I bought my dream car this year in May on my 26th birthday.

The celebration might feel a bit early for my age but i have been working & investing since i was 19. Made my money in software business and invested it into nfts, crypto, private equity and any other wave i could ride. Finally i am able to make the move on this vehicle without being uncomfortable financially. So could not miss this opportunity.

Now i am here to collect some tips on how i could maximise my experience with this vehicle via visual & performance upgrades. Any & all suggestions are welcome.

On a side note, i have had this for about 50 days now. Took a few road trips. Installed the BMW Aero BodyKit. Made some minor & major damages. Will share more in a second post.

Took delivery of this beauty yesterday. It’s the VW Tayron R-Line!
Had the chance to take it to Lonavala and back for a quick drive.
Such a beautiful machine, kickass engine, mad comfy seats with massagers, the infotainment felt top notch and extremely intuitive too.
Might post a longer term review on this car in a few months. After much debate between the Tayron, Fortuner, Kodiaq, Hycross, Meridian and GLA, I’m absolutely happy to have made this choice.
Looking forward to the many road trips to come!

[OC]

A dear friend and his obsession with yellow

Beast of a V12. You can really feel those 6.5 Litres.

Also, it’s a very new model and deliveries only started last month so I’m one of the first in India. Not the first but 5th or 6th I believe to get mine!

A million dollar vehicle it really is, thanks in part to Indian Tax!!!!!

Took delivery of my Hyundai Verna Turbo DCT today, and the excitement is unreal! The punchy turbo engine combined with the lightning-fast dual-clutch gearbox makes every drive feel special. The car’s sleek design, premium interiors, and features like ventilated seats and a superb sound system add to the experience. Can’t wait to take it on long drives and enjoy every twist and turn on the road.

[OC]

Never thought I’d say this, but here we are.

Like most enthusiasts, I went into this search convinced the Virtus GT or Slavia 1.5 TSI would be the obvious choice. I test drove both, loved how they drove, and genuinely understood all the hype.

Then I came across this 2023 Verna 1.5 Turbo DCT SX(O).
The more I looked at it, the more the overall package just made sense.

For ₹14 lakh, I got:

● 26,000 km, single owner
● Full Hyundai service history
● Extended warranty till 2030
● Shield of Trust
● Full-body PPF
● Bose sound system
● Every feature I wanted

At some point, I stopped comparing cars on YouTube and started comparing what I was actually getting for my money.

A few drives later, I have zero regrets. The turbo pulls hard, the DCT is smooth, it’s packed with features, and the Fiery Red has really grown on me.

Maybe the Verna isn’t the internet’s default enthusiast pick—but as an overall package, I genuinely think it’s one of the smartest buys in the segment.

Curious to hear from people who’ve owned any of the three.
If you had ₹14–15 lakh to spend on a used sedan today, would you still pick the Virtus/Slavia, or would this Verna package tempt you too?

Sold my V90 Cross country, hands down the most practical, most used and best car in my garage. It served my family really well. I bought it new in Feb 2020, over the span of 6.5 years, it did 88,000 kms. No major expense on reliability issues, no accidents.. A true tension free experience. It was a really loved member of the family.. however, as is the way with the world, old things need to make way for new things. Wishing the new owner many happy miles in the car! Really wishing mercedes launches the new E class allterrain.. id buy it in a heartbeat. Onward and upward to better and better cars

I was recently reflecting on another post ( <a href=https://www.reddit.com/r/indianbikes/s/TLDmSccVUT> here </a> ) on my journey with the bikes I've owned. This post is about my life spent around cars.

Each car marked a phase—career changes, family milestones, shifting priorities, and evolving tastes. Here’s my car journey so far:

1. January 2004 — Used Maruti Zen (1998) This is where it all started. I learnt driving on this car, and it taught me more than just steering and clutch control. It was already 6 years old, so maintenance became part of ownership:
2. Changed clutch plates
3. Brake pads
4. Carburettor leaking petrol
5. Engine decarbonisation
6. Countless small fixes

Despite all that, I grew attached to it. I kept it till October 2004 and sold it in better condition than I bought it in. That itself felt like a win.

1. November 2004 — New Maruti Zen VXi (Silky Silver) After using the old Zen, my heart didn't agree for any other model. My first brand-new car. That new-car smell, zero rattles, zero anxiety. What I loved:
2. The MPFI engine — smooth, peppy, eager
3. Compact, light, and fun to drive

Did several joy rides to Lonavala and Pune–Mumbai–Pune work trips on the expressway. The Zen handled it effortlessly.

Sold it in February 2011 with ~65,000 km on the odometer. One of the most stress-free ownership experiences ever.

1. October 2008 — Fiat Palio SDX (Diesel) My first diesel car. The good:
2. Tank-like build quality
3. Bonnet weighed a ton, doors shut with a thud
4. The 1.3 Multijet was a hoot once the turbo spooled

The bad (and there was plenty): - Speedometer stopped working - Rear suspension broke - Hydraulic clutch failed

I’m still unsure if it was just my car or a Palio thing in general. Sadly, this turned out to be the worst car I’ve owned despite having so much character. Sold it in November 2012.

1. January 2011 — Hyundai i20 Asta CRDi This car felt modern. Why it stood out:
2. Smooth, refined diesel
3. Spacious and extremely comfortable
4. 6 airbags, ABS+EBD, climate control — big deal back then
5. Probably got the best variant - all four disc brakes and a 6-speed gearbox. Hyundai later cut this down to only front disc brakes and a 5-speed gear box.

This car probably did 150+ Mumbai–Pune–Mumbai runs. It racked up miles effortlessly. Sold it in August 2015 with 80,000+ km. A brilliant all-rounder.

1. September 2012 — VW Polo 1.2P (Trendline) Since the Palio was a bag of trouble, we need a new car that wouldn't keep breaking.

VW was offering the Trendline variant with: - Heavy discounts - Free insurance - Audio system included

I upgraded the look with custom alloys and Yokohama low-profile tyres, seen in the picture at the top.

Loved: - German engineering - Solid build - No-nonsense design

Hated: - Maintenance bills — ₹15,000+ for routine service in 2013 - Rising petrol costs

Sold it in August 2016 with only 35,000 km. Heart wanted to keep it, wallet disagreed.

1. August 2013 — Hyundai i10 Aka “wife’s car.” Didn’t drive it much myself, but:
2. Very fuel-efficient
3. Low service costs
4. Hassle-free ownership

We were the perfect Hyundai family — i10 and i20 parked side by side 🙂 Sold it in January 2017 when my wife upgraded.

1. September 2015 — Hyundai Verna SX Petrol My first sedan and first 100+ bhp car. What I loved:
2. Bluetooth handsfree felt futuristic
3. 6 airbags
4. The big car respect
5. Chauffeurs opening doors
6. Fuel attendants extra attentive

And that boot! On a Mahabaleshwar trip, it swallowed: - Luggage of 4 adults - 2 kids’ bags - An entire baby stroller

Sold it in August 2022 after electrical issues (rat bite) and long lockdown inactivity.

1. September 2016 — Tata Nano XTA A total wildcard. With the Polo's rising maintenance bills and its low slung height, which was causing ingress issues for elders in the family, the Nano came across a good choice:
2. Tall-boy design (easy ingress for elders)
3. Automatic gearbox
4. Great fuel efficiency, perfect for short city runs

Reality check: - Noisy engine. Sounded like a diesel rickshaw - Zero road respect (rickshaw treatment) - Very light build and nothing in the front— the car would provide Zero protection to the occupants in a frontal crash. - Tata's after sales and service was pathetic. The less I talk about it the better.

Sold it in August 2019 when a new car was coming home!

1. April 2017 — Maruti Baleno Alpha Petrol Wife’s upgrade. It was a delight to see how big hatchbacks could get!

The Baleno: - almost as big as a second gen Honda City (dolphin shape) - amount of electronics Maruti managed to squeeze in to it was incredible. Suddenly, my Verna was looking lackluster. - smooth engine and incredible fuel efficiency even in petrol, the Baleno became the go-to car. - However, Maruti being Maruti, the difference in the build quality was glaring, especially when compared to the Polo.

The Baleno served us till April 2023, when the wife was getting a new car.

1. September 2019 — Ford Ecosport Titanium S TDCi My first soft-roader and favorite car of all time. When someone tells you the car handles so well, they mean a VW, Skoda or a Ford. Steering feedback and precise handling take on a new meaning when you have driven a Ford.

The Ecosport was on my shortlist even while buying the Verna in 2015 and it lost out only on the bootspace front.

Loved:
- the looks - supreme build quality - ground clearance - fuel efficiency, 1000+ km range on a full tank - Cruise control + LIM feature very helpful in following posted speed limits and avoiding fines!

Took it on a 7-day family trip (4 adults, 1 child, all our bags) covering and stopping at various places on the Konkan coast and touching Goa.

This car stands proud in my garage, waiting for me to start her up and munch hundreds of kilometres in a day. While the i20 was close, this is my favorite of all the cars I've owned.

1. May 2023 — Kia Sonet HTX Diesel AT Wife wanted an automatic this time. Why this variant:
2. Diesel + torque converter
3. No gimmicky connected-car features

Impressions: - TC gearbox is smooth and quick - Effortless cruising at highway speeds - Drive modes genuinely affect throttle response - Steering is light (Hyundai/Kia trait), but handling can’t match the Ecosport - Fuel efficiency: Decent in city, 18+ kmpl on highways

A practical, comfortable daily driver.

What owning these cars has taught me: - Every car fits a phase of life, not just a budget - Reliability matters more than character after a point - Build quality and safety are non-negotiable as you grow older - Service experience can make or break ownership - Spec sheets don’t tell you how a car will make you feel

The “best car” is the one that suits your needs at that moment. Above all, cars aren’t just machines—they quietly become part of your life story.

Have a question about ownership of any of these cars?

Thanks for reading.

Cheers!

First fill up of Power100! First SUV in the house after 9 whole years! The last one was the F15 X5 30d.

The car is a 3.0L Petrol Autobiography, exterior color is Santorini black, the interior color is Deep Garnet.. Classic black and Bordeaux combination.

From 2018 November until now, with an average of 1 accident per year, fuel efficiency ranging from 21kmpl to 14kmpl (thanks to YKW), and clocking over 80K kms; I wouldn’t love any other car like I do this one.

My first car with my own money, with the cabin space making sedans jealous; I’ve had all terrains, all weathers, and all ups and downs of life with this car.

Before Suzuki finally unveils the 3-cylinder abomination tomorrow, an eternal shoutout to the OG! ❤️

P.S. I still sometimes don’t hear the engine when running idle! 😊

[OC]

Update (5-Sep), post facelift launch: LOOK HOW THEY MASSACRED MY BOY! 🫠

Loooks sooo sooo cool in live

Two of them actually came to India in 2008

Who hurts Audi so hard, just look at this design

Spotted this while cycling and was wondering how many of these exist in India?
Also saw a Ferrari Purosangue and a Rolls Royce Cullinan on the same road!

[OC] Paint literally looks like it's liquid/just painted!! 😍

This is our 2009 Lancer , we own it since new. It looked fabulous and had a decent white interior ( first pic ) but developed minor imperfections over the course of 16 years.
So we decided to get a paint job and full interior overhaul cause why not make it new again. The process which we thought would take a month ended up taking more than half a year!
The power window scissors were basically dead , took almost a month just to find them , then paint itself was a long process as it was don ground up . Later , finding the alloys and then complete interior work from the floor mats to the roof liner including insulation and pioneer audio setup. Though all this was worth the wait. By the time we reached the final stages of this process , Supreme Court announced a temporary upliftment on the 15 year policy in NCR. We sent the car on a flatbed but came back driving it :)

It’s

Had lots of fun guys. TYVM for participating <3