Hot Wheels On Campus

The summer is gone and another academic year is upon us, with thousands of newbies restlessly waiting to leave the coop and fly out of the nest, to college. Most teenagers are thrilled as they are going to get their hands on their first car, or bike. While parents want safe and economical cars, boys give significant importance to a car’s style, sportiness, cool looks, performance, enough room for friends, accessories, scope for customisation etc.

Meanwhile girls prefer ‘cute’ cars and place less importance on performance than boys. Anyways, let’s discuss the subject of first vehicle from both points of view.

With auto makers getting more into affordable cars in the Indian market than ever before, college students don’t have to limit the search for a car just to pre-owned cars. There are an astonishing number of vehicles to choose from, with a base price under 5 lakh. Thinking from a campus point of view, the first car that pops into my mind is none other than Maruti Swift. At this juncture, I must mention my ‘confused’ friend who inspired my first blog post about confusion over buying a car. After many months of research and discussions, he is now a proud owner of a Swift. Sporty, mighty, cool, roomy and of course affordable, Swift is a great car for campus life. Furthermore, there is no other car in the B-segment that offers such a wide scope for customisation, too.

As far as parents are concerned, safety is of paramount importance. Here I’d suggest the Nissan Micra that we reviewed lately. Which other small car comes with an airbag even on the basic version? Moreover, being the latest entrant in the Indian car market, you’re sure to grab eyeballs behind the wheel of a Micra.

Nissan Micra Road Test and Review

While the bubbly Micra is equally loved by guys and girls, there are two other cars in the same segment that appeal more to girls – Chevrolet Beat and Hyundai i10. Both cars have abundant curves and bulges that give them the cute, sexy look. They’re compact and easy to handle making them the perfect choice for gals.

When it comes to budget, many of us are constrained to go for a used car. Buying a used car is not better than nor is it worse than going for a brand new car. We have already discussed the advantages and disadvantages of pre-owned cars and things to keep in mind while choosing one in previous posts. If chosen rightly, cars such as Mitsubishi Lancer, Suzuki Baleno and the third generation Honda City offer superior performance and greater scope for modification. Additionally, if you are new to driving, a used car is your perfect companion on the road to expertise.

Regardless of how affordable or popular cars turned out to be, two-wheelers never lose their allure in campus. There hasn’t been any other two-wheeler like Royal Enfield Bullet that conquered campuses and hearts of the youth alike. Bullet is not just a bike, it is a treasure to own. The latest Bullet Classic 500 is a spunky thumper that blends the retro design with state of the art technology and massive power. This monster easily catches people’s attention and moves pretty quickly.

Yamaha may have phased out the iconic RX-100 back in 1996, yet many youngsters love to have this stunner, just for its aggressive sound. Rumour has it that Yamaha has plans to resurrect the legend, and if it happens, this is going to be a terrific hit across campuses.

Scooters contend for attention with tassels, gleam, stickers and vivid colors. They crowd the parking lot, as proud owners beam over their machines. Scooty pep ruled girls’ world until a few years back. But now, the scooter market is abuzz with new players entering the arena, including electric scooters. Today there are many choices and choosing the right scooter for you is a challenge.

We hear a lot these days about the skyrocketing fuel prices, energy efficiency, eco-friendliness and the like. This is the right time to shift to the ultimate zero-emissions transportation technology – bicycles. Bicycles are great exercise and are probably faster, safer, more convenient than you think and not less stylish, too.

Finally, whichever vehicle you buy, always keep in mind that you are only in the wee hours of your life, so be safe and courteous behind the wheel of your automobile. Always wear a seatbelt/helmet, follow traffic rules, avoid cellphones while driving, don’t overspeed and never drive under intoxication or heavy stress. Have a rocking academic year ahead!