Have You Wrecked a Test Car?

Which is the best road you’ve tested a car on — both in India and abroad?
One stretch I like is the Jodhpur to Jaisalmer highway because it is almost flat with very little traffic and passes by beautiful sand dunes. The most spectacular stretch is the Manali to Leh road which must be among the most scenic and difficult terrain in the world. Abroad, I like the unrestricted German autobahns and the route of the Mille-Miglia (a classic 1,600 km race which runs through Italy, taking in some spectacular driving roads).

Which stretches of road in India get the best from a car?
Usually mountain roads that don’t have too much traffic bring out the best in a car. For example, the road going towards Amby Valley near Mumbai, the hills up North and the roads near Ooty and Kodaikanal in South India.

What’s the best family car in the market today?
In the small car category, I would recommend the Ritz and if you can stretch your budget a bit, the Jazz. In the next category it would be the new Honda City, and the one above that would be the Skoda Laura.

How often have you broken the law while reviewing vehicles?
When we test we make sure that we’re using designated test tracks so the question of breaking the law does not arise. Also we make sure we never put either ourselves or other road users at risk while reviewing vehicles.
 
Does driving your own car get boring after all the jazzy cars that you drive?
I absolutely love driving. In nine years as a tester, I have never got bored of any car.

Have you ever wrecked a car you’re testing? If you damage a test vehicle, who pays?
I have been fortunate not to wreck a car; however I have had a major accident in a test car. When we get a car to test, we always insist that it is insured so any damages are settled by the insurance company.
 
What should we lay people look for when we test drive a car?
The most important thing to look for when you test a car today is that from the time you get on, to the time you get off, the car must bring a smile to your face. Cars are so good today that you simply can’t go wrong ­— the deal clincher should be the one that makes you feel good about spending all the money. For example, in German cars, the sound of the door shutting with a solid thud is like an assurance of the quality.  

Do your neighbours and colleagues ask for a turn in the fancy cars that you get?
I don’t let anyone else drive the car, but I do take people for a ride in the car. For example, last week, my 14-year-old neighbour was very excited to sit in the BMW X6 that I had with me at the time. It  is a pleasure to be able to give someone small treats like that.  

Is it time test drivers abandon their snobbery?
All the motoring journalists I know do this because they love their job — they feel it is a hobby that they are paid for. Most of them are very thankful for their job. There is a romance associated with cars and road trips but never any snobbery. In fact the only people who are snobbish are wannabe testers, not the actual ones.

(As told to Divya Subramaniam)