Next Stop: The Foreign Connections

Sunday, 22 April 2007

Today we made some progress, huge progress. We went to the following showrooms to check out all my options:

1) Hyundai (Korea)
2) Kia - Naza (Korea)
3) Suzuki (Japan)
4) Honda (Japan)
5) Alfa Romeo (Italian)
6) Toyota (Japan)
7) Nissan (Japan)

We're kind of tired now, after spending the whole day sizing the cars, talking to salesmen after salesmen, test driving, and comparing specs, prices, discounts and freebies. I will compartmentalise all the various cars to make a summary for better viewing and comparison.

First Stop: Proton and Perodua

Sunday, 15 April:

All these while, we've been arguing about NOT buying a Proton car due to its bad reputation for reliability and quality. Come this Sunday, Brandon suddenly decided to look for some local cars (due to my budget and main "value-for-money" criteria), and boy, I think the local cars really ticked him off. We were all in a happy mood albeit the scorching heat when leaving the house. He just recovered from a very bad flu, so it was amazing that he would even take me to a Proton showroom. All was fine during our Bak Kut Teh lunch… However, his mood suddenly turned sour after setting his eyes on the black “top spec” Waja displayed right in front of the Proton showroom at the Shah Alam Industrial park. I was fine with the leather seats, and tinted glass of the RM62,888 model – the most value for money in its class, but Brandon thinks otherwise. Then he says, maybe I should try out a sportier car as the black bulky doesn’t really suit my personality. So we walked towards the metallic brownish red NEO. He exclaims, “Now, this is what I call a car. NEO is so sporty. Why don’t you try this car instead?”

I hated 2 door cars. Memories of my form 5 year flashed before my eyes. The mere thought of how I twisted my knee while getting into my friend’s mini and caused me to miss 2 weeks of my Gymnastics training and also miss my usual PE netball games, hurts even now.

Kelly:(telling Brandon politely) No, I don’t like 2 door cars. I don’t want to hurt others and especially my mom, who is the most frequent (or only?) adult passenger in my car.
Brandon: Aww, c’mon. Get into the driver’s seat and see.
Kelly: Ok, why don’t you sit at the back and see for yourself how much space there is at the back.
Brandon: Ouch. (He squats down, holding his forehead as he knocked his head on the car ceiling when he tried to enter the car).
Kelly: See, told you there’ll be casualties.. hahahaha
Brandon: Aiyak. (Hurts his waist as he tries to twist and turn and maneuver himself into the back of the car)

Kelly and saleman trying hard to hold back laughters...

Brandon: Ok what..... C’mon. Pull the chair back and drive me.
Kelly: Aiyah, see lar, each time wanna go in and out, have to adjust the seat for people at the back. I have to open the door for people. So mah fan.
Brandon: Never mind lar, do some work. Besides, you’d only drive me. What’s wrong with opening car doors and adjusting seats for me eh?
Kelly: Nah, I don’t like the feel. It’s too tight. I am going over there to check out the Gen-2.

With that, Kelly got out of the car, and followed Bryan (who was running around and opening the doors of the various show room cars) towards the Gen-2 model.

Brandon: Hey Hey Hey.. wait.. let me out of here first. Hey, Hoi.. … (as Kelly walked away, smirking and leaving the car salesman to help Brandon out)….


Next stop: Perodua showroom beside the Proton showroom.

Salesgirl: Wanna test drive our Myvi.
Brandon: You go ahead. (not exactly in the mood)
Salesgirl: Can I have your driver’s licence?
Brandon: She left hers in the car. Use mine. But Kelly would drive. It’s ok, she’s fine. (trying to convince the salesgirl who was frowning as she doubted my driving skills).
Salesgirl: (as she registers Brandon’s driver’s licence). This is the special edition of the Myvi, with skirting, leather seats, 1.3 Auto is RM51,895 for solid colour and RM52,402 for metallic black. We also have Premium edition without the leather seats at RM3,000 less. If you take our standard version which comes in 7 colours, it’s RM6,000 less.
Kelly: (Wow, that’s a mouthful.) First thing that comes to my mind when I sit inside the showroom car is that it’s spacious. Very comfortable. But the front plastic panel, is a bit, well, Plastic.
Salesgirl: Come, this way please. Let’s test drive the car.

Kelly drove the car out of the showroom.
Brandon: Turn Left. And keep your lane!
Kelly: (To sales girl) What’s the fuel consumption like?
Salesgirl: Depending on how you drive. Around 13 cents/km.
Kelly: (Thinking to self) Hmmm the Proton salesman must be lying since he also says 13 cents/km.
Brandon: Go over the bumps and see.
Kelly: So how’s the feel when going over the humps.
Brandon: Hmmpffh… ok lar..
Salesgirl: So Mrs, what do you think?
Kelly: Ok lar.
Brandon: (slightly panicky) Ok lar means what? Buying now?
Kelly: Ok means I like its spaciousness. Quite comfortable.

As we safely bring the car back into it’s parking bay in front of the showroom, Brandon quickly led Bryan back into his Sentra while I got the Brochures and contacts and the loan schedule from the salesgirl. She mentioned that for Citibank card holders, there’s a 3.88% loan and RM500 rebate. Well, not sure if I am going for that as probably ING gives a similar or lower rate. Gotta check it out and see.

Reasons and Criterias

As I said earlier, I have somehow started this quest for a replacement car since sometime September last year. Thus, I have a slight idea on what I wanted ... a value for money, good fuel consumption, easy to drive, city car. Budget, well, if something worthy and safe to drive is found at less than RM50,000 would be ideal. However, for safety sake, I am willing to fork out anything below RM100,000.

Motive:
Actually, my motive to change the car, is basically, very basic. It's time for change. My car is already 10 years old. Although, it has low mileage, 89,000 km since September 1997, as I seldom drive the car, the car as per any other Proton cars, has a very very loud rattling sound whenever I start the car. Colleagues tells me that I am driving a jet rather than a car as the engine sure sounds louder than a jet engine. I told them that a lot of youngster pay good money to purposely make their new car sounds similiar to mine.... hahaha. Well, since I can afford it, I thought I should replace it for my own safety. I mean, Iswara has no airbags, no abs, in fact, no safety feature, period. I am a safe driver and thank God for keeping me safe all these years (accident free car). However, as the number of "Kopi-O" licence drivers increase on the road, it's a rather logical to take measures to protect oneself with a safer armour/car.

Criteria:
I am no prima donna when it comes to choosing a car. I don't have much criteria. A car to me is basically a mode of transportation. So asking me to list down my criterias are a bit tricky but here's how my ad will go:

Looking for a replacement car. The candidate:

1) Must be a 4-door car. (Why? Will tell you later.)
2) ABS brake system is an added advantage.
3) Dual airbags is an added advantage but single airbags are encourage to apply.
4) Ideally, asking price should be below RM100,000.
5) Any type or models may apply if fuel consumption is reasonable.

To Change or Not Change, That's the question

These pass 2 weeks, Brandon finally took my thought of changing a car seriously. What started out as a 2 year plan last year, has suddenly become a must-buy-now plan.

Let's see, how did all these car talk came about? Some time September last year, there were some colleagues who started the "change of cars" talk. People get excited with new changes, especially in the mundane office environment, people get excited over the slightest things. I jumped in the band wagon to check out what are the good buys, only to find out that different people have different taste, budgets, criterias, preferences, motives for buying, etc...

And from there, I realise I must ask myself those fundamental questions first, before I embark myself on the 2nd most expensive investment in my life. Actually it qualifies to be the most expensive investment since I havent bought a house for myself yet.

This blog serves to document my experience in getting a new car... in replace of my rattling old faithful... my dear old red hot Proton Iswara 97 Manual Hatchback. Yes, my jalopy is 10 year old this year. News have been going around that prices might drop further if I dont replace it. The sentimental side of the heart is heavy but the pracitcal part of me tells me that it's the right thing to do.

So wish me luck on my embarkment of finding a replacement.... :) The sail has been smooth so far.. but oh so many decisions....