Hamilton
Arun Ghosh said he’s reached a long-time goal of putting 1 million kilometres on his car. His only problem is that the odometer won’t go up that high.
Arun Ghosh said driving is his passion and he offers rides to people in his community
Justin Chandler · CBC News
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"Bro, go for onemillion."
That's what Arun Ghosh's friend told him after his car odometer clocked500,000 kilometres.
So he did.
The 38-year-oldNiagara Falls, Ont., man, who describes himself as being "really, really passionate about cars and driving," told CBC Hamilton it took years, but he finally achieved hisgoal of coveringone million kilometres in his vehicle — a 2014 Honda Accord.
On July 30, when he was about 100 kilometresfrom his goal, Ghosh set out with friends to reach seven digits.
Their trip began near the Peace Bridge, at the U.S. border,which to Ghosh symbolizes the opportunity he's found in Canada since movingto Welland, Ont., fromCherthala, India in 2017.
When Ghosh drove the millionth kilometre, things didn't go as he'd hoped.
"I expected to see one, triple zero, triple zero," he said.
But instead, the odometer froze at 999,999.
"I didn't know what to do."
Ghoshis now appealing to Honda to provide a custom, seven-digitodometer to not only log his achievement, but also keep up with the next million kilometres, which he hopes to do.
A local Honda dealership told CBC Hamilton they are looking into the possibility for him.
Driving is Ghosh's passion
When Ghosh came to Canada as an international student at Niagara College in 2017, he bought his "dream car," he said. TheHonda Accord with a V6 engine had90,000 kilometreson it at the time.
Ghoshquickly started adding to that.
"All my passion is in only one thing," which is driving, said Ghosh, who is also a father of a toddler and adirector withthe Niagara Tuskers cricket team.
As an example of his passion for driving, Ghosh said when he goes toNiagara-on-the-Lake, Ont., he prefers to drive around rather than walk.
"That's more pleasurable for me," he said.
While Ghoshwas a nurse in India and studiednursing at Niagara College, he currently works as a delivery and ride share driver and is hoping to get into the automobile industry, he said.
He's alsomade a name for himself within the international student community,givinglifts for the price of gas, which adds up because of the V6 engine.
When asked if he's ever thought about switching to a more efficient car to reduce costs and emissions, Ghosh said it's not something he's considered given how much he loves driving his current vehicle.
"It's like floating on the road," he said.
Canada is seeking toreduce emissions from passengercarsand light trucks, as part of its larger emissions reduction plan.
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Ghosh drives 6 times more than average Canadian
Carfax Canada, which produces vehicle history reports, says on its website that the average Canadian drives about 20,000 kilometresperyear.
Given he got his vehicle in late 2017, Ghosh is well above that, at an average of around 130,000 kilometresper year.
When it comes to upkeep, Ghosh said he follows a strict regimen, keeping to Honda parts, one brand of filters and another for gas and engine oil. The Accord has its original transmission, but a new engine, he said.
Niagara Falls, Ont., Mayor Jim Diodatigot in Ghosh's car recently outside city hall.
In a video Diodatiposted to social media, he revsthe car's engine, impressed. "It doesn't sound like onemillion kilometres," the mayor said.
Highest mileagelocal dealership has seen
Ghosh recently took the car to a Honda dealership in St. Catharines, Ont.
Dealership director Shamil Becharbhaitold CBC Hamilton his staff were in disbelief the car had been driven so far.
In his 20 years in the business, this is the highest mileage car he's ever seen, Becharbhai said. The second highest reading was 550,000 kilometres.
He said he's looking into how Ghosh's odometer can be upgraded.
It's unclear exactly how rare Ghosh'scaseis. Honda Canada spokesperson Ken Chiu told CBC Hamilton that the company does not keep a record.
"It's rare but it does happen," he said. "Not everyday or every week or every month, but it happens."Chiusaid the feat was "worth celebrating."
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Becharbhai said he thinks that people could learn something from Ghosh's experience. Most people replace their cars every five to seven years even though theirvehicles often work just fine.
"Do your regular maintenance and at the end of the day your car will look after you," he said.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Justin Chandler
Reporter
Justin Chandler is a CBC News reporter in Hamilton. He covers all sorts of stories but has a special interest in how public policy affects people. Justin covered current affairs in Hamilton and Niagara for TVO, and has worked on a variety of CBC teams and programs, including As It Happens, Day 6 and CBC Music. He co-hosted Radio Free Krypton on Met Radio. You can email story ideas to justin.chandler(at)cbc(dot)ca.
With files from Desmond Brown
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