For many people in Bengaluru, the daily office commute is not just about reaching work on time. It also means navigating crowded roads, squeezing through traffic and worrying about scratches or dents caused by other vehicles. One Bengaluru man, however, has found a way to make these everyday drives less stressful. His solution was not to buy a more expensive car or find a different route but to purchase a second-hand vehicle that he could drive without constantly worrying about its appearance.The man shared his experience on Reddit, explaining why spending Rs 3 lakh on an older car had turned out to be a worthwhile decision for him. His post has since sparked a conversation among motorists about whether an inexpensive car can make city driving more peaceful.
A Rs 3 lakh car to keep his newer sedan away from traffic
The man said his decision followed his company’s return-to-office mandate. Rather than taking his Skoda Slavia into Bengaluru’s congested traffic every day, he decided to buy a separate car specifically for his daily commute. He purchased a 2015 Maruti Suzuki Celerio from Cars24 last month for Rs 3 lakh. The vehicle already had faded paintwork and dents, but those imperfections were part of what made it suitable for his purpose. He wanted a car that could handle the demands of everyday driving without making every minor mark feel like a costly problem.Explaining his choice in his Reddit post, he wrote, “After the company mandated WFO, I refused to bring my new Slavia into this mess. Picked up a 2015 Celerio from Cars24 last month just to use as a sacrificial lamb for the daily commute. Paint is already faded, AC works fine, and I’ve dented it twice.” For him, the older hatchback was not about looking impressive on the road. It was about keeping his newer sedan away from the everyday wear and tear of a demanding commute.
An auto-rickshaw scratched his car, but he did not get angry
The real test of his decision came at a traffic signal on Bengaluru’s busy Silk Board junction. An auto-rickshaw scraped the front bumper of his used Celerio. The driver, according to the man, appeared worried that the incident would lead to an argument. But the car owner chose not to react angrily. Instead, he gave the driver a thumbs-up and continued on his way. “An auto-rickshaw scraped my front bumper today at Silk Board signal. The driver looked terrified, expecting a fight. I just gave him a thumbs up and drove off,” he wrote.The incident illustrated the main reason behind his purchase. A scratch on a car can be frustrating, especially when the vehicle is new and its owner wants to keep it in good condition. With an older car that already has visible signs of wear, however, the same incident may feel less upsetting. The man summed up his experience with a line that caught the attention of fellow motorists: “Best 3 lakhs I’ve ever spent. Highly recommend getting a trash-tier appliance car for office runs.”
Other motorists share their own experiences
The post prompted other Reddit users to share how they deal with scratches, dents and minor damage while driving in busy cities. Some agreed that keeping an older vehicle for daily travel could reduce the anxiety associated with taking a newer car onto congested roads. One user supported the idea, writing, “Honestly, this is the smartest way to deal with Bangalore traffic. Keep the Slavia for the good drives and let the Celerio take the daily beating.” Another commenter described driving a nine-year-old Audi without worrying too much about its appearance. The user said minor damage had become easier to accept over time and that the car was sometimes used to carry plants, a bicycle, farm produce and fertiliser.A third user shared an experience with a recently purchased Tata Nexon, explaining that minor bumper scratches and a dent had been left unrepaired because they were not serious. The commenter said additional scratches from city traffic no longer caused much concern. These responses show that the Bengaluru man’s experience reflects a familiar dilemma for car owners: balancing the desire to maintain a vehicle’s appearance with the practical realities of daily driving.
Is an older car the answer to daily traffic stress?
The man’s approach may not suit every commuter. Buying and maintaining a second vehicle comes with its own costs, including fuel, insurance, servicing and parking. An older car also needs to be checked carefully for mechanical condition and safety before purchase. Still, his story highlights a different way of thinking about daily travel. Instead of expecting a car to remain spotless in crowded traffic, he has chosen a vehicle whose existing wear and tear makes minor damage easier to accept.For this Bengaluru motorist, the Rs 3 lakh Celerio is more than a second-hand car. It is a way to separate the pleasure of owning a newer sedan from the practical demands of getting to work every day. And judging by the responses to his post, the idea has given other drivers something to think about.