Indian Cars: Premier Padmini Versus Maruti-800

I very clearly remember those days during mid eighties and those cars of yore i.e. Premiers, Ambassadors and of-course those Standard Gazels which used to give us a feeling of playing with a toy car and to replace those in present time is Maruti-800. When we are within the cock-pit, and in front of driving wheel of Maruti-800, I still feel a young lad of 25 and ready to play with this toy. As against a contrast of colour choice, which we had for Premier Padmini, it has become very difficult to choose due to so many variants in color and shades, with a choice of interiors and upholstery one feels like a king. Those days were days of limitation in color, size, engine capacity etc. Old Ambassador used to give us a feel of lot of space while on the front and back seats with the only exception of driver feeling miserable, maneuvering a big and slow car. This also could be a comparison between the best available during those days and most common and affordable today; the Maruti-800. May be we can call it a commoner's Car, today. The comparison under scrutiny became more vivid and vicarious because both have been used by me during a period of 22 years for short shopping errands and long cruise to distant districts and states, maybe 2000 to 3000 kms away. Frankly, long cruise on a Maruti-800 is certainly more comfortable, tension-less and exciting than the old Premier Padmini's tiresome, eventful and prayerful journey.

During the periods, when my hair used to be dense, soft and shiny black and our sole mode of transport by my beloved Premier Padmini, in addition to occasional travel by train, traveling a distance of 300 kms used to be an eventful event because invariably the car used to break down or radiator getting overheated due to over exhaustion of my pretty Premier Padmini's 1100 cc engine, somewhere in an isolated place or in the middle of a pass. Well, I was really accustomed to such glitch and always was well prepared for such eventualities. As against that my cutie Maruti-800 doesn't need even a look-over into the radiator for coolant top-up, mind you after a drive of around 1500 kms. That is the difference of technology coupled with lean & mean efficiency of R&D and Designing dept. to the core. Those days we always had to carry many spares and other paraphernalia for Padmini; to list a few: - a jerry can of at least 5litres capacity for radiator top-up with water. During those days water besides air used to be the only coolant, a fan belt, a couple of headlight bulbs, emery-paper to clean contact point in the Delco or contact breaker, fuse wire and the most important aid of the journey (a strong and at least 5 meter long rope) if cable not available, a handy Bath soap, a towel etc because each journey on my Premier Padmini used to be garnished with break-down and opening of bonnet and blackening and greasing our hands and may be shirt too, Then distilled water was another 'must carry' item. A rest break for our adored Premier and snacks break for our kids was essential after every 75 to 80 kms run. My modern Maruti-800 can zoom along even 300 to 400 kms without any breather in between.

Another important things to be carried, coming to my memory lane is window glass transporter handle lock, Door handle lock etc because while operating these handles(these 2mm dia.lock) used to fall down and replacing same with a new one used to be handy and time saving. Then the problem of exhaust silencer falling off on the road and suddenly all except the driving me had to close the ears. Now with Maruti-800 these problems are just to be laughed at or not be believed.

The conclusion, here, means fully comfortable and cool journey with all luxuries like quite chilling Air conditioner, nice stereophonic music with equalizers, nice movie for all except this driving me and yes certainly a fulfilling journey for ME TOO..........