The true meaning of independence for car enthusiasts is getting out and driving our prized possessions. So, that’s exactly what we did, courtesy of CNC Bombay and Audi Mumbai West, we went from Audi Mumbai West and tour South Mumbai via Bandra-Worli Sea Link and the newly built Coastal Road. Join me, as a relative noob around all the whips.
As discussed earlier, our drive started at Audi Mumbai West in Andheri West. Whilst the whole TDH gang was commuting from Pune, I was able to get to the showroom thanks to the Metro within 15 minutes. After playing the National Anthem, we quickly discussed the route and jumped into our cars. Our fleet included Bhavneet’s Project A4 3.0 TDI, Soham’s Octavia 1.8 and a B9.5 Audi S5!
The drive began with a lot of exhaust noise from the BMW M340i, Mercedes SL500, Audi RS4, Audi RS5 and the like. A speedy drive through the western suburb of Andheri got us to the CD Barfiwala connector and later the Gokhale Bridge which was a joy to ride on after a wait of nearly 7 years! We got onto the Western Express Highway and the camera crew guys got to filming flybys of the various beasts on the way. The craziest sounds were of the SL500’s V8 and the BMW M340i who were going at legal speeds but with drama. But, to capture the right sounds and shots at the right time required talented maneuvers thanks to Bhavneet.
The highest speed we caught for the first time was on the Bandra Worli Sea Link where the tarmac allowed for high speeds (within the permissible limit) and the Mumbai Skyline for some epic flybys! We were able to reunite with the Audi S5 which Soham drove. The Audi A4 3.0 TDI was going like a smooth operator and we didn’t feel the tarmac for even a second!
On the Sea Face Road, we were greeted by multiple car spotters which tempted some of the group to rev their engines and give them a proper show. On our way to the coastal road, we spotted the G87 BMW M2, Mclaren 750S Spider as well as a Porsche Carrera S. Safe to say, we had a warm welcome into South Mumbai. As we headed for the coastal road, we were confused by the Audi Q8 E Tron Camera vehicle as it headed for Sea Link rather than taking a left onto the Coastal Road.
This was the moment we realized that the Audi E Tron GT was the lead car which had seemingly disappeared! Some disappointment later, we decided to head for Sofitel BKC which was a blessing in disguise as we were able to witness the Mclaren 750S Spider and Porsche 911 stretch its legs! As we reached the venue for brunch, we asked around whether the cars were headed for the coastal road or not. We were told that a few cars did go for the coastal tarmac including the tunnel but we couldn’t join them as there was a bit of confusion about who was following who. Not to mention, there was an odd combination of a BMW M5 (Dhaval’s One True Love) with BBS wheels and probably 900hp, an XUV 500 and a Maserati GranTurismo!
Thankfully, after the brunch, we all decided to do the coastal road and the weather turned from gloomy to sunny too! As we headed from the underground parking at BKC, we were able to get a glimpse of the lesser spotted Mercedes E53 Convertible, X3 M40i, Mustang GT, as well as our usual German beasts as we all revved to head for the coastal road! I was able to be at the back of the Audi S5 and immediately noticed the insane support the seats offered! I was particularly impressed by how the rear cup holders opened and closed. Yes, that is how weird I am.
As we headed for the coastal road, the tarmac was good but early on we noticed a lot of dust, for some reason. Getting all of the Twin Turbo V8 Noises of the Lamborghini Urus, Coyote of the Mustang GT, and the CLA45 AMG with a raspy Inline 4-cylinder, was a one-of-a-kind experience. The scale at which the coastal road was built was exceptional, even for a public transport-centric person like myself!
The drive ended at the Cumballa Hill Petrol Station where we returned the Audi S5 and were back to our crew of the A4 and Octavia! This was the point where the “gang” separated for their adventures which included a failed filming of the CLA 45 AMG and Bhavneet heading to Pune in a Husqvarna Svartpilen 401! More on that in the coming days. It is safe to assume that this drive will always be remembered for the sheer size at which it happened. On my way back home, I reflected upon how good the drive was and as a young enthusiast, I am very thankful to the “gang” for their invite!
