Delhi to Ahmedabad in 13 hours, I'd fun!

Hello Friends,

I have read lot of articles on the Forum section of ‘Carwale’; they are very encouraging and appealing, and that prompted me to put my experience in words. I am an ab initio in ‘writing’ about the car journey. So, please excuse me for the unrefined details put in an unformatted way. Your valuable inputs will lend a hand in cultivating my writing ability. Mentioned below is my experience in D’zire petrol (VXi) about the long drive – approximately 1000 kilometres, the first non-stop long drive for me, I mean not actually ‘non-stop’ as a non-stop; but with just two halts, only for refuelling combined with visits to rest rooms. No food stops, no nap stops.

All the driving style, occurrences, and figures those I have mentioned in this topic are with respect to D’zire petrol engine. I look forward to get good driving tips if I am not following one.

My son, wife and I travelled to Ahmedabad from Delhi. It was decided very suddenly, I tried the “Make My Trip” for an economical air travel but could not find any. Train travel was also not viable. My wife and I have travelled a lot by road: Delhi – Mussoorie – Delhi , many trips (in Matiz), Delhi - Kausani – Delhi (once in Indica V2), Delhi – Shimla - Delhi many trips (in Swift VDi), Delhi – Pushkar – Delhi ( twice in Matiz), Delhi – Almora - Dehradoon – Delhi (once in Indica), and numerous trips to Chandigadh, Agra, Jaipur, etcetera to and fro Delhi. So we did not mind the road trip to Gujarat, in fact we both were looking forward to it with circumstances that have occurred.

We left Delhi at 1530 hours and reached Ahmedabad at 0445 hours, this car has clocked 3000+ kilometres before commencing this drive. So I guess engine was used up sufficiently. The route I took: Delhi – Jaipur (bypass) – Nasirabad – Udaipur – Ahmedabad. As usual, from my place to Gurgaon toll plaza was a slow trip, say 50 – 60 kms on average, but then, D’zire started gliding on the four lanes Delhi – Jaipur highway, I passed Jaipur bypass before 20:00 hours. Initially when we left Delhi we planned to take a night stay at Jaipur, and to start early next morning to Ahmedabad, but the Delhi to Jaipur ride was so swift and less tiring, I thought of staying at Udaipur for our proposed night stop. Well, eventually we didn’t stay at Udaipur as well. Thanks to NHAI...........

..........The most fascinating ride was just about to start – Jaipur to Nasirabad - six lanes, great highway. Super road condition, excellent work by NHAI, the entire trip we found many the reflectors on the roads, reflectors on the sides when the turn is anticipated, the destination/distances signs, intersections those were approaching, side and divider barriers were all very nicely and accurately done. Like other part of the road that we’ve travelled, the bushes that those guys grows on the divider/island to block the incoming vehicles’ jarring light - was missing. My speedometer needle has touched the 120 mark in the previous leg (Delhi to Jaipur). {My RPM meter was around 2900 when the speedometer was showing 120, in fifth gear. [My questions: (1) when the indicated speed is 120, in reality also it is 120, or less? I guess less. There may a lag in representation of tyres rotations onto the dial. Any answers? (2) The corresponding RPM (2900) and speedometer (120) readings of my D’Zire VXi are normal? Do any D’Zire drivers get different settings of RPM+speed?]} At speed of 100 the rev needle generally stays at 2700, in the fifth gear.

The six lane highway was so ‘inviting’ that in spite of my wife’s hesitations; I added another 300 – 400 to rev gauge to go past 130 – 140. It took some time to go past 120 – 130 – 140 – 145, and at the speed of 145, tachometer was almost on 3500. So this means the technical figure of 87 PS@6000, if we calculate pro-rata to my condition at that time, I was getting the PS of 51. (Is this math correct?) If yes, than honestly speaking it is very eerie for me to get to the figure of 6000 on the revolution counter whilst driving, and in the end I could never get 87 PS!! I assume, in the city driving condition anyone may not drive at 5000+ RPM, please correct my assumption if I am wrong. Generally I shift to upper gear when RPM goes past 2000 and shift to lower gear when RPM drops at or below 1000. I have not memorised this figures but lately I have observed my timing to change gears so I am putting those figures now, generally I change gears when I and she (my car) feels like it is time to change the gears. (My question: any comments?) The cabin was very noisy, for obvious reasons. What I noticed is that the moment I move my right foot of the pedal the speed goes down quickly, however it took more time to go back to that speed again. However, the engine was very responsive, very quick. (Is it normal to be like that?)

Anyways, the car was still willing to go past 145 if I want to do so; however, I was sceptical about the manoeuvrability of this car at that speed, so did not go beyond and came back to 110 – 120. (My question: what is the expert’s opinion on this? May I drive 120 – 130 – 140 – 150 if the road condition permit, I mean, is D’Zire is designed to be driven at this high speed – for a longer a time?)  The roads were less zig zagging, and more of a straight stretches of 10 - 15 kms, many a times. Even the curves were very moderate and smooth.........

......... Now I like to ask you guys one query, is this car is so fantastically manufactured that she was giving excellent performance or is it also because I was driving on the cold night which gives best weather condition to the engine so the output was very well. Similar to the wide bodied aircraft of every airline operating the longer international sectors generally decide on to take off past night to get best pay load, they avoid day time for taking off for optimising the fuel and passenger load. I drove in the last week of January and the temperature in the car was showing 11 degrees centigrade. What do you say?

Okay back on the road again; the Nasirabad to Udaipur highway, though four lane, but good to drive fast and safe. A little piece of information for those who do not know, when on Jaipur – Udaipur highway please look for Nasirabad junction to change your way as this highway is superior to the original road which also leads you to Udaipur on a different route. I was enthralled to see such a better road that I did not want to stop for a night stop and just want to enjoy – by keep on driving. I guess we were lucky that day as I found there was no vehicular traffic on the highway. The usual traffic busters, bicycles, rickshaws, pedestrians, bullock carts, tractors were off the road because it was past the time which changes the date in the watch/clock. There were mostly Lorries, and cars on the roads; no slow moving vehicles to slow down my “Grand Prix ride”!! The NHAI’s work at the end of the Nasirabad – Udaipur highway is still on so I found a little difficulty in finding the way to Udaipur and further. There were lot of diversions with no clear indications to turn; only some locally made symbols. No green radium signs, no turn indications. I guess the last 50 kilometres were like this.

Udaipur to Ahmedabad road was also very well fabricated, with very powerful reflectors, grooved in the road, and before the turn as well; however the gradient of the road was uneven due to topography of that area, and there are many turns so one cannot drive as rapidly as the previous rides, but if you are riding carefully then these serpentine roads were great to drive on.

I finally reached at 04:45 hours, taking approximately 13 hours, which is about three hours less than train travel between Delhi to Ahmedabad. It was an awesome driving experience (better than my Delhi – Kausani drive). It left great fast driving memories in my mind for years to come.

Thank you for being with me through this article and I am awaiting yours comments.

Congratulations on ur trip.

Good u enjoyed it.

Delhi Jaipur is an excellent 4 lane drive.

Obviosly Delhi to Gurgaon Toll takes toll.But after that roads offer superb tiredfree ride.

@Kabir, a very well written/drafed review. Thanks 

Most of your experiences with the speed/rpm/behaviour etc. were normal in my opinion - given the speed & conditions.  However, hope to see comments from Dzire users/owners who have had such experiences.

However, I wish to comment that restricting the speed not beyond 120 would be safer - will give you better control/handling & braking. Drive safely & steadily.

Your posts above have been edited to change the font & its size, for better readability.

Kabir,

Good one.... I reached Udaipur from Ahmedabad within three hours time just because of great work done by NHAI..

Technically, Night condition is really help engine to work better way and as per the Indian road condition, you should not even cross 120 because, you never knew someone will come in between you and your Grand Prix ride.

So I should use Verdana? And size 9? Or 10?

I understand yours and Pankaj’s concern, but at time you are tempted to go for it, like, when you see hot chocolate Brownie you forget that you need to lose weight and you gulp it down quickly.

But I shall be more careful and remain in the two digits speed, and not three digits.

Going steady at 80 or less is very good for FE on  highway, as at higher speeds one is only pushing against a wall of air. Keeping below 80 will help FE, engine longevity (not so much taxing  on it), will improve reaction to traffic transients, allow the driver to relax and conserve his stamina, enjoy the countryside view, make observations on the way, so many advantages to count.

But I agree, experiencing a thrill like Kabir's is also worth it, maybe once for the heck of it, and then to cherish the memory of it... (People cherish the memory of a multiple offender on this front )

Nice posts Kabir, and good to know your car has a fairly tall top gear, allowing you to cruise at relatively low engine speeds. Good for FE as well as engine!

Yes - Verdana 9.

And to add to Krishna's post... Mileage is best achieved at 70 kmsph but it is not practically feasible to drive that slow on highway.  In my opinion/experience, 80/85 is good enough speed to travel as well as achieve a good mileage. Mileage drops faster beyond 85/90.

Besides, we can cover almost 70 kms per hour even without exceeding speed 90 - with steady & constant driving.  And that average coverage (distance) is very good by any normal standards.