Toyota Camry
This morning I drove mom to work. Traffic is bad but this post is not about traffic. My mother works in the city in a run-down shop-lot. Her office, which sells car spare parts, is a uncondusive place to work. It has no a/c, it’s old and poorly managed, it’s dirty and dusty. But she has been working for this company all her life and while she’s just a clerk, she has a lot of freedom to run chores and gossips.
Normally, my father would send her to work. This morning, I have to go to work early and my sister took our other car so I volunteered to send mom to work.
I don’t know why but as I reached the curb of her office, I imagined my father dropping her off in our old Charade Aura. It is such a small car for two adults. My mind started to wander and I thought about how nice it would be if my father was able to send his wife to work in a nice, shiny Toyota Camry. I imagine how my mother’s colleagues would be envious of the new car and how she would brag about the car that her son bought for the family.
I am sure that my father would be very happy behind the wheel of a Camry. He’s from the old school (generation) where car is the only hobby. Guys from his generations take care of cars like a religion. I bet many other people at my father’s age are like that. They have a dream car that they have always wanted but it always remain a dream because they could not afford that dream car. It’s usually not a Mercedes or BMW as those were unattainable fantasy. It’s probably something more down to earth, yet within their lifetime, most of them would not be able to own the car. It will still remain a dream. These guys may be able to buy the cars of their dreams but they never did because of other, more important use of the money – better house, college/Uni fund for the kids, etc.
Some old men are lucky. Their son made it big and could buy them their own dream cars. Some just get to drive their son’s car as they could only afford one car. Some aren’t as lucky because while their son may own the nice car, the father will not get to drive it at all (for example, if the father lives in Penang and his son is living and staying in KL)
Technically, I could buy a Camry because it’s just a bank loan away. On the other hand, I could not afford to do so because I am also looking for a house. The Camry would cost half the price of the house I am looking for. It will depreciate exponentially. In just 10 years, the Camry would be worthless. Buying a house would be a more sane and logical thing to do.
Just like my father, I dreamed of driving a Toyota but I cannot own one because I have other “upcoming” commitments.
Perhaps, my children will buy me one.
Normally, my father would send her to work. This morning, I have to go to work early and my sister took our other car so I volunteered to send mom to work.
I don’t know why but as I reached the curb of her office, I imagined my father dropping her off in our old Charade Aura. It is such a small car for two adults. My mind started to wander and I thought about how nice it would be if my father was able to send his wife to work in a nice, shiny Toyota Camry. I imagine how my mother’s colleagues would be envious of the new car and how she would brag about the car that her son bought for the family.
I am sure that my father would be very happy behind the wheel of a Camry. He’s from the old school (generation) where car is the only hobby. Guys from his generations take care of cars like a religion. I bet many other people at my father’s age are like that. They have a dream car that they have always wanted but it always remain a dream because they could not afford that dream car. It’s usually not a Mercedes or BMW as those were unattainable fantasy. It’s probably something more down to earth, yet within their lifetime, most of them would not be able to own the car. It will still remain a dream. These guys may be able to buy the cars of their dreams but they never did because of other, more important use of the money – better house, college/Uni fund for the kids, etc.
Some old men are lucky. Their son made it big and could buy them their own dream cars. Some just get to drive their son’s car as they could only afford one car. Some aren’t as lucky because while their son may own the nice car, the father will not get to drive it at all (for example, if the father lives in Penang and his son is living and staying in KL)
Technically, I could buy a Camry because it’s just a bank loan away. On the other hand, I could not afford to do so because I am also looking for a house. The Camry would cost half the price of the house I am looking for. It will depreciate exponentially. In just 10 years, the Camry would be worthless. Buying a house would be a more sane and logical thing to do.
Just like my father, I dreamed of driving a Toyota but I cannot own one because I have other “upcoming” commitments.
Perhaps, my children will buy me one.
so kiew...my lunch topic today, talked about car again :) I hv colleagues who strongly think that if company is sponsoring the interest, go and get a car and sell, buy every 5 years.....I dunno what happen to me, the old me, sure dump my downpayment and book a toyota liow ..instead, I've been talking for years - yet still faithful to my little proton, which I am giving myself a credit. There are many other more important things to do, for me to sow before I could upgrade my car.
ReplyDeleteBuying property can be an investment. Buying a car is just a spending and enjoyment. On the hse, I read about SPK project, the 3 1/2 storey sample hse we visited near ur current hse is a good one - may be you could consider buying second hand - nearby RP too ...