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.