Wish-ful thinking
We've been going round to car showrooms looking for a suitable replacement for our Carens.
While KH and I are discussing financial terms, fuel consumption, etc, the kids are busy 'test-romping' the cars. They are in and out of the cars, opening and shutting the doors, going from front row to back to middle row etc. They are the ones checking out the features of the car eg the glove compartment, the power doors, the drinks holders, the reading lights etc. Standard line I hear: "Wah cool! This thing comes out when you press this button!!"
The kids enthusiastically report that they love the Estima (so do we, but not our pockets!) - "check out the sun roof mummy!" or "eh ma, this seat is like an airplane seat, got foot rest!" etc
They also like the Kia Carnival (which we don't cos we have heard its an oil guzzler) - "wah, so much space! Can stretch out and sleep behind!!"
They also recommend the Hyundai Trajet (which we heard is also a guzzler) because there is... "Mummy, can watch dvd!!"... yep, a dvd screen and player. Yes, thanks Aunty Rita - your car has inspired my children and is now THE car standard to aspire to! But KH and I think we can do with one less argument in the car about what to watch and WHOSE turn is it to choose a dvd and WHY is it... blah blah blah... As it is, we already have to contend with the "what to eat" argument and the "what to listen to on the radio/CD" argument. Thats already noise a-plenty.
Car manufacturers ought to hire the Chong brood to stress-test the car, the upholstery, the cabin features etc. 'Cos if it can survive the rampage (very enthusiastically conducted) and the take-no-prisoners attitude of the testers, it can survive pretty much anything and any other children!
So right now, we've narrowed it down to the Toyota Wish or the new Kia Carens. I think KH likes the Wish (better resale value) but is also a bit seduced by the sports transmission in the new Carens - also cheaper!
Me? I kinda have a soft spot for my present Carens. I think it looks roomier than the ones I've seen. I don't like the dark tinted windows of the Wish - think it makes the car look like a hearse or something a mafia family might use. But the Carens is getting on in age and showing it... so we don't really have a choice... I am a sentimentalist (very bad for the heart!) - it must be those asinine compos we were made to write in primary school - "Imagine you are a coin. Trace your life journey as a coin... etc!" Whoever thought of those topics???
So now when I think of my faithful car, who has brought us all over Malaysia and Singapore, through rain and shine, patiently forbore the children's sticky sweets, biscuit crumbs, shoeprints and who has heard the din we make when we're in it, party to our squabbles, our singing and the occasional wrestling match in the middle row, I do feel a bit sad to say goodbye.
7 comments:
Aunty Rita here :-)
Eh, you got the wrong car lah. My car where got DVD one ??
I think Wish might be a good choice as I 've heard the fuel consumption is pretty good. I volunteer my kids to be car testers as well. A few months ago, Gillian's pet hermit crab crawled into the crevices of the car. Her hand tried to follow it and it got stuck and she couldn't pull it out ! She cried buckets until her daddy had to pull over and had to dismantle the back part to get her hand and the hermit back. Put him in the foulest of moods during the rest of the drive.
Eh Aunty Rita, not your car meh???
Well, someone's car's got the works then! ah well... :-)
so funny lah... can imagine poor ivan dismantling the seat!! Hermit crab decided he wanted a bigger home lah.
Aunty Pam's car has DVD player, but it's actually a portable DVD player (can take out, not installed in car).
I have problems enough with the CD player as it is. With Tim & Dan in the car, they will keep changing CDs OR keep playing the same song over & over & over. Thankfully only the one sitting in front can change, but well, the one behind will whine.
I like my Previous Odyssey model. Taller cabin - can put bicycles in upright, all 3 bikes. And I like how the seats "disappear" to make a very nice firm van-like space for storage when I need to move goods. And it has both front AND back parking sensors. And it's fairly fuel-efficient for a 2.3cc, and it's a powerful car. I think Aunty Rita buy cheap lah. We buy with "no frills".
Aunty Sam, the Chongs cannot afford the Odyssey lah. Frills or no frills. Anything that is $70+k and above is a no go. Even at $60+, its a bit of a stretch and requires some financial finagling like overtrade, cash rebate or interest return etc (I get lost in all these but KH seems to know what the salesman is talking abt!) before we can afford this!
I also get lost, and don't quite care about all the financial bits, as long as Nick thinks he can afford it b/c he pays for it. And it'd better be that way b/c we can't quite depend on my income, right. I only remember paying some amount for registration and other miscellanous fees just b/c the car is in my name and the salesperson nicely came to my office to handle all those admin bits so I didn't have to go see her.
Ya, I think we got it cheaper than Sam and Nick. I think low 90k. Ours also the budget version lah. With the fifth kid coming, it'll be a full house already. Ivan likes to give everyone a lift home, so sometimes, we squeeze 10+ in the car. Seems roomier at the back of the pick up somehow ;-)
eh, the kids would certainly agree - re the pickup!
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