MB#89: 𝘾𝙖𝙧 𝙞𝙨 𝙖 𝙎𝙚𝙡𝙛-𝙂𝙞𝙛𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙇𝙚𝙖𝙙 𝙇𝙞𝙛𝙚 𝙍𝙤𝙮𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙮.

[MemoirBlogthon #89] After a decade of dedicated service from my 1987 LML Vespa scooter (detailed in MB#\_72), 1995 marked a critical professional crossroads: transitioning from an employee to a practicing Company Secretary and taking on the chairmanship of the ICSI Hyderabad Branch. Following my father's strong recommendation, I acquired my first car: a green Maruti 800. This sedan, secured through his network and registered with a number that became my first email ID (surya342), symbolized my rising professional status. This blog tracks my evolution through three key vehicles—the Maruti 800, the Maruti Alto (Met Wine Red), and the modern Hyundai Santro AMT—showing how each car acquisition was timed perfectly to meet changing life stages, professional needs, and the mounting necessity for driving comfort in my sixties, always echoing my father's wisdom: "A car is a self-gift to lead life in a royal and purposeful way."

MB#89: My Four-Wheeler Acquisitions from 40 to 60

The First Leap: From Two Wheels to Four (Age 40) 🟢

My journey through personal transport began with the reliable 1987 LML Vespa, which served me faithfully for a decade (a story detailed in MemoirBlogthon #72). However, 1995 marked a major change in my life. I was leaving employment to set up my own consultancy services as a practicing Company Secretary and was simultaneously elected to the key position of chairman for the Hyderabad chapter of the Institute of Company Secretaries of India (ICSI). I was also preparing to join the Rotary Club to expand my professional network.

I stood at a crossroads, and as always, I sought my father’s counsel. He strongly recommended I go for the Maruti 800, a car that was selling like hotcakes and symbolized the modern Indian middle class. His strong network proved pivotal: he requested his lifelong friend and well-wisher, Sri Maganti Subrahmanyam Garu (Chairman of Mitra Agencies), to ensure I received my preferred green Maruti 800 within a week, without having to pay the prevalent market premium.

Pooling the necessary funds (around ₹2.5 Lakhs at the time), I secured a bank loan, with my professional colleague and friend, Sri Datla Hanumanta Raju, signing the documents as surety.

This self-driven car became my workhorse for over a decade. It carried my family on countless city trips and long-distance journeys, including the alternative festive routes to see my parents in Vijayawada (200 km) and my in-laws at Balantram village (500 km).

This vehicle became deeply attached to me, rising to become a status symbol as my private practice grew. My father used to comment, "You are maintaining the car as tip-top as you are, like a five-star product." This was because I meticulously maintained the car, only taking it to the official Maruti company workshop and using genuine spares, even if it cost more than private mechanics. The number of this first car, 342, even became my first professional email ID: surya342**, remembered by my clients and colleagues.

The Upgrade: Loyalty and Practicality (Age 50) 🔴

By 2006, as the Maruti 800 model began to face issues with outdated and discontinued spares, I decided it was time to upgrade. Following my father’s advice, who always kept himself updated on the latest car versions, I chose to stick with the dependable Maruti brand by swapping my existing car for a new model.

I acquired a Maruti Alto LXI BSIII (Met Wine Red). To make the acquisition hassle-free, I went to Varun Motors, an outlet owned by my childhood classmate, Mr. Prabhu Kishore, who facilitated the process regarding color, delivery, and favorable terms, just as my father’s friend had done for the first car.

This second car proved superior in performance and mileage, building on the legacy of the 800. The decision to upgrade to the Alto, the best-selling car in India at that time, reflected a blend of brand loyalty and a practical need for better features and efficiency as I entered my fifties. Like its predecessor, this ALTO vehicle kept up the same credentials of reliability and ease of maintenance for the next decade.

Prioritizing Comfort: The Shift to AMT (Age 60s) 🔵

After more than a decade of using the manual transmission Maruti brand, my requirements changed significantly around 2018. My age was mounting, and the strain of driving in heavy traffic began to necessitate a change. I wanted to shift to an AMT car (Auto Manual Transmission).

I chose the re-introduced Hyundai Santro 1.1 AMT Magna (Marina Blue). This particular vehicle was special—it was one of the first of the new variant delivered in Hyderabad, which I acquired through a successful online booking and lottery allotment.

Though I now drive sparingly, mostly covering distances less than ten kilometers, I trained and retained two part-time drivers for this vehicle. This decision aligned perfectly with the final wisdom I inherited.

Although my father passed away in 2015, his words continue to resonate whenever I drive this car:

"A car is not just for comfort or status; it is a self-gift to lead the life in a royal and purposeful way. Instead of depending on external transportation, it's better to own it, engage a driver, and drive the life as you deserve."

My car choices over the decades thus reflect not just purchases but a strategic blend of practical financial decisions, appreciation for modern technology (from floor-mounted gearbox to AMT), and most importantly, an adherence to the ethical and purposeful view of ownership passed down by my father.

MB#89: Quiz

MB89: Question: In 1995, what key professional position did the author hold that signaled his rising status and prompted the purchase of his first car?

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• A. District Governor of Rotary International.
• B. Chairman of the ICSI Hyderabad Branch.
• C. Manager of Mitra Agencies.
• D. Freelance Journalist.

MB#89: Quote

"Good cars get you from point A to point B. Great cars get you into trouble." – Jeremy Clarkson