One Day @ TVS Dealer !!!

[6th July 2009]
I wanna share this incident with u guys. When I went to book my ride...

When I entered the TVS showroom, A guy named Manish welcomed me. I was in a very good mood, and I knew almost everything about Apache 180, thanx to xBhp owners of the bike. So i decided to behave like a newbie biker (who don't know anything about the bikes) and have some fun. Here's the short conversation between me and the sales guy (say Manish).

Me- (Indicating towards Orange Apache160-Fi) So this is the newly launched 180.
Manish- No sir, this bike has been launched few months ago, Its the Fi version of 160.
Me- Fi???
Manish- Sir that means Fuel Injection. No carb but more power and better fuel efficiency.
Me- (I was standing just next to the Black Apache 180) Whatever! Where is the 180? (while looking at the Grey Apache 160)
Manish- Sir, just next to u is Apache 180. (smiling)
Me- Oh, So this is the bike? It looks same as the 160. Whats new in it? (started to look at the TVS star city)
Manish- Sir this bike has tubeless tyres, it has 17.3BHP that gives more mileage (I couldn't stop my smile when he said that ) And Its length has been increased. It also has rear disc brake like the Fi.
Me- (indicating towards split grab rail) Is this broken???
Manish- (I can't explain the look of his face at that time) No sir, it is designed in this way. it is more convenient for the pillion.
Me- Oh I see. ( than exclaimed with joy looking excited) Wow, And it also has newly designed racing stripes too. Very nice..
Manish- (confused) huh? oh yes sir. same on the wheels too...


Manish didn't go with me for a test ride, he sent some one else named Suresh. He wasn't sure if he will be back in one piece with me. Ripped and enjoyed the 180 on the streets and roads with traffic,(no empty road or highway nearby) Suresh was scared a bit but when we reached the showroom he told me "Bhaiya, bike achhi chalate ho". I said thanx and booked the bike. Manish told me that White will take about 10-15 days but grey and black are available. I told him I can wait for that. And came back to my place with a "Menacing" smile on my face. More to come...

Stop @ Nothing but Live The Moment (Maruti Suzuki A-Star & Ritz)

Maruti has given us some of the coolest cars and ads also. For example, very first ad of Swift and the teaser too. And also the second ad of SX4 with the truck. But the ads of newly launched cars; A-Star and Ritz are useless. They describe nothing about the product.

In the ad of A-star, Farhan Akhtar is all over the car and the ad. The only thing we come to know about the car is its mileage. In the next scene Farhan is rocking with his band with the car next to him on the stage. Yes the car looks cute but the ad should have covered all the aspects about the car.

The ad of Ritz is even more weird than its name. In this ad you can see the car moving in the city for no reason, just roaming here and there. And camera is showing the car from all of the angles. In my personal opinion, this car looks futuristic, awesome, cool and out of this world from behind BUT its just opposite from the front. Its too bland and very simple or should I say Boring !!!

I've no question about the Maruti Suzuki products and I know they are the market leader (they deserve it) but they should've worked more on the ads. I think they are targetting youth to sell them both of these cars. A-Star and Ritz both appeal to the youth but the ads doesn't. Even Ritz is based on the Swift platform, so the ad should also inspired from the ad of Swift. Whereas, In the A-star ad ; the tag line of the car is Stop @ nothing but at the end of the ad, the car stops at the rock concert ;-)