Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi Hai…
Neeraj started his driving classes last week. 
The car that he is learning on is the Santro which is a nice car. I think he is really enjoying it, and I am glad that he is taking these classes. He goes for a half hour on Wed, Thurs, Sat, and Sun. He has 20 classes that he has to attend to finish the course.
Its funny how in India mostly manual transmission cars are used where in the US its the opposite, automatic transmission are more popular. I wonder why that is. 
It definitely doesn’t have anything to do with speed because speeders are everywhere. Maybe it has more to do with the fact that the roads in the US are better hence changing gears isn’t as important here.
Its good that Neeraj is learning manual transmission so he can teach me when he comes here. 
I will teach him how to drive in the US, and he will teach me how to drive manual transmission. I just want to see what is the huge deal about changing gears when you can get an automatic that does everything for you.
I have only tried to drive manual transmission once, and that too it was pathetic. 
The car kept on stalling every two seconds. For a person that prizes herself in her driving, it was quite a frustrating experience. 
Alvida. Jai Mata Di.
…
May 17th, 2005 at 12:05 am
o well its gonna be a lil diff n frustrating for u to drive a gear car coz its all about timing as to when u hv to change the gear…
auto transmission seems easy coz u dont hv to do nething ! which car do u drive btw ?
yeah santro is a neat car… i learnt driving the same…
but since i hvnt driven a car after gtting my license i am a lil scared of driving one now… the traffic here is horrible !
May 17th, 2005 at 12:47 am
I drive a manual car
When you are able to drive a manual car, you will like the manual more than automatic 
Anyway, it’s really nice that Neeraj is taking the driving classes … It’s a good deal that you teach him and he will teach you
I guess in Western countries, somehow, automatic cars are more popular and in Asian countries, manual cars are more popular. One of the factors that I could think of, maybe the price.
May 17th, 2005 at 3:49 am
Oh.. nice to know that Neeraj is learning driving… :)
I learnt it long back abt 4 yrs back, got the license but am out of touch since then.. cos don’t have a four wheeler yet..
Anyway, would have to have some practice before trying again… :)
The main reasons that manual cars being used more here is…
the roads are pathetic and the traffic is equally pathetic.
Driving a car in 100kmph constantly is a rare thing here….
So, having manual cars gives u more control…
May 17th, 2005 at 4:21 am
Driving is cool I love driving santro is nice car
I knew even before I had license to drive 
There nothing much to learn on how to drive u can learn how to drive in One Hour to know about technicalities….
But Its takes time to…get comfortable.. and to get the confidence to drive for that u need…. to practice.. and drive daily
In mumbai only bad thing is take care of BEST BUS driver they just corner you without giving any signal.. or just cross lanes…there no fixed lane driving people drive whichever lane is free
and another annoying… thing is honking people honk as if to express their pleasure…..:shock: and as if there no other day…
May 17th, 2005 at 7:23 am
Driving manual is better than driving an automatic….any day.
I think driving an automatic is really boring. I mean, you are driving a car, and you need to feel that zest of driving. Especially if you are driving a Merc/BMW, the pick-up of a manual is far far better than that of an automatic. You should learn to drive a manual…if you are one of those who enjoys driving…u sure r then missing on something!
May 17th, 2005 at 8:18 am
I tried to drive a manual in India and it was a terrible experience….:banghead::no::no: I like driving the auto..:smile: though everyone that I know tells me manual is better… Someday, I shall learn the manual too…:smile::yes:
May 17th, 2005 at 9:51 am
Automatic Driving is a kid stuff…
Anyway, only intelligent persons can drive Manual car
May 17th, 2005 at 9:51 am
Well these days I drive whatever car is at home.
We have an Oldsmobile Alero, Oldsmobile Cultass Ciera, and a Dodge Neon (my bro won’t let the family buy any foreign made cars so no Toyotas or Hondas 
). But we are changing his ways. 
Automatic transmission is great because I can do tons of other things such as change the CD, check my makeup (not!
), talk on the phone without the worry that I have to change gears. One hand is always free. 
I thought you might also drive a manual Mona.
You are right that they are more popular in Asian countries. I definitely want to learn and see what the hype is all about. 
Price can definitely play a part but the fact is that many dealers don’t even carry manual cars. 
Unless if you are looking for luxury cars or sports cars, the average car won’t have the option of manual transmission. Interesting, right? 
You and Kunal both are out of touch Prasad.
That is one of the reasons that Neeraj said that he shall wait to take the driving classes so its fresh in his mind when he comes to the US. 
Because then without a car, you don’t have the practice and hence, it wouldn’t be too worth it, right? 
True agree with you on the roads and the traffic.
That makes a big difference. Here there is a speed limit too if you are in the city, on the highway, whatever, you have to abide by a limit. In India there might be a speed limit but its not really enforced. 
Its not only the BEST bus drivers in Mumbai Puneet, its everyone.
The bigger vehicle you have, the more right-of-way you have in India. 
Driving in India is a task — you can’t really be disturbed during driving because you have to concentrate so much. Here in the US, its bindaas. 
You hardly have to worry about those things that someone will cut you off or that you have to honk (hardly anyone honks their horn here).
Yup I definitely want to learn. Will do it once Neeraj comes here.
Same here Madhu. My manual experience was quite frustrating only because I didn’t know when to hit the clutch.
You and me both, we shall learn. 
May 17th, 2005 at 9:52 am
Wah wah wah, thank you thank you thank you.
May 17th, 2005 at 9:59 am
hmm…interesting topic u raised…
i drive a manual car here in US and i love it…i have a sport car and the fun is different…but yes,there have been times when i feel that an automatic wud be convenient cos i wont have to do much.and changing gears on internal roads gets a lil boring…
May 17th, 2005 at 11:23 am
Its good Neeraj is learning how to drive ..and that will be even better that he will come to US without much driving exprience in India.. because if u have driven in India then its quite possible that you dont get license in first time.. I got it on 4th time and that too when i have been driving in India for 13 years :D .. the reason for that is in India you dont follow much rule .. lanes.. right of way..(there everybody have right of way at the same time )..and then there is no patience.. everybody have to reach early ..and Puneet rightly said Honking.. Ppl honk if they are happy .. they honk if they are sad for every thing they honk.. :) but sometimes that is necessary too because u never know kahan se koi bicycle wala aa jaye.. kahan se koi pedestrian aa jae.. India mein bahut saari things ko dimag mein rakhna padta hai .. infact bahut jaada tension wala kaam hai india mein gaadi chalana.. talking of faridabad and delhi .. things to watch when you are driving
1. first look for pot holes on the road and turn the steering wheel accoring to the places wheere there are none :D
2. look for bicycle walas .. which in office hours come from no where just in front of you .. in the fastest lane of road :D
3. look for pedestrians.. they can cross the road anytime.. so u are the one who have to take care of them.
4. Autos .. they will take turn and then if they find out someone honked from behind they will give indicator or haath nikal denge bahar to indicate they turned :D.
5. Stray cows, dogs on the road.
6. Then these speedy drivers .. who like to make road a F1 track..
7. Blue line buses in Delhi are the killing machines.. u can easily find 2 buses on the road racing to reach on the bus stop first so as to get more passengers.
and list goes on ………..
so in my opinion INDIA is more in need of automatic transmission .. because ther need for concentration is more.. and its ulta.. yahan par jahan in US there is not much concentration required .. i mean everybody is expected to drive correctly .. will follow all rules.. so yahan par its much easier to drive a Manual transmission.. India mein agar aapko 100 kms in city travel karna hai to yeh samajh lijiye ke aapka foot jo ke clutch daba raha hai woh to shaam tak gaya .. :) because itni breaks lagani padti hain ke kya bataein.. 1 hand is always on gear..:) u have to change so often..
The reason I think that in India automatic transmission are not popular.. first is cost factor .. they are more costly than manual.. second is the fuel efficiency of Automatic transmission is lesser than manual.. u get a better mileage in Manual.. then third is its not being marketed properly…because of first two reasons :D
manual transmission means better pickup , more mileage.. more in control of car.. driving is less boring as some activity is goin on.. its really a fun to drive a manual transmission
Automatic transmission .. biggest advantage 1 hand is always free (If you dont have to back ).. can drive 500 miles holding ur girlfriendsd hand.. all the way.. ;) rest all the same as told by Poonam :0
May 17th, 2005 at 12:17 pm
ummmmmm……..
Poonam, the login script which u use…. does it keep track of the ip’s and timestamps of logged in visitors who visited ur site?
hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm I think u know…….
May 17th, 2005 at 1:07 pm
Wrong
May 17th, 2005 at 3:26 pm
Manual driving is better than the automatic one. Come to Germany, here on most of the highways, there are no speed limits. Drive as fast as you can. :D
May 17th, 2005 at 7:08 pm
What a long comment Manish.
Good. Sahi hai..thanks for the tips. 
Roads are a problem in India..par kya kare? Its getting better. More overpasses are being made which is good. 
Even I said that concentration is much more needed in India. Isliya bahut kuch nahi kar sakte ho jab drive kar rahe ho…:smile:
Yes it does Anat.
I have sent you an email.
Right Ankur.
That’s great Govind.
Definitely will go driving in one of the best cars in the world, German cars, in Germany some day. 
May 17th, 2005 at 9:18 pm
Poonam!!!!!!! this post should be on my blog too albeit the names would be different! Arre ditto yaar! We just talked about it…same thing that I would teach how to drive in America and he would teach me the manual and his driving lessons started the same time Neeraj’s did. Sushant just bought a car too. Over here in the US, the manual cars are cheaper and apparently give better mileage. I am not sure on that though. So is baar whenI go to India..apun Sushant ki gaadi chalakar manual sikkh lengi! :D:D
May 17th, 2005 at 11:53 pm
Driving is fun!! Manual ho ya automatic… kya faraq padta hai!!
May 18th, 2005 at 10:22 pm
Hmm…Manpreete..at times driving can be a pain as well. Anyway there is a difference in manual and automatic, and I want to know what that is.