My friend was thanking his luck for having struck a lucky bargain for he had heard of all those stories of disappointment and ordeal with used cars in India. For number of days he extolled the virtues of both the car and the dealer.

He went silent for a few days. I thought he was too happy driving away his new possession before he called up. He said he was calling from a garage which was looking for a spare that was elusive. I came to know his car was down and parked in the garage since the day he spoke to me last for want of a spare part which the new models of the car do not use.

My friend wanted me to join him for his search for the spare as the garage guys had given on their search.

Together we went to big and small, all shops wherever we were led; made umpteen numbers of phone calls to the chagrin of our parents who were clenching their teeth as if we got them into the mess and we ourselves had no concern. The wrath of the near and dear ones and the added desperation and the feeling of being cheated on the machine were enough to drive us crazy.

Used cars for sale, a sign board on any shop, would have us break into expletives. I recalled there was this internet site where one could buy cheap used cars online ? we now knew that was another fraud. We were sure that one could throw his money into a fuel tank and show it a lighter but buy a used Indian car.

That was a second hand car scenario a few years back. No longer could you get ?cheated? as now we are blessed with companies who would certify and stand guarantee with promise of about three free services for a year on a used car.

We could have waited for this day to buy a used car we thought.