“Bro, go for one million.”
That’s what Arun Ghosh’s friend told him after his car odometer clocked 500,000 kilometres.
So he did.
The 38-year-old Niagara 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 his goal of covering one million kilometres in his vehicle — a 2014 Honda Accord.
On July 30, when he was about 100 kilometres from his goal, Ghosh set out with friends to reach seven digitals.
Their trip began near the Peace Bridge, at the U.S. border, which to Ghosh symbolizes the opportunity he’s found in Canada since moving to Welland, Ont., from Cherthala, 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.”
Ghosh is now appealing to Honda to provide a custom, seven-digital odometer 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. The Honda Accord with a V6 engine had 90,000 kilometres on it at the time.
Ghosh quickly started adding to that.
“All my passion is in only one thing,” which is driving, he said.
For example, when he goes to Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ont., he said he prefers to drive around rather than walk.
“That’s more pleasurable for me,” he said.
He’s also made a name for himself within the international student community, giving lifts 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 to reduce emissions from passenger cars and light trucks, as part of its larger emissions reduction plan.
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 kilometres per year.
Given he got his vehicle in late 2017, Ghosh is well above that, at an average of around 130,000 kilometres per 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 Diodati got in Ghosh’s car recently outside city hall.
In a video Diodati posted to social media, he revs the car’s engine. “It doesn’t sound like one million kilometres,” the mayor said.
Highest mileage local dealership has seen
Ghosh recently took the car to a Honda dealership in St. Catharines, Ont.
Dealership director Shamil Becharbhai told 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’s case is. 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.” Chiu said the feat was “worth celebrating.”
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 their vehicles often work just fine.
“Do your regular maintenance and at the end of the day your car will look after you,” he said.