[nikhilarni]

The last 6 months have been really busy on the work and family front. Wasn't anything much to update on.

Got the 8000mile first free service done. Just the regular oil change and tyre rotation.

Last evening, on a grocery run, I narrowly missed hitting a deer.

Uploaded some dashcam footahge

Here is the front cam footage

https://youtu.be/bs20MkQo49c

Here is the rear cam footage.

https://youtu.be/BlN78TNguc0

[nikhilarni]

February of 2025 doesn't have the 29th, else she'd be celebrating her first birthday.

The Barouche is almost at her first birthday having crossed the 10000 mile milestone last week - Late post. She also got her 8K mile periodic service done. Nothing really to report here. With good roads for the most part, the wear and tear on vehicles is much less. The service was a routine oil change and tire rotation only. I changed the cabin air filters myself. Way cheaper to buy it online and self install.

Always fun to add a pic with the odo reading, isn't it. My wife still doesn't understand the fascination we have for clicking pics of the odo, esp while driving. haha.



While penning this, she's just over the 10K mile mark and some observations. I haven't been able to do any road trips or drives in the last 6 months, thanks to the severe weather and babies being too young.

The miles raked up are
1. Home to Daycare and back
2. Weekend grocery shopping
3. The occasional event, but within the city

So basically, its all been city driving only. The mileage has been hovering around 20mpg on an average given the hilly terrain and each drive is around the 10mile mark - one way. So there isn't too much driving either. Besides I have to idle the car for about five to ten minutes each morning to heat it up before taking the babies to daycare.

The heating and cooling is pretty impressive. Thank God for the steering heater as well, its a blessing.

No pics of her - everytime I washed her thinking I'd click a few pics, she either gets covered with the road salt + ice or rain.

Considering its been only city driving, there is not much to write about in terms of driving impressions other than
- its comfortable
- fuel consumption is decent - I would have loved it to be a little better though
- I have got my sweet spot on the driving position, enhancing the driving pleasure
- Couldn't care much for the music system - I barely listen to any music these days. If I am alone, then its just the news or some talk show. If the kids are around - then no points for guessing
- Headlights are nice and bright. Decent highbeam throw as well.
- ABS has saved me on multiple occasions when I hit a patch of black ice
- Camera powered rear view is useful only on bright sunny day. Other than that, if its snowing or raining - its practically useless.
- We enjoy the passenger talk feature, esp while interacting with the babies, as their seats are rear facing. Pretty cool feature, I'd say.

The Damages so far.

I accidently closed the garage door while the rear end was still sticking out, ended up clipping the "I" from the P A L I S A D E decal. Got some minor scruff marks in the process as well. On the driver's side, I see two small dents, possibly from someone dodo carelessly opening their car doors without checking.

Lessons learnt, now I am a little more patient in the garage before closing the shutters and park my car away from other cars. But the damage is already done.

[nikhilarni]

Not a very happy updated. After all the snow and rains, my car was really dirty, and with a little break in the weather I decided to give her a quick wash.

At first I thought it was bird poop or a dead bug, but on closer inspection
(something I was dreading) found it to be a little crack in the windscreen.

This has definitely happened in the last week or so. It wasn't there at the time I posted the 10K mile update. Its on the passenger side. This is the first time I have had a windscreen crack among all the cars I have owned. I believe it was caused by those salt trucks or I must have inadvertently gone too close to one of them. Either ways, damage is done.

I am not sure whether to leave it as it is or get it repaired. Safelite is one of the Windscreen experts here, per their website this little crack can be repaired. I too am curious on the process.

I am inclined to fix it rather than ignore it and hopefully will address it sooner than soon. Will update this thread.

Asking forum members - what would you have done ?

[scorpian]

Originally Posted by nikhilarni

Asking forum members - what would you have done ?

Definitely repair it, it will slowly grow if left unattended.

Check the process of jobs done before you give a go ahead.

[nishsingh]

There are windshield repair kits for small chips on windscreen such as this. Maybe try those out before replacing?



You should be able to get these on Amazon.

[sid18]

Originally Posted by nikhilarni

Attachment 2738806

I can share my experience with RainX. I had a similar incident last year and the crack was exactly same as yours. I was also in a dilemma whether to go for a replacement or repair. After calling up a few shops and everyone pushing for a replacement, I took a chance and bought Rainx from Amazon. I watched a couple of videos and tried it the very next week. The result was amazing. There is just a tiny white dot left after the repair. Do not leave the crack unattended for long; otherwise it will increase with moister seeping in and with continuous expansion and contraction due to heat and moister.

[prabhu7944]

Originally Posted by nikhilarni

Not a very happy updated. After all the snow and rains, my car was really dirty, and with a little break in the weather I decided to give her a quick wash.

At first I thought it was bird poop or a dead bug, but on closer inspection
(something I was dreading) found it to be a little crack in the windscreen.

This has definitely happened in the last week or so. It wasn't there at the time I posted the 10K mile update. Its on the passenger side. This is the first time I have had a windscreen crack among all the cars I have owned. I believe it was caused by those salt trucks or I must have inadvertently gone too close to one of them. Either ways, damage is done.

Attachment 2738806

I am not sure whether to leave it as it is or get it repaired. Safelite is one of the Windscreen experts here, per their website this little crack can be repaired. I too am curious on the process.

I am inclined to fix it rather than ignore it and hopefully will address it sooner than soon. Will update this thread.

Asking forum members - what would you have done ?

If it is not a hole you can wait till cracks develop. I had driven with similar Crack in figo for almost 5 yrs and replaced only when cracks started appearing. Importantly pls don't affix sunfilm if you plan for as heat gun will soften the glass and render more damage.

[landcruiser123]

If it doesn't affect visibility, my suggestion is to fill it with some sort of silicone (suggested above) or leave it!

My Avalon's windshield has a crack that is less than 0.5" on the lower part.

I've not bothered it - and it doesn't bother me

[nikhilarni]

Originally Posted by scorpian

Definitely repair it, it will slowly grow if left unattended.

Hi Scorpian,

Thanks for prompt reply. I will address it quickly. Got a few quotes from Safelite and a local shop - way higher than repairing it. Even Safelite said they could repair it with pretty much the same process as the RainX kit.

Originally Posted by nishsingh

There are windshield repair kits for small chips on windscreen such as this.

Thanks Nishsingh, for sending the image. Helps with purchasing and checking the reviews. I got the same one from the local walmart. Just waiting for some sunlight, its been dull rainy weather here.

Originally Posted by sid18

I can share my experience with RainX.

Do not leave the crack unattended for long; otherwise it will increase with moister seeping in and with continuous expansion and contraction due to heat and moisture.

Thanks Sid for the vote of confidence with your first hand experience and advice. I got the same kit from Walmart, just waiting for some sunshine. The last step of the instructions requires the section of glass to be exposed to direct sunlight ... and all we've had here is cold rains and overcast skies. I will get it repaired at the first chance of some sunlight.

Originally Posted by prabhu7944

If it is not a hole you can wait till cracks develop. I had driven with similar Crack in figo for almost 5 yrs and replaced only when cracks started appearing. Importantly pls don't affix sunfilm if you plan for as heat gun will soften the glass and render more damage.

Thanks Prabhu,

Good tip about sunfilm. I don't have any sunfilm on the windscreen. It is in the lower right side. I think I will take the advice on trying my hand at repairing it. With the extreme climate fluctuations here, there is a good chance that the cracks start developing sooner than later. I wouldn't want to risk driving around the twins with a cracked windscreen.

Originally Posted by landcruiser123

If it doesn't affect visibility, my suggestion is to fill it with some sort of silicone (suggested above) or leave it!

Hey Lalith,
I'll try repairing it first - if that fails, then I'll probably get safelite to take a shot. It definitely doesn't hinder my view, but it feels like a sore thumb sticking out everytime I glance to my right .