For the very first chapter of Behind The Wheel – a newly introduced segment that explores the relationship between man and machine – we have Zeeshan Haris and his Beemer!
Carmagram: Tell us something about yourself, like how long you’ve been a resident of Dubai and what you do for a living?
Zeeshan: Hi! I am Zeeshan Haris – Shan to my friends and loved ones – and I’ve been in Dubai for the last 31 years. I hail from Kerala, India AKA ‘God’s own country’. For the last 13 years, I have been working for a popular airline, specializing in Product Development of their Logistics division.
Carmagram: Would you describe yourself as a motorhead?
Zeeshan: I wasn’t a motorhead…until I bought my current car. For me, a car was just something that took me from point A to B – a mode of commute. I didn’t realize, how much more it could be, if you have the right steering wheel to hold.
Carmagram: How many cars have you owned previously? Do name them, if any.
Zeeshan: My first car was a 2006 YM Mazda 3, which I kept till 2016; and over the course of last decade, I became rather attached to it. I have also been fortunate enough to drive several other cars, including the Nissan Altima, Ford Mustang, Honda Accord and Ford Edge.
Carmagram: What car do you own currently? What attracted you to buying the it?
Zeeshan: I currently drive a 2016 BMW 535i with the M Sport package. To be honest, BMW wasn’t my first choice. I read an article where they compared the BMW 4-Series against the Merc C-Class Coupe and the Audi A5. Following that review, I test drove the Audi followed by the BMW 4-Series; loved the BMW handling so much that I decided to take the 5-Series too for a spin and the rest was history.
Carmagram: What do you like and dislike most about the car? What is the fuel economy you achieve on average? Do you have any notes to share with potential Beemer buyers?
Zeeshan: What I liked the most, was not just the car’s poise and driveability, but the agency that handles BMW’s distribution. They were very patient with me and advised me on what model to choose based on my day-to-day demands. Even the after-sales service experience has been fantastic! The car as such is top of the range, in terms of options. So there isn’t much that I could complain about. The fuel efficiency has been brilliant; I hit some where between 9.8 to 10.5 l/100km. My advice to anyone considering a BMW, would be to test drive another car first and then a BMW to really feel the difference or as BMW would like to call it, “Sheer Driving Pleasure”.
Carmagram: If money wasn’t any issue, what car would you like to have parked in your garage? What is your dream car or mode of transportation?
Zeeshan: Nothing says Shan, like a bright red Porsche 911 Carrera GTS Cabriolet with a plush tan leather interior.
If you would like to be featured with your set of wheels on Behind The Wheel, write to us at georgek@carmagram.com
