Car India – August 2019

VERWONDEREDWHATTHE

IndiaIncbossesdemandfromtheir
cars,whattheydrive,andwhatdrives
them?Hereis a specialsegment
whereinwegetcandidwithsomeofthe
renownedbusinessleaders.
ThismonthwespeaktoKeki
MMistry,whohasspentnearlyfourdecadesatthe
Housing Development Finance Corporation (HDFC),
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has to say about his cars.

Car India (CI): We all know about your love for
automobiles. What does your car collection consist of?
Keki Mistry (KM):0\RIoFLDOFDULVD7R\RWD&DPU\WKDW
I have had for almost three years now. It’s a very good car
and has been working very well. I now have a driver but do
occasionally drive it myself. I also have an Innova which
is used more for getting stuff, going to the market, and for
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long wheelbase, which is about a year-and-a-half old. I use
the Mercedes occasionally and try to alternate between it
and the Camry.
Compared to my previous luxury car, the E-Class is
better and more comfortable. Also, being a long-wheelbase
version, the back seat is extremely comfortable.

CI::KLFKZDVWKHoUVWFDUWKDW\RXRZQHG"
KM:,JRWP\oUVWFDULQWKHODWHVDQ$PEDVVDGRU,
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useless car. I also had a Honda City after which I moved up
to the Toyota Corolla, followed by the Honda Accord. And
now it’s the Camry.

CI: From the current range of cars you own, which one is
your favourite?
KM: Both the Mercedes and the Camry. If I were driving,
I would prefer the Camry as you can use it more effectively
and if I was being driven, I would prefer the E-Class for its
sheer comfort.

E

KekiMMistry | Interview

In conversation with

Keki M Mistry, Vice Chairman

and CEO, Housing Development

Finance Corporation

Interviewed by: Ashish Bhatia

Photography: Mahesh Reddy

‘Cars are getting

better with each

passing year’

(Above)

Current cars

include a

Toyota Camry

and a

Mercedes-

Benz E-Class

(Below)

Mistry and

daughter,

Tinaz, share a

common

passion for

policy,

politics and

philanthropy

CI: Of all the cars you’ve owned, which would be the one you

enjoyed driving the most?

KM: When it comes to driving, the Corolla was probably

the best. I feel Japanese cars are very good, be it Honda City,

Toyota Corolla or Camry.

CI: What are the things that you look for while considering to

buy a car?

KM: The most important things for me are comfort and the

sitting posture. You should be able to stretch your legs when

being chauffeur-driven. And, obviously, the car should offer a

smooth and effortless drive.

CI: What was your most memorable drive and

which car was a part of that memory?

KM: I used to drive a lot from Mumbai to Pune

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and back then I used to do most of the driving in my Corolla.

CI: Cars nowadays are coming packed with

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your wish-list?

KM: Not really. I think the main thing is

direction and so the satellite navigation system

should be very good. Not to forget a good music

system. It should have the capacity to store several CDs and

songs and must have Bluetooth connectivity.

CI: You’ve had the luxury of being driven around and

you also drive yourself. Given the time, would you prefer

driving yourself?

KM: These days I am mostly driven around and that is what I

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very stressful.

CI:+RZKDYHFDUVHYROYHGIURPWKHODWHVWRQRZ"

Anything you wish hadn’t changed or are glad that it has?

KM: With every passing car that I bought, the performance

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comfortable and came with very useful technologies and

features. I would say with each passing year cars are getting

better and better.

http://www.carindia.in August 2019 CAR INDIA 117