The Long Wait

When you buy a car whether it is a brand new car or a recon car or a 2nd hand car, there are many procedures before you can get your car and drive it like nobody's business. There's registration, road taxes, loans for payments and Number Plate. Yes. Number Plate.

There many cool or lucky numbers from single digit to 4 digits that ranges in price. My dad believes that every person has his or her lucky number and should use it for all purchased vehicles. My first new car, I used my birthdate and so it came to the time for me to have my own lucky number which I would carry on until I could no longer get a new car.

I didn't really care much about it as any number would do as long as I could get my car. However, the number that is lucky for me according to supernatural readings is a "hot number". I was worried whether could I get that number and fast. I heard from my dad the process of getting a new number. I kept waiting for it and checked the JPJ website frequently. I began to get frustrated and thought the process is flawed. So, I suggested to buy from those people who stock up numbers to be sold.

After 2 months of waiting and watching the acronyms for car plate number goes from WTT to WTV and I still haven't get my number. I was began wondering is the God telling me that it isn't time for me to get my Celica and that this was just a dream. C'mon, man !! I want my car !! Please.

Love at First Sight

After a whole day of car-shopping with my dad and not able to see the Celica posted on the magazine, I was a little disappointed. However, a few days after, my dad called me at school and told me he was at the place where the Celica is. I was so stunned and asked why is he there and most importantly without me ?
He went to check out the car with my mum. He told me the condition is good and asked me do I want to see the car myself and book it ?

I was like hell yea I want to see the real deal. So, I arranged a date with my dad and went there. I was very excited on the way there wondering how would the real deal be. A lot of images and feelings were running through my heart. Finally, I reached the place, CF Import.

When I got off from my dad's car, I saw many sports car lying there for sale. There were an Evo 9, a Nismo 350z, an Impreza and many more. However, the main character of the day is the Celica waiting there. The first time I saw it, I was stunned. It was amazing and I cant take my eyes of it. It was stated in the ad of this Celica that it came with many goodies and I went ahead and check it out.

As I have said in my previous post, a test drive is very important. So, I went ahead to test the Celica. I had a lot of things to get used to when driving it as it is low, has a lot of blind spot and it has tiptronic gearbox with shifter on the steering wheel. I had a short run with it but I wanted more and was sure this is the one. The car had just arrived in Malaysia. So, it stills require a lot of reconditioning. We left the place but before that my dad said, let's just get this for you.

I was way up in cloud 9. I am getting a sports car !!!! I was so happy I couldn't stop grinning. It is all about time before I can start enjoying the car. My dream is coming true and I can't wait for the car.

CF Import

From the ad

Time for action !

Data can be obtained through intensive paper research. However, those are just raw data and without any physical tests, it is not enough to make my decision. So like all smart consumer, I wanted to go for test drives for all these models. I told my dad and he said sure. He said he would arrange for me.

On one fine day, he asked me to follow him out for car-shopping. I immediately agree. We went to many places to look for recon cars especially around PJ and Tropicana Mall area. I was particularly interested to visit SG Motors because I've seen many ads from them and was sure there would be nice cars. Deep down after visiting many places, I really wanted to find the Celica I found on MotorTrader.

So, we headed to Old Klang Road where it is located but with the sky being orange and not knowing where it is, we stopped looking and head home. I was disappointed. Although I saw many nice cars especially at SG Motors but I really had my hopes in seeing the Celica. I guess it will just have to wait for another day and hope it doesn't get sell off.

Data

After much research, I finally got the right data that I need to take my pick from these 3 lovely selection of cars to be my next daily drive. These cars were selected from a large pool of contestants because of several reasons made up of budget, class and size. The data are as below :

Mitsubishi Lancer

Engine : 2.0l MIVEC 

Max. Power : 155 ps

Max. Torque : 199 N-m

Transmission : 6 speed with paddle shift

Layout : FF

Advantage : Large sedan, 4 doors, Great Acceleration, Sporty

Disadvantage : Too large, Expensive Tires, Cheap and Boring Interior

Price : RM 123,000

Honda Civic

Engine : 2.0l i-VTEC 

Max. Power :  155 ps

Max. Torque : 188 N-m

Transmission : 5 speed with paddle shift

Layout : FF

Advantage : Sleek, Sporty exterior, Modern Interior and Cockpit, 4 doors

Disadvantage : Weak suspensions, A bit pricey

Price : RM 130,000

Toyota Celica

Engine : 1.8l vvtL-i 

Max. Power : 190 ps

Max. Torque : 180 N-m

Transmission : 4 speed with paddle shift

Layout : FF

Advantage : A sports car, sleek exterior

Disadvantage : 2 doors, Low, Dated interior, Pricey, Recon Unit 

Price : RM 140,000

Although I have all these data and my own consideration, it was still a hard decision on which to get as each has its good and bad points. All of the choices above are new car except Toyota Celica is a Recon Unit where the condition of the car varies. This means I had to go look for a decent unit which is more work compared to getting a brand new car. If I couldn't find a decent Toyota Celica is available, I have no choice but consider the other options.

Based on the initial data here, Celica is the most powerful with the smallest engine but low on torque which costs its acceleration. It also has less gears compared to the others. I really love Celica since I was 16 and hope to get one. I really still need to think more about it. I don't want to regret my choice since the chance to get my dream car is here.

Choices

As mentioned on my last post, I reached the time to look for my next and maybe final ride I would receive from my dad. It's not just about which car to get because the budget is a very important factor too.

At first my dad said I could consider any cars then he changes his mind and say I only could get new cars (no recon cars) and finally back to any cars. Then came the budget issue. There was no budget in the beginning but it made sense that my dad wouldn't spend too much on a car for me.

So, after much consideration, my dad gave me his choice for me, the Mitsubishi Lancer 2.0GT. Then I told him that I prefer the Honda Civic 2.0S as it is the same level and close price range. Naturally, my dad didn't like the Civic as he dislikes Honda. However, I had a another car in mind. The Toyota Celica 1.8vvtL-i.
I've always like the Celica since I was in Form 4 as it looks great. I went to research more on these 3 cars in all aspect to pick my next ride.

Mitsubishi Lancer 2.0GT

Honda Civic 2.0S

Toyota Celica