So Long My Friend

2001 - I was so excited to finally own a brand new you. I told myself that I'd use you until you're free of debt. I put some accessories to improve your appearance and performance. You're indeed a very nice piece of evident that I could afford to own you.

2002 - I usually took care of you very very well, I was soft and I never hurt you. Suddenly you realized that you'd have to get used to rough handling. Yeah, by this time you had to get use to a driver from another species.

2003 - More and more rough handling. I seldom drove you, the other species did.

2004 - Finally you'd realize that your back seats were used more often. With an addition to the family, your use had become more optimized.

2005 - Your back seats got dirtied more often.

2006 - Your back seats were fully optimized with addition of another tot. Your air-cond belt disconnected at the PLUS hiway and I got Kurnia agent to tow you and then fix you.

2007 - I was already contemplating to let you go, but I was still in love with you. You had been such a loyal friend to me. You never caused any headache and were always reliable. If you could talk, you would be my dear Herby or my ever lasting Lightning McQueen.

2008 - I have loved you for a long time, and I still love you dearly. But with new demands of life, plus another tot, I have to let you go. I was thinking to keep you, but my friend, you would have turned into a liability if I keep you longer. For the benefits of both parties, and for the best interest of both of us, I have to say goodbye to you.

So long my friend. I will miss you dearly. I was deeply touched to hand over the key to the salesman. But baby, life has to go on.

Hunt for the Right MPV

Tried and tested. Proven the BEST there is for an MPV.

We went for an MPV hunt again yesterday. But this time, due to budgeting constraint and hari raya days looming nearer, the leader of the family said that we urgently need an MPV at a lower cost. It is urgent and therefore, forgo the dream and stick to reality. Second hand species that is.

First stop was at a stretch of second hand car dealers opposite Carrefour. Spotted a WISH, gray color, sleek, just brought in from Japan and test drive cruise we did again. Then I realized, there is a major flaw for Wish. I placed myself at the very back seat, being a very hot day, the air cond does not reach the rear end passengers. There is no separate air cond panel for passengers at the back. That's a MAJOR flaw. I don't want my kids to suffer. The price - RM125,000 for a 2004 recond. Forget it.

Same shop, 2nd trial was for a Honda Odyssey year 2000. Huge interior, comfy, nice, but somehow the feeling of it being such an old car is there. It's the feel that matters. Left the salesman in lurch we did.

The hunt continued in the late afternoon. Left the kids at home, since they tend to go all hoohaa in the beginning hopping from one car to another, then they went crazy and pulled my dress to go home. Hence, the two of us went hunting by a motorbike. Stopped at another dealer near Rat Auto, Tampoi because there were several GRANDIS on sale. My oh my...once Grandis, forever Grandis. The prices made us wonder is there any difference in pricing between buying a brand new one than to get a second hand unit. Looked crystal clear that Grandis or Wish for the matter, is out of the competition.

Then, our eyes spotted a Honda Odyssey still in the washing area, looked like just been cleaned from a long hiatus. We told the salesman that we'd like to test drive it. He was perplexed at first, maybe thinking why these couples in motorbike would want to own an MPV. Being a Sunday, he told us test drive is not allowed on Sundays. Totally didn't make sense. But maybe he could see the apparent fascination on our faces, he called up the boss and voila, we were allowed to check it out on the road.

Honda Odyssey is by far the most spacious MPV. May look like Naza Ria at a glance, but the interior is non compatible. So what did we do?

Coming up NEXT....

One Wish Too Luxury

Mitsubishi Grandis 2.4L (A/T)
Model Code: NA4WLRUYR1D
MIVEC INVECS-II 4-Speed Auto with Sports Mode
Individual Private
Engine Capacity: 2,378 cc
(All Transactions in Ringgit Malaysia)
Selling Price - 157,271.80
Road Tax - 758.00
Registration Fee - 300.00
H.P. Ownership Claim - 50.00
Inspection & Handing Fees - 200.00
Number Plates - 50.00
On-the-road Price Without Insurance - 158,629.80
Insurance - 4,370.20
On-the-road Price With Insurance - 163,000.00
Insured Value -157,000.00
Effective Date: 6 September 2007

I went for a test drive for this MPV yesterday at their showroom in Taman Johor Jaya. Superb! What better way to motivate oneself than to experience the real thing, albeit on shortest loan possible - a meagre 15 minutes cruising along Jalan Masai Lama. The temptation was at the highest degree.

The salesman

Very very persuasive. He told us that now is the best time to own one since they are offering double promotion - a RM2000 fuel voucher or RM2000 off the price and also free car service for 3 years, or up to 60,000 km, whichever is first. Not just for labor, but for overall service charge. Whoaaa...very tempting indeed. If we order now, we can get it in 2 weeks time since there are some ready stock in JB. Wow, another killer point to own one straight away.

The driving experience

My significant other drove from the showroom up to Tesco Extra Plentong. I told the salesman that I only wanted to drive in more secluded roads with less traffic. Hey, this is RM160k++ car we are talking about here. I could see his drop of perspiration the moment I mentioned I'd like to test it as well. He guided us through the traffic, and finally I got to hold the steering and literally cruise along the road, from Tesco Extra through Taman Molek and ended back at the showroom. I was going at 40-60km per hour. It was 6pm, peak hours mind you. To summarize the experience - it felt light even though it felt bulky at the same time.

The interior, exterior and what not

Most obvious, there is no handbrake, it is replaced with another leg brake at the most left. The gear was at the dashboard, making it uneasy for me to adjust. The seats are comfy, even though for passengers at the very back. The boot compartment is the biggest, among all MPVs that we have surveyed. The wheels are 17 inches. Maybe one costs RM800++, my guess.

Verdict

Which one rules - the emotion or the rational? Luckily, it was a Tuesday, middle of the week, no kids to mess around together, so decisions can be made faster.

To drive a 7-year old proton Wira everyday and suddenly having the joy of driving an imported MPV worth 3 times over, the feel is totally incomparable. Needless to say, if emotion were to overcome rational, I'd straight away handed over my good old wira to the salesman.

Somehow the urge to be rational was unbearable. Upon taking my wira for only RM17k worth, I'd have to fork out almost RM2,200/month for a 7 year loan. For 9 years, RM1,700++/month.

Hmmm, which one of our physiological needs (according to Maslow's hiearchy) shall we be willing to forgo in order to afford such luxury?

I think both of us need to go back in our own hiearchy, position ourselves, and determine where to go next. I pray that we can both make the AJIT program works, and revisit this temptation next year.

Colors of Pasar Payang

Varieties of kuihs and turtle eggs sold openly.

Part 1 - Kuih

Of all the sold kuihs, I can only spot 2-3 familiar types. For the rest, I rest my case. Never seen, never tasted, never heard of the names. The kuihs started to be on display since 9am in the morning. Guess what time they prepared the kuihs and can they last for buka puasa time?? I guess people from East Coast must have tougher tummy than us southerners. I did try one (kuih kepayang??), very very very very sweet. No more trial after that.

Part 2 - Turtle Eggs

I am actually donating a little sum of money every month to the WWF (World Wildlife Fund) in Malaysia. Since bachelorette days, I have always wanted to do volunteer work, but the same ol' excuse kept on popping - no time. Hence, to clear my conscience, I signed up with WWF to part a little of my earnings to save all those turtles, bears, pandas, crocs, tapirs, elephants, jungles, wet lands, etc. It's for my children to see that such species do exist, and that I got to see them in my days. Bonus point - tax deductible.

To see they sold the turtle eggs openly, I felt that something has to be done, but what?? What can I do? I was informed that the eggs actually came from Indonesian waters, no longer from Ganu. Wherever it came from, the fact is people still crave for easy life at the expense of the weaker species. What can I do ladies and gentlemen??

Part 3 - Forehead's Mini Adventure
She got 3 stitches after falling while playing jumping up and down from an upside down toyogo container. The scar will remain, the sweet lady doc told me. This is the second permanent scar. The first one she got after rolling off from a walker hitting the garden stone when she was 6 months old. One scar on right cheek, one scar on the corner of the left eye bordering forehead. I thought only boy would get sewn during childhood days.