Low Gear Mauritius — Ramen Varden’s 1993 Peugeot 205 Convertible
In Low Gear Mauritius, Alex will be featuring various cars and their owners, the unique benefits of each model, and just what makes each vehicle fresh or unique.
Today it’s all about Ramen Varden’s 1993 Peugeot 205 Convertible in a crisp sky blue shade.
As we cruise through the streets of Mauritius, Alex asks questions so we can all get to know Ramen a little better and exactly why he chose this car.
When it comes to this particular Peugeot, it was purchased mostly for its low maintenance cost and excellent fuel efficiency. What drew Ramen to it, though, is just how cool it looks!
However, this is a bit of a catch 22 for him, as since it’s such a bright-blue flashy shade, almost everyone knows that it’s him whenever he drives by and wherever it is parked, so there is no opportunity to be incognito if he wants or needs to be.
Not one to dwell on the negative though, some of Ramen’s best memories have been in this car.
Specifically, one of him going out clubbing at 4 am.
He had an issue with the clutch of his car; therefore, he was unable to switch gears.
With no one to call for assistance at such an early hour but always one to improvise, he had to pull the cable through his windshield, where he proceeded to drive and switch the gears manually with his hands and make the journey home safely.
His license plate number is 815, and the significance of this is that it represents ‘BIS’ or Bus.
Initially coming from an underprivileged background and neighborhood, he liked to help others when he could by giving them a ride and dropping them safely at their respective doorsteps.
He understood that not everyone could afford the luxury of owning a car, so he became an unofficial ‘Designated Driver’ and was glad to assist others when needed.
Also of significance is a fun fact that adds additional value to Ramen’s car. The designer of his particular model, the Peugeot 205, is also the same person who designed the first Enzo Ferrari.
A pretty cool feature, right?
Throughout this episode, Ramen also pays a visit to his family business Varden Power where some features of the shop are showcased.
We spoke to Director of the business, Tani Varden, who explained that it is a garage that specializes in changing and fixing tires and rims using sophisticated equipment, resulting in higher efficiency and better customer service experiences.
They offer a varied inventory of tires and rims which are on display in the showroom and have the valuable experience of Ganesh. He is a skilled worker originally from Nepal but has been living in Mauritius for six years now and whose job it is to mount and balance the tires at Varden Power.
Alex’s personal opinion of this 1993 Peugeot 205 Convertible is that it’s very well maintained for a car that’s more than 27 years old and that it can continue to drive and function for many more years if it’s consistently cared for in the way that it currently is.
Even though offers have been made, Ramen states that he will never sell his prized Peugeot, as there are just too many memories of it and also because of its sentimental value.
By Nadine A. Jack.
XTM; 2020.
