Wheels, wheels and more
wheels
The Net is a great
place not just for buying and selling vehicles, but also for
keeping abreast with news of the latest mean machines. Here are
some sites to help you along
DriveIndia
This site from Tata
Interactive Systems has a lively look with Herbie-like cartoons
of cars in various moods. The section on new cars compares specs,
details accessories, tells you the prices and provides you with
names and addresses of dealers. Those interested in second-hand
vehicles can do their buying and selling through this site and
get a load of handy tips in going about this delicate activity.
Here you can also get info on and service for financing a
purchase and insuring your prized possession. Other sections
include online car rentals, classifieds, vintage cars and a round-up
of sports and rallies. Then, there are maps of Indian states and
cities to help you navigate your way to your destination.
Bikenet-Racing
This is a bike magazine
exclusive to the Net. The publishers see Bikenet “as a sort
of community for motorcyclists everywhere.” The site
provides the latest news, views, reviews and other bits and
pieces of info from the biking world. The product test section
here covers not only the latest bikes but also other useful
gizmos like, for example, the radar and laser detector which, if
you’re speeding along the highway, tells you when to slow
down because you’re nearing a police speed detector. The
site covers biking events worldwide and gives the latest results.
Also available here is breaking news about the latest bike being
launched and to be launched — whether it’s the Dukati
996, Honda Fireblade, or the Triumph TT600. You can also buy a
bike from here. If nothing else, just download a snazzy
screensaver or wallpaper and drool over the mean machine on your
desktop.
Cybersteering
The Cybersteering site covers
both cars and bikes. It sets out to be a complete guide to Indian
vehicles with detailed information on car models, features,
prices, dealer points, finance options, industry news, car
statistics and trivia. Rather than being a buying and selling
portal, the site focusses on informing and entertaining. Thus, on
one hand you have news about the automotive industry, about new
trends and models in car and bike design, test reports and auto-expert
Murad Ali Baig’s weekly overview on everything to do with
motoring in India. On the other hand, you can check out some cars
made famous in movies like James Bond’s Aston Martin and
Herbie the lovable bug; or you can take your vehicle on one of
the weekend escapades recommended at the site, read about
motoring trivia and bring yourself up-to-date on the history of
wheels.
Indiabikes
The India Bikes, or India and
the Art of Motorcycle Touring, site was started by bike freak
Anindya Chakravorty (Andy) who “has a passion for bikes and
anything on wheels.” From his adventures on his two-wheeler
described here, one is certainly inclined to believe him. The
emphasis in the site is on the user and vehicle, so you have
sections like adventure and sports (where readers share their
riding experiences), info pool (giving news about new and vintage
bikes), bike women and something called ‘Biker Upanishad,’
which links physical travel with the travel of the soul. Bringing
you down to earth is a ticker tape which gives you the latest
news on the bike industry. If you want to buy, sell or just hire
a bike, you can just post an item in the classified section here.
And if you have biking queries, just ask and get enlightened.
Indiacar
This is another site which
features both four- and two-wheelers. Indiacar offers a whole
gamut of auto services like buying and selling new or used
vehicles, finance, insurance, car-cleaning services, RTO services
(now that’s really necessary) and a preventive maintenance
planner (PMP). PMP particularly caught our interest because it
helps you maintain your vehicle online, as it were. By signing up
here, you will be reminded when your next service is due, and get
information like what you should be checking up on your next
service, which are the service centres where you could get your
vehicle serviced, and lots more. You will receive a service
schedule which will give you a detailed break-up of the jobs
pending on your vehicle. And yes, by signing up you stand to win
a Volkswagen Beetle.
Automart India
Here’s a site focussed exclusively on used cars (with an
inventory of over 6,000 cars from all over the country) offering
all the usual services like buying and selling, insurance, RTO
registration and finance. The USP of the site, however, is its
certification programme. Certification is performed using a
rigorous 118-point check by qualified mechanics at your doorstep.
They promise a very high-quality, unbiased report on your vehicle
for you, by giving a rated importance to every checkpoint while
calculating the final score. The service is available only for
Indian cars manufactured after 1987 and registered at Mumbai and
Thane. While the first certification is free, recertification can
be done for Rs 200.
Contact: Manuel Fernandes
HOME
Updated 31/May/2000