Cabin Air Filter

Total cost came to 8267 INR, of which we need to remove 600 for an item I got for the swift.

Overall parts - 5100, Labour 2530. Not bad

No complaints to report mechanically for the car. Kungfu Panda is holding up well

Cosmetically, the hand rest in between the front seats are rattling like crazy. So are the interior mirror covers and some door panels. Need to push in some foam somewhere.


The tyres, JK UX Royals, could not take the abuse, three of them have got multiple punctures, fourth got a sidewall cut and the spare got a chunk cut out of the thread . Will be changing them soon, for now keeping them for city runs, where help is nearby. I guess the JKs are perfect for highway runs and not at all good for offroading scenario, which pretty much exists once you get out to explore. JKs are a big turnoff at this point. It has already done 24K, I might push it to another 10K before I go in for a good deal, so I've got time, my search is on.



Service Feedback
I go to Suraksha Bommanahalli since I know the workshop manager since 10+ years. I was assigned a SA, and the work started. Midway he had to go for a meeting. The grease monkeys assigned for the work were lazy idiots, that they do not clean the calipers but put grease and push it back in, they change the oil filter and run the engine before changing engine oil, they give me a perfume bottle saying gift and bills it. Overall a below par experience at the workshop. I had to get them to redo the mess-up, which finally I got done. Once Workshop manager was back, I raised my concerns and requested him to assign good guys for my next visit. I travel almost 20Kms to his place, since I trust I get a good service there.


Maruti Nexa Card Feedback
I had some 3000 points in my card, and I told the cashier to redeem it against my bill. My expectation was the points will be redeemed against the bill and for the remaining part I paid as cash, I would accrue reward points. The redemption happened but not the accrual.


Seems Maruti billing SW, accepts only one action against an invoice/job order. Either redemption or Credit. For the cash transaction minus the rewards adjustments there should always be a point credit. I find this funny, what is this Nexa card good for then!!

[gururajrv]

Well, I must say your car covered with patch of mud makes it look so good with the read windshield wiper cleaning up a bit! Tempts me to make my Brezza wear the same makeup sometime soon waiting for your travelogue!

[sumeethaldankar]

Originally Posted by paragsachania

It is only on highways after a super good (and long) drive where I actually let the engine idle for a minute at least. Now If there was a toll booth where my wait was for over a minute, and I stop soon after this, I shut down immediately.

Originally Posted by laluks

Adding to what parag had said, I do this.

I start the car, then check out on my maps and amazon music and set the play list. This easily takes a few minutes and it helps the idling while starting.

Same way when I stop, i have to unplug my phone, close all the app that was open like music and android auto and then I stop the car. This is the idling time at stop.

Need some more info on this. When I return home from the evening I have to drive through a crowded street at speeds around 10 kmph and have to stop at my society gate to open same as we do not have a watchman. For safety reason I do not prefer to keep the car running and switch it off, take the key with me, open the gate and then get back in and start the car. In such a scenario what should I do for the turbo?

[laluks]

Originally Posted by sumeethaldankar

Need some more info on this. When I return home from the evening I have to drive through a crowded street at speeds around 10 kmph and have to stop at my society gate to open same as we do not have a watchman. For safety reason I do not prefer to keep the car running and switch it off, take the key with me, open the gate and then get back in and start the car. In such a scenario what should I do for the turbo?

I guess the slow run till your gate should do your trick, I believe the revs would not be high and a sedate maneuver here.


BTW, did you already get one

[sumeethaldankar]

Originally Posted by laluks

BTW, did you already get one

Did a test drive. Not yet. Was not happy with the engine noise but everything else was good. Except maybe a 6 speed box would have been great instead of the old 5. Times have moved on and Maruti is still stuck on 5 gears. The overall package is brilliant though. Liked the tall stance and driving position. But the engine noise after coming from a silent Civic and a 5 tranny box is simply a show stopper for me.

[laluks]

Originally Posted by sumeethaldankar

Did a test drive. Not yet. Was not happy with the engine noise but everything else was good. Except maybe a 6 speed box would have been great instead of the old 5. Times have moved on and Maruti is still stuck on 5 gears. The overall package is brilliant though. Liked the tall stance and driving position. But the engine noise after coming from a silent Civic and a 5 tranny box is simply a show stopper for me.

I guess then you are inclined to others then . Enjoy

[paragsachania]

Originally Posted by sumeethaldankar

Need some more info on this. When I return home from the evening I have to drive through a crowded street at speeds around 10 kmph and have to stop at my society gate to open same as we do not have a watchman. For safety reason I do not prefer to keep the car running and switch it off, take the key with me, open the gate and then get back in and start the car. In such a scenario what should I do for the turbo?

Absolutely no issues at all there. The last 10 KMPH stretch would ideally be covering your car for the idle rule anyway. After this when you turn off the engine, crank again and move your car inside the gate to park, remember that your Turbo is not loaded at all since you would merely crawl into your parking slot.

The idle rule is mainly when your Turbo has worked for longer time and this is not to be confused with a rule where you turn idle each time before shutting down the engine.

[laluks]

Amidst no fanfare, Kungfu panda Completes a milestone. 25K Kms , yeah, Kungfu panda is yet to turn one year old.

25000 KMs


Some Statistics

[motomaverick]

Congrats, thats quite a bit of driving. Curious about the Hole in Central India drive. Absolutely love that brown look on the car.

[laluks]

Originally Posted by motomaverick

Congrats, thats quite a bit of driving. Curious about the Hole in Central India drive. Absolutely love that brown look on the car.

. I am too lazy to pen it down, Kungfu Panda is now at 28K.
He is on steroids

[motomaverick]

Originally Posted by laluks

. I am too lazy to pen it down, Kungfu Panda is now at 28K.
He is on steroids

28k! wow it's not a Panda then its Master Shifu

No need to pen it down, just brief details for us mere mortals to help contemplate and plan for such a drive in the future

[laluks]

Originally Posted by motomaverick

28k! wow it's not a Panda then its Master Shifu

No need to pen it down, just brief details for us mere mortals to help contemplate and plan for such a drive in the future

Master Shifu



The drive Plan was like this
D01: 11.08.2018, Saturday :- Bangalore - Mahabaleshwar
D02: 12.08.2018, Sunday :- Mahabaleshwar - Mumbai
D03: 13.08:2018, Monday :- Mumbai
D04: 14.08:2018, Tuesday :- Mumbai - Navsari
D05: 15.08:2018, Wednesday :- Navsari - Halol
D06: 16.08:2018, Thursday :- Halol - Ujjain
D07: 17.08:2018, Friday :- Ujjain - Jhansi
D08: 18.08:2018, Saturday :- Jhansi - Rewa
D09: 19.08:2018, Sunday :- Rewa - Singrauli
D10: 20.08:2018, Monday :- Singrauli - Ranchi
D11: 21.08:2018, Tuesday :- Ranchi - Ghatsila
D12: 22.08:2018, Wednesday :- Ghatsila - Puri
D13: 23.08:2018, Thursday :- Puri - Vizaianagaram
D14: 24.08:2018, Friday :- Vizianagaram - Raj Nandgaon
D15: 25.08:2018, Saturday :- Raj Nandgaon - Aurangabad
D16: 26.08:2018, Sunday :- Aurangabad - Nashik
D17: 27.08:2018, Monday :- Nashik - Mumbai
D18: 28.08:2018, Tuesday :- Mumbai - Bangalore

[laluks]

Kungfu Panda has been sprinting on the highways 99% of its miles till date. Battle scars are bound to happen, and this one had to be attended to.

While aimlessly driving somewhere in West Bengal, a stone kicked up by a rashly driven truck hit the windshield with great force, instantly creating a star type crack/chip in the glass.

The crack from outside


The crack from inside


It was looking bad. I had to drive almost 10,000KMs with it without attending to the same. I was hoping that the crack doesn't develop further and thankfully it did not. This was the only week I sat down after my crazy driving around the country schedule.

Since I had time, decided to do something about it. I have heard a lot about RainX windshield kit during my Civic days. So closed my eyes and got hold of one kit.

RainX Windshield Repair Kit


The Repair Resin


Sleeved Razor Blade


After cleaning the area, centered the ring over impact point


The crack is exactly at the center of the ring


Screwed the resin chamber into the center ring until it touched the impact point




After it was setup, two drops of resin was put into the resin chamber.


After the resin was put, the pressure driver was screwed into the resin chamber






Left it like that for 10 minutes for the repair resin to penetrate the crack and get absorbed into the breaks.After that the entire apparatus was lifted up removed.


One more drop of resin was put on the impact point, and covered with a curing strip for the finishing touches.




All the above was done in complete shade, and once these steps were completed the car was moved to direct sunlight to speed up the curing. I waited for 1 hour and then removed the curing strip. Using the razor provided scrapped off excess resin .



Final Result. Crack Gone






Quite impressed with the results. Kungfu Panda likes it I believe

[laluks]

Insurance Renewal - Maruti Antics and Shoddy Execution from Bimal Auto Agency

Kungfu Panda is yet to complete a year, but insurance guys from Maruti starts calling me.

18.09.2018

I got a call from Bimal Auto Agency Insurance Mr. Shiva. I listened, and it was as per the Maruti insurance website, so I said ok, we have time we will see later. Then he informs me he will give me service Coupons worth 1300 from Bimal, and a Wheel Alignment coupon worth 450, together with a discount of 1000 since I have a Nexa card, and he needs my Nexa card for swiping and accruing/redeeming. I was ok, and I said let us do next month nearing the expiry dates. Meanwhile I will check for other options and compare.

23.09.2018

Call came in from 08916165888, introduces as Maruti Insurance and tells me about my policy. What will be the policy details for next year and IDV and other details. I listen. At the end tells me it will be issued by Bimal from where I took the car. I told we have one more month to go, I will get in touch with Bimal.

Same day by evening I get a SMS message the Policy is successfully verified and is sent for issuance, and I will get it shortly from my dealer.

I never asked for issual, and no money paid from my end. So I am kind of wondering, who will issue the policy without taking payment!!

25.09.2018
Shiva from Bimal calls me. I liked his returning call, and told him yes we will discuss, and I am not there from 27.09.2018 in town. He says he will organise by 26.09.2018 all stuffs and his guy will come early in the morning. But my Nexa card is required and it will take atleast a day for it to be returned. I said I am not there the next day, no hurry let us do next month. he says no problem, he will handle all in the same day before 10:00 in the morning

26.09.2018

Mr. Abhishek calls me at at 11:00, and I am like hey, you were supposed to meet me by 10. Unapologetic he says I am on my way, I will be there in 10 minutes. And he lands up at 12:30.

He says he has not brought the coupons, as I was promised and he will bring it the next day. I told him, I am in no hurry to renew my policy, I still have time till next month end. Go get all your things and come later. I am not available for some time from the next day. Shiva intervenes at this point and says, he will get me all promised coupons by 4Pm, and requested me to give my Nexa card so that he could do the swiping of it at his office. I told him, if I can get the card by 4PM, along with the other stuffs, I agree. He says Ok.

I clicked a picture of my Nexa Card and gave it to Abishek. Anyways NEXA card was of no much significance if you have read my earlier posts. If they do not turn up today, i am ready to consider NEXA card as lost. I really don't care about that NEXA card anyways.

By 5PM I gave a call to Shiva since I saw no one and told either you return the card and call off the deal or comply. The entire day I was stuck due to the time keeping of these fellows.

By 18:00 Abhishek comes, and hands over me the card, my policy and a coupon for 1300. I asked where is the other one as promised, the wheel alignment stuff of 450? He says he don't know and I must talk to Shiva. By now, I am like seriously angry.

It's not that I want these coupons, ever since my Swift days I don't go to Bimal after the bad experiences there, and these coupons will never help me. Its the offer and the execution.

Shoddily executed. More reasons to cut Bimal Auto Agency from my interactions from now.

Now few questions lingers in my mind:
1. Why was the policy issued after verifying, one month in advance without any payments? What is Maruti's need to do such antics?
2. Bimal giving goodies I can understand, probably there is a target. But then who is responsible for the shoddy execution?
3. What was done with Nexa card, there is no points update in the card


I am better off with online deals!! So much for Bimal, and so much for Nexa

Phew!!

[laluks]

Today by 11:00 I get a call by Shiva. My post of yesterday seems to have reached higher ups in Bimal, and Shiva got a feedback. On talking with Abhishek, he understood that the WA coupon which he had sent across with him was not delivered.

He accepted the mistake, and apologized. He asked if I was available today. I had time till noon, and he lands up home personally with the missing coupon and handed over, offering apologies again and regards from his management.

Well I am happy to note

1. A feedback on TBHP reaches the right people

2. The Management of Bimal, has passed the information to rectify the same to the people responsible almost immediately

3. Shiva accepted the problem, made an honest effort in person to rectify the same. He even apologized for his new member Abhishek who missed the same

I must say I am overwhelmed at all this. Now I feel delighted, though a feedback had to be given earlier.

Yes we do mistakes, the attitude to correct them is far more important.

Given these kind of attention, probably I must give them a chance after I finish my next run with Kungfu Panda, and may be use these coupons. When you know your feedback will be attended to, it really gives immense peace of mind. So to say, it'd be my visit for a service to them after say 10 years.

Cheers for TBHP for a platform that makes all this possible