[speedfreak77]

Well, well, well...

Where do I even begin? What words do I choose? Where should I start?

Pardon the informal start—this one’s a bit emotional. You see, we BHPians and really, any car enthusiast around the world, whether they own the most modest hatchback or a luxury performance machine, we all share something in common. We treat our cars as more than just machines. To many of us, they’re companions, personalities, even soulmates. This is a story of such a bond. The story of my love, my Innova Crysta 2.8Z. Or as I lovingly call her, Cristy.

Attachment 2759070

It all started back in 2019. You know how it goes in most Indian families with more than five people under one roof, there’s almost always a 7-seater parked proudly in the garage. My family was no different. Having owned all generations of the Innova (alongside a Fortuner or two), it was clear that we had a soft spot for these Toyotas.

So when the time came to part ways with my 2015 Innova facelift finished in a rather... polarizing shade of gold, I was heartbroken. The main reason? My family had moved entirely to automatics, and the manual Innova no longer fit into the lineup. But for me, that car was special. My favorite. I’ve always had a thing for the Innova, and those who’ve owned one will understand exactly why. Around the same time, I also sold my 2012 Fortuner 3.0 Automatic. That one had to go, thanks to its painfully outdated 4-speed automatic gearbox, it made the engine scream and refused to shift when you needed it most. A tough call, but the newer Fortuner was out, and I thought an upgrade made sense.

So there I was with a garage empty of both my beloved Toyotas. Sure, it still housed a Q5, an E-Class, an Elite i20, a Creta, and two Vernas (a 2015 Fluidic 4S and a 2019 model). But something felt missing. Impulsively, I decided the next car had to be a Toyota, no questions asked.

Initially, I leaned toward the Fortuner again, but after driving the new one, I walked away disappointed. It was more refined, yes, but it lacked the charm and confidence of the old one. And that bouncy ride? Huge letdown.

That’s when the sales guy at Galaxy Toyota, Delhi, nudged me toward the Crysta. And the moment I stepped inside, I got it. The wine-colored interior, that elegant dashboard, the subtle presence of the car—it clicked. I’ve always had a soft spot for cars that feel right when you sit in them. (Which sometimes leads to regrets... looking at you, Skoda Laura 2.0 and 2009 Sonata.)

I took the Crysta for a test drive and was instantly sold. It was in another league compared to the Fortuner. Despite both sharing the same 2.8 diesel engine, the Crysta, being an MPV, was leagues ahead in terms of driving comfort. The Fortuner’s ladder-frame platform just couldn’t compete. Quietly, I signed the cheque, set the delivery date for my birthday, and left the dealership already imagining how I’d mod her—simple, tasteful, and elegant.
So the day finally arrived—28th December 2019.


(The only good photo I could find)

There she stood, fresh from the lot, finished in the stunning White Pearl shade I had chosen. Shiny, spotless, and beautiful. After wrapping up the paperwork, I headed out for the all-important first stop—to seek blessings from the almighty.

Then came the fun part—getting the wheels installed. I had zero chill back then. Went straight in with a set of Vossen CV-3 18-inch wheels, wrapped in 245/50/R18 tyres. Yes, I know. In hindsight, I probably shouldn’t have gone this route. You’ll soon understand why. But hey—YOLO, right? The car had to look perfect, even if I completely compromised the driveability. (Yes, I was being an idiot.)





Next up—aftermarket taillamps and two rear-seat TVs. Because… why not?

And let’s talk about the stock music system. Honestly, Toyota really dropped the ball with the Crysta’s audio setup—it was just plain bad. I ripped it out and replaced it with a Mercury system, all components and mids. Not much of a bass guy, so I went with an under-seat subwoofer for a clean, punchy sound without rattling the car.

Once that was sorted, she was done. All shiny and complete. Got her ceramic-coated at AlwaysDry, Delhi, and then she truly became my daily everything. The engine, the way she drove, the comfort—Cristy had it all. She spoiled me with that plush ride and instant torque. Yes, she was thirsty at the fuel pump—but let’s be real, any girl this perfect has to throw in a bit of attitude, right?



Fast forward—I drove her everywhere in Delhi. Racking up kilometres. She was my go-to. In fact, Cristy even stepped up in the 2021 COVID wave. A relative borrowed her to transport oxygen cylinders for a patient, and she got the job done—fast. I was genuinely proud of her that day. Felt like she did her part in the crisis.

Sadly, at the end of 2021, I had to move to Bangalore. I decided to take my 2019 Verna—my second love, Vegh. But once I got there, the Bangalore roads and those monstrous speed breakers started to become a pain, and I missed Cristy terribly. She was just sitting in Delhi, gathering dust.

One random night, I made up my mind—got her transported by truck. Six long days later, Cristy was finally back with me. She took me everywhere again: college, work, Mysore trips... even Goa. But this is where the 18-inch wheels started showing their downside.

Bangalore roads aren’t kind. The car’s weight, combined with the Yokohama Tyres, completely chewed up my Vossens. One day, one of the alloys even bent—it was a painful sight. I walked into a local Tyre shop, spotted a set of 17-inch Plati wheels, and impulsively got them fitted. The Vossens were sent for repair and packed away.



Now she’s running on Continental Tyres—225/55/R17—and honestly, the difference is night and day. The ride’s smoother, the steering’s lighter, and Cristy feels a lot more composed. One of the rare impulsive decisions that actually turned out to be a good investment.



It was September 2021. I had just started college as a fresher, and my daily commute was a solid 25 km drive from home, deep into the outskirts of Bangalore. Thankfully, the route had no traffic lights—just open backroads—so Cristy and I would tear it up, both ways, every single day. To be honest, those drives were more enjoyable than the actual college experience (no offense intended).

Then came the morning of 4th January 2022—Cristy refused to start. I was stunned. But I was also running late, so I called up a friend who gave me a lift. Later that day, as college wrapped up, my friend had to head to the airport for some work—it was close to campus—so he offered to drop me back home later around 9 PM. But I was too tired, so I passed, deciding instead to take the college bus just for that day.

And that’s when something happened.

While waiting for the bus, I bumped into someone who lived in the same society as me. We started talking... and that sparked something special. Now, here’s the fun part—when I got back home and was about to leave for the gym, a mechanic from Toyota showed up. He opened the hood, did his thing, and Cristy started in one second. No issues with the battery, no faults, no explanation. She was perfectly fine.

If Cristy had started that morning, I would’ve never taken the bus... and I’d probably have never met that someone. Funny how fate works, right?

Then came the 2022 COVID wave. I was about to leave for Coimbatore to avoid being stuck in my Bangalore society under lockdown protocols. Just one day before my departure, that someone I mentioned tested negative after a bout of COVID, and we managed to meet—in Cristy, of course. From the very beginning, through every twist and turn of what we call “adulting,” Cristy was there.

I left for Coimbatore and eventually flew back to Delhi for a while. After staying there until mid-February, I returned to Bangalore once things settled down and college resumed.

Cristy, as always, was back on duty—not just for me, but now with a plus one. She had become a bit of a legend around campus. Whether it was the HR plates or the clean, tasteful mods—everyone knew she was mine. I was proud of that.

As far as I recall, there were only two Crystas in our college parking lot—mine, and a friend’s 2.8 GX trim that was tuned by Redband Racing to a Stage 1 setup, making over 200 bhp. The two of us would often head out during college breaks or late at night—Devanahalli, Church Street, Bellary Road... just driving for the love of it. Those night drives were pure magic. Memories I’ll always carry with me.


(The twin crysta's, my friend sold his last year for a Virtus GT)

Like everyone, I went through my share of rough patches in college, especially during 2023. But Cristy never faltered. She was there through it all. On the darkest nights, I'd just get in, blast some The 1975, and let the roads decide where to go. Cristy was more than just a car—she was my companion.


(Cristy and Vegh in Ooty)

Even when that “small tale” I mentioned earlier turned into a life lesson, Cristy was there. Whether it was late-night chai runs near Devanahalli at 2 AM or long solo drives just to clear my head, Cristy was with me through every moment. Drives and chai became a form of therapy, and Cristy, my trusted partner in crime.

Just before 2023 ended, I decided Cristy deserved a glow-up. Gave her a full 3M gloss black roof wrap, installed a fresh JL Audio setup, and rolled into 2024 with her by my side.



But 2024 turned out to be the year I unintentionally neglected both Cristy and Vegh. I’d enrolled for my Master’s and commuting through Bangalore’s traffic during peak hours just didn’t make sense anymore. With my college being super strict about attendance, I bit the bullet and started using the metro—it cut travel time in half, so it was the smarter call.

Cristy and Vegh still saw daily gym run, but during the day, they just... sat. Waiting.



Then came 2025. You know how sometimes, someone walks into your life and becomes a regular part of your days? Well, Cristy was back in the picture—she’d take me flying down the NICE Road almost every evening to meet this someone. Mostly over sushi, funnily enough.

And Cristy? She wasn’t just my favorite. She became their favorite too.

Yes, I own more expensive cars. Yes, they’re probably better in every measurable way. But for me? Cristy was the one. Always.



College ended. I came back home before my plans to go abroad started falling into place. And once again, Cristy was left in Bangalore, collecting dust.

Before I left, I had big plans in motion. Spoke to a couple of tuning houses, started the RTO process to re-register her to KA, found a stunning body kit, some sweet Inforged wheels, and had almost pulled the trigger on a carbon-fibre steering wheel with paddle shifters just to dial up the fun even more.

But then… things fell apart.

Not in my life, I’m happy, I’ve got amazing people around me. But with Cristy? Sadly, I had to let her go. Can’t get into the internal reasons here, but with me moving abroad, it wouldn’t be fair to just let her sit again collecting dust, would it?

She’s currently up for sale, with just over 75,000 km on the clock. But let me be clear, this isn’t an advertisement. This post? It’s a story. A story about the bond we car enthusiasts have with something the rest of the world might just call “metal on four wheels.”


(The last drive)

Cristy was never just a car. She was someone. And it’s going to hit hard when I land in Bangalore again, look at that parking spot, and she’s not sitting there—no more devilish smirk, no more waiting.



To whoever ends up buying her, if you ever happen to read this thread—I hope you understand what you’re getting into. I hope you see what she meant to me. Treat her right. Treat her like she’s not just a car.

Take her down NICE Road every once in a while, feel that pull, enjoy the wind. Eat in her if you must—but remember, that wine interior isn’t the easiest to clean. Do a cheeky burnout when you're feeling off, she'll reward you with the biggest smile. And every now and then, fill her up with Indian Oil Xtra Green diesel—it was always her treat.

I always thought that when I’d finally install those new mods, I’d come back to this forum and post a review. Never thought this post would take such a different turn.

And so, there she goes.

Farewell, Cristy.
There’s no one like you. No replacement that can fill your spot.
You’ll always be the one—my best car.
Thank you for everything. Thank you for all the memories.

[Mitadru]

Your post literally brought tears in my eyes. It's an excellent writeup, a tale of a bond most people fail to understand. To us these aren't just cars, they're our companions, our friends who will stay through the thick and thin, and not judge you when things go bad.

Your story also reminds me of my bond with our Santro. Even though I've ample opportunities to take our other car , Slavia , it's the Santro's key which I take everytime. Be it some alone time with music, or if it is to lighten my mood, I know to whom I need to go. She's 18 years old now, almost an octagenarian by human standards . But still starts up at the first crank, doesn't complain about running in an empty stomach, it just stays beside me. The Santro is renewed till 2027, after that I don't know what will happen. Maybe I'll have to bid adieu to it , and it'll be replaced by someone else. But it will always remain the special one. Our Santro is not just a car, it's kind of an elder sister who has watched this little brother of her to transition from a kid in the backseat, to the guy behind the wheel.
Sorry for hijacking your thread. All I hope is that Cristy is taken care of in a similar fashion as it was now. Of course to her you'll always be the special one. If the new owner reads this, they'll know her temperament, and treat her accordingly.