My DREAM Car

For the past couple of months I am considering the option of buying my first car. As is true for all first things in life, the first car too has a special significance – It starts occupying your mind and thoughts to an extent that you start dreaming and believing in those dreams. 

Well there are many peripheral things associated with the first car, like your first four-wheeler license (a very painful process you have to go through), the first car loan (you cannot afford to buy a car on your own income and the banks will ensure that you cannot buy another car after taking the first loan) and off course deciding upon the model and brand.

The good old days, when Indian middle class aimed for nothing but a “Maruti” is over, today there are so many options that confusion is a small word to describe the sense of loss you are into when you start comparing models. Still the trust of average middle class Indian (like me) is very much on Maruti, so I decided to go ahead with an affordable model from Maruti’s stable – may be an “Alto” or “Wagon R” (Believe me, for someone working with Infy this in itself is an epitome of luxury). With every piece falling into place, the next logical move was to get the feel of my DREAM car and understand the nuances of financial implication.

So one day I decided to step into a showroom and asked my flat mate to come along with me. We reached the nearest Maruti showroom. We got down from the bike and entered the glittering glass structure. The latest models were parked behind the glass screen – including my small dream car. A lady sales executive approached us and very politely asked “May I help you” (offcourse with a beautiful smile). We were asked to sit around a glass-top table, and were given a single page form to fill. I resisted, saying we are here to just get an idea, but then this was not a vegetable shop and may be this is the way you shop for cars, so I filled the form.

After about 5 minutes another sales person came to us, this time it was a male. I was surprised, as to why the lady went away; I didn’t said anything to her, or maybe she was the bait to pull in the moolah! Whatever, the sales man greeted us and asked which car we are looking forward to – and the answer was pretty simple for me to give – Alto. He looked at my face and said, “Sir, you are working for Infosys and you want to buy Alto! Why don’t you look at our latest models – swift and dZire”. Even before I could say that its out of my budget, the sales man continued in his sprint, “Anyways you are getting a handsome salary hike in April, believe me your annual hike will be enough to buy this car”. I was shocked, until now the salary hike news reached us through newspapers, now the salesman also know these details before me! And how can a peanut salary hike be enough to buy Swift? My god! What impression do people carry about Infoscions – as if in Infy everyone has 1000 shares from 1994 IPO???

Then, the salesman took us to the standing Swift and dZire models and started explaining the details (He was convinced that I am going to move up the ladder and buy this upper segment model). I touched the beauty, went inside and took the driver’s seat and was feeling great. From that moment onwards I started the calculation for the incremental amount I need to pay to own this beautiful lady. Just then, the salesman asked me if I would like to take a test drive. I wish I could vroom out of the showroom, smashing the glass window like Tom Cruise does in his movies, but then I was jolted by the fact that I still have not started my learning classes. So I said “No”.

The common man within me put a tight slap on my face and said – be in your limits. So, I asked the salesman if he can explain me the details of an Alto, to which he replied “Yes Sir, sure… actually Alto is a stripped down version of Swift”. The salesman further added that last week he has delivered 23 Swift to Infoscions from his showroom. Hmmm… that’s the reason why Infy is building 2 additional floors for parking cars. But I am sure either all these 23 people would have been those with CRR 1+ and expecting a double digit salary hike or must have got married and Swift was part of the marriage package. Unfortunately, I do not fall in any of these categories; I am a common man working for Infy.

I replied to the common man within me, that if others can afford, I too can. I just need to cut corners here and there – I was speaking to myself. This was a brief phase when I was going through a feeling of confusion, hurt, surprise and loss.

I was hurt at “Alto” being called as “The stripped down version of Swift”, confused at the options available in front of me – a common man, surprised at how other fellow Infoscions can afford such cars and lost at the financial implications if I don’t control my instinctive buying vein. Then I told my both-self that I am here to get an idea and not to buy, so its better if I get details of all the models on display.

After spending about, 45 minutes at understanding the various models – Swift and dZire taking the lion’s share – we sat down on the table. The salesman got two glass of coke for us (probably Infoscions get this minimal treatment) and started explaining the financing plans. With all sorts of numbers flying around me, I asked a simple question – can you tell me the monthly EMI I need to pay if I buy an Alto, Swift or dZire (here I am asking for Swift and dZire – meaning I had fallen in the trap).

My friend knew my financial health, so he elbowed me gently to come to reality. At this moment I heard a doorbell. This was a familiar sound, but how can doorbell ring in a car showroom. I heard the same doorbell sound again. I opened my eyes and saw it was 7:15 AM in my watch and the maid was ringing the doorbell. I was dreaming about my DREAM car.

Later in the day, I checked the bank statement and my last pay slip. I cannot even afford the down payment for an Alto and was dreaming of dZire! Dreams are dream after all.