Every time I take my car for servicing, it’s like stepping into the next episode of my very own sitcom. Trust me, I have plenty of episodes. I can’t help but wonder if it’s the sight of my lovely lady self behind the wheel that’s causing it! As the mechanic goes about to roll out the ‘necessary’ repairs, it makes me question whether I have been driving a broken car all the time. It scares me and amuses me all the same. Of course, he thinks I’ll be easily intimidated.. but what he doesn’t know is, I’ve got some experience up my sleeve, and it’s more than just a couple of oil changes!

See, I come from a family of engineers - every single one of them practically has “do-it-yourself” tattooed on their foreheads. Whether it's fixing a leaky pipe, a moody toaster, an old scooter, or an unwilling car, you name it, my family could engineer a solution faster than you can say “call someone? Let’s get a new one?” 

My dad was especially a pro at diagnosing car issues without even getting up from the couch. “I smell a coolant leakage,” he’d say, continuing to read the newspaper. I miss those days! Sigh… Now, though my sister isn’t an engineer, I think she too might have some of that quick-fix genius in her. So, I didn’t just stand there watching my personal engineers at work, I'd be a learner, a helper to the handymen and sometimes get hands-on too as they were performing magic tricks. They get so much joy from explaining their fixes, that my crushed hope of getting a brand new replacement fades in front of it. But as a proud Punekar, I’ve embraced the philosophy of “simple living, high thinking.”

My contraptions may be older than some of yours, but you know what? They still work like champs!

But why am I rambling about my family of DIY wizards? Let’s get to the good stuff! Last week, while I was waiting for my trusty ancient ride to emerge from the service pit, a sharply dressed young guy came right up to me. With enthusiasm, he asked if I’d be interested in their latest and greatest outrageously priced next-generation car. Intrigued, I wondered, “is my car a museum piece or is he creating a want?”

Then he asked me the million-dollar question: “Ma’am, what’s your dream mode of transport?” Now, hold up! Was this his conversation starter? Really??

I have been waiting for someone to ask me this question since my early teen years. The answer was easy. Without missing a beat I said, “The Transporter”. Beam me up, Scotty? You know, the one from Star Trek? Just think: one second you are in your living room, and the next you’re sipping coconut water on a beach in Goa. Get the coordinates, with molecular magic at its finest, you dematerialize and rematerialize. Boldly go where no man has gone before! OMG, my imagination was running wild! I was dreaming of transportation that was light-years ahead. But, I mean, who wouldn’t want a vehicle that could beam you anywhere in the universe!? Yes, The Transporter was always my dream vehicle!

He looked at me like I’d just spoken Martian. So, I simply told him, “You might want to watch Star Trek!”

“But hang on,” I said. “The next best thing on Earth is definitely a Tesla.”

Now, that’s a car to drool over! I’m crazy about it. It’s like a superhero - packed with innovation and cutting-edge tech. Absolute masterpiece! And the future of transportation. 

The first time I laid eyes on a Tesla - I thought, “Wow! What a car!! It’s stunning - super aerodynamic, so smooth, so sleek and futuristic. It’s Premium. When you sit in lovely contraption, its cool minimalistic design hits you! And, the driving is heavenly. 

Have you ever imagined sitting in a car that drives itself? I’ve sat in one. - it’s FSD. All you have to do is buckle up, get a good grip on the wheel and be attentive. Use the large touchscreen and get on autopilot. The over-the-air updates will guide you and navigate for you.. how supercool is that! Feel the power of AWL- incredibly instant torque power catches speed from a standstill.. changes lanes, steers, parks, auto adjusts speeds to the road limits and overtakers, stops and starts at signals, obeys speed limits, valet parks and has fun-tricks too! The Tesla Light Show: you play a song and the car's headlights, tail lights, turn signals, mirrors, windows, and even the charge port get in the sweet choreographed dance moves. I’m singing the car's praises... but soon enough, it feels like you have a best friend!

It’s not just an ordinary EV with a supercharger network for a greener future. It’s a whole brand. TESLA. And I’m completely on board!

In the end, all he said was “when I go to Mumbai this weekend, I'll definitely take a Tesla for a spin.” My parting words? “Unless you are doing some remote travelling or performing in extreme conditions, you don’t really need bulky, gas-guzzling big creatures, right? No envy here!

To this day, I’m unaware of the car brand he was pitching to me!

Now, here’s some food for thought, dear readers. We’re living in the age of self-driving cars like Waymo and robot taxis. Do you think the number of cars on the road will shrink in the future? I mean, if families stagger their schedules, one car could easily be the family’s trusty steed, picking everyone up and dropping them off like a finely tuned machine.

Sounds like a winning strategy, right?