The Corolla Mistake 🚗
I didn’t want to overspend. I set a maximum budget of 5.5 lakhs.
No EMI stress.
No luxury fantasy.
Just something reliable.
I started searching everywhere:
- OLX
- Spinny
- Cars24
- Local contacts
- Reddit threads
- Facebook groups
After too many discussions and rabbit holes, I decided on three filters:
Safety.
Reliability.
Sedan.
I already had a hatchback (our Etios) at home. If I’m buying something, I want something different.
That narrowed it down to very few options:
- Honda City
- Honda Amaze
- Hyundai Verna
- Toyota Corolla Altis
And secretly… I loved the Corolla Altis. because it's from Toyota!
The Delhi Wave 🌊
At that time, Delhi-used cars were everywhere. If you're from Kerala, you've seen the reels. "Kili kunju vandi." Low price. Good condition. Tempting thumbnails.
I started discussing everything with my brother. He connected me with a friend who deals in Delhi car buying and selling. From then on, deals started coming in.
Photos.
Videos.
Price breakdowns.
But the same time, I was confused every single day.
Should I buy?
Should I wait?
Is this too risky?
What about registration issues?
What about hidden damage?
It was on and off.
Then one evening, while I was traveling with friends for an engagement - the dealer sent a photo.
A white Corolla Altis. Good condition. Fair price.
But there was a catch.
Urgency..
"Confirm within a few hours or it's gone.".
I remember sitting in the backseat, refreshing WhatsApp, heart racing slightly. I called my brother. We spoke fast. No time to think deeply. And then I did what I now recognize as a textbook mistake.
I sent the token amount.
Looking back, the pressure was classic sales psychology. But in that moment? I wanted it to be real. After that, things moved fast. ₹5.3 lakhs transferred. Transport. NOC. Everything included.
Now all I could do was wait.
The Arrival 📦
Days passed.
Then the message came:
"Car has reached Bangalore."
I went to the transport yard with a friend. And there it was. My first sedan.
A Corolla.
A Toyota.
It should have been a movie scene.
But it wasn't. The car sat there - covered in dust, tyres half-flat, sun beating down on it like it had been forgotten.
The dealer called and reminded me:
"Battery is weak. You'll need to change it."
I sat inside anyway.
Turned the key.
Nothing.
Dead.
We pushed the car. Got it running somehow. Drove to a fuel pump. Filled diesel. Turned off the engine. Tried to start again. Dead. Again..
That was the moment the dream cracked open.
The Night Drive I Needed 🌙
We called a battery shop. Within minutes, they arrived. Replaced the battery.
The engine finally hummed.
And instead of going home like a sensible person, I called two more friends.
We took the car out for a late-night drive to our usual chai spot near Bangalore Airport. Sipped tea, grabbed a bite, and joked around. For a while, it felt like everything was fine, like maybe this was going to work out after all.
The Unraveling ⚠️
Over the next few days, I started noticing things. Small issues. Then bigger ones.
Things the dealer never mentioned - even though I had explicitly asked:
"Tell me everything. All patches. All pending work."
He only mentioned the battery. And now here I was, discovering problems one by one, feeling a slow creep of regret. I couldn't explode. The dealer was connected through brother.
So I stayed calm. Outwardly, at least. Inside? Doubt was building.
Then came the call.
There's an issue with the NOC. The car has to go back to Delhi.
I didn't argue. I handed the car over to the contact he gave.
Watched it leave. And just like that - the Corolla was gone.
Money stuck. Clarity gone. Confidence shaken.
Every question I had ignored now echoed louder:
- Was this ego?
- Was this impatience?
- Did I fall for pressure?
It felt like a complete failure.
And yet…
I didn't stop.
I should have.
But I didn't.