Street Smart
High-powered women drive their high-powered machines with the same passion and zeal that drives their lives. Here, they speak of what their cars mean to them

RINA DHAKA, Fashion Designer
I drive a Mitsubishi Lancer and a Mahindra Scorpio. I like driving myself. I am a Buddhist and I enjoy chanting while I drive and I would be self-conscious if there was a driver around. I like to be alone in the car. I enjoy my space and privacy.

I think I am a good driver. I have good road manners.

Both my cars don’t have any special appeal for me, though I like driving them. I like driving but I am not one of those car fanatics. I like basic cars, something with a good engine and good air-conditioning is enough for me. In fact, I hate super-luxury cars. I like basic colours like blacks (my Lancer) and greys (the Scorpio).

In general I hate driving behind female drivers. Three dangerous drivers on the road are old men, the driver of the average private car who is usually illiterate and without any road sense (people with bigger expensive cars usually leave it only in the hands of a very good driver) and the housewife! She is talking on the phone, just got a hairdo and doesn’t know where she’s going. She tends to be aggressive.

I think some women make bad drivers because they do not have enough experience and because they haven’t been taught by any professional on road ethics.

AMBIKA PILLAI, Make-up And Hair Guru
I love driving. I do prefer being driven at times because it can get stressful with a lot of work. But mostly, I drive myself. In fact, I’m really critical about the way anyone else drives! I drive an Opel Astra and a Ford Ikon. Of the two, the Opel is the favourite because it is such a solid car.

The Opel is not a great looking car but it’s the strength factor that counts and that’s the special appeal this car holds for me. It’s a German car and like all things German, it’s sturdy with lots of metal around it and powerful. I like powerful cars.

The most important thing that appeals to me in a car is comfort and performance. I also fall for those little things thrown in like chilling compartment, CD changers, etc. My Opel has all those frills like power windows, a chilling compartment in the dashboard, which by the way, I have used only once!

I have been driving for 20 years now and rate myself to be good and people can go out with me safely. In general, I think it’s the go-getters among women who make good drivers.

I think when most women are starting out they’re really scared to accelerate, gain control of the car and thus take a longer time to learn than most men. Why? I think it’s in our disposition. But fortunately not all of us are like that!

DEEPIKA MEHRA, Owner, Ashley Shoes
I am not a car person. I enjoy driving a Maruti Esteem for the simple reason that it is the only car I know well! I am in fact not even interested in getting to know or try out other cars. When we go out with the kids we use the Toyota Qualis.

It’s a great vehicle in terms of space and comfort, but I feel it’s too big for me to manoeuvre. So I do not like driving it, though comfort-wise I would choose it above others.

I wouldn’t say that I am a great driver. In fact, I hate looking for a place to park; I hate the traffic... you could say I drive well enough to get my work done. I prefer being driven because of all this. I do think there is a prejudice against women driving, like in everything else. I don’t believe that all women are bad drivers. There are an equal number of men who are bad behind a wheel!

Kalyani Chawla