The Chronicles of Andy

I’ve been eyeing on the not-so-new Toyota Hilux Vigo for the past week. Have been doing lotsa research on online forums on how great a monster this machine is. It still boggles my mind on the reason why prices of pickup trucks are quite affordable in Bolehland. I mean, you get a 2.5 liter engine with airbags, heights, looks and lots of muscles on this machine at a mere price of MYR88k+! So much cheaper than MPVs and SUVs which would cost somewhere between MYR99K - MYR250k! I’ve always been a fanatic of cars with an ass that can swallow enormous weights and loads although I dont really carry weights on my car daily.

Check out some pics, copyrighted by their respective owners:

Exterior - Toyota Hilux Vigo 2.5L D-4D Diesel

Truck you say? Nay, its a car INSIDE!

Hilux with a hard top canopy, bonnet scoop and bull bar (only available in Thailand - 3L Turbo-diesel)

A souped up version with projector head lamps, sports rims and bed cover. *droooool* :)~

What I love about this machine is the height and the interiors. Toyota has always been THE name in comfort for non-European vehicles. This I defend as I had the chance to test drive this monster last weekend and had my other half to enjoy the back seat (coz the salesman was next to me) I must say it was a pretty smooth ride around the showroom in Cheras. Better comfort compared to a rival car maker that I had driven a year ago I must say, in terms of rear load feel and it was gentle on my bones too.

Then it was time for the Ringgit and sense part. Monthly installment of MYR1120 over 7 years with interest rate of 2.6% is not too bad on my budget. What a temptation! Everything looks good - the pickup, the price and the package, but not the salary on paper. :(  After days of pondering and deep thinking, I decided to give it a pass to this idea of owning this baby. I wouldn’t pass the banker’s requirements with my miniscule salary. *SIGH* It was a potong steam moment when I did all the maths. And there I was, trying hard to accept the fact that it was, for now, impossible to own that truck. Double SIGH. To rub salt into the wound, the yearly roadtax and insurance would cost a whopping MYR3k. A full tank of diesel at MYR110 that would last about 5 days (about 500-600km), change of engine oil and filter at around MYR150 (per 5000km) and tyres around MYR250+ each.. I must say I havent reached that income level yet to upkeep this truck. I always tell to my peers that anyone can buy any car even a Merc or a BMW but try maintaining it and see…

To console myself, I would first clear all my debts and be financially fit first before I even think of buying a car. However, ogling over beauties in showrooms won’t do any harm, doesn’t it? Maybe I should not be too impulsive to change to a new car. Maybe it’s taking a turn for the better for me to actually finish up my homework before amaking a desperate purchase on anything my eyes had laid upon.

Lately, this Hilux has been hot among car-jackers and thief syndicates to steal or acquire from owners, either at knife point or while driving. Now this is not the kinda thing I would want to expect if I ever own this pickup. Like I said, the whole package is to-die-for but not AFTER you actually own it. One’s life would be in great danger either in stationery or in motion. There were many cases (and still more) of Hiluxes being stolen/hijacked each week. Word has it that the crooks would steal and dismantle or slice every part of the car and sell to our northern neighbour. This I dare not be sure as it was just words in the air.  But why ?

No matter how much you invested on your beloved car, when they want it, they would do ANYTHING to get it. I am now breathless to sigh anymore..

But, still, I’m not giving up on this dream to own a Hilux. Even if in a few years to come, the HIlux would be better improved and, if God willing,  I would be at that level to eventually own one.

I am in no representation of Toyota Motors or their customers to praise/condemn on their products in this blog. It is merely a sharing of my passion to all readers of this blog. 

It all started when i was driving my other half back home when a part of my bumper fell out that created a thunk sound while driving somewhere in Cheras. When i pulled over at a petrol station to pick that part up, it was a step too late - an oncoming car swooshed by right on top of the part that was lying steadily, middle of the road. My heart shattered like a glass against a wall, I could only pick up the pieces of the part, sulking my way back to my car.

The part was the tow hook cover that was incorporated with the front skirting of my front bumper. FYI, it was a Wira SE edition front skirt that I got it for RM90 from a forumer in ZTH. I actually installed it some 6 months ago all by myself. Mind you, it wasnt a task you like doing but thinking back how I did it was really crazy.

Enough of the (grandfather) story. My other half SMSed to me after I reached home saying that everything is OK and that my first ‘wife’ is time to be replaced. Hmm… she was right, for a moment there… It was really time to consider for a new car~ Addition to that, I heard that Bolehland will announce the new ruling that cars above 15 years will be sent to scrap! All of a sudden I felt my car became sooo old. Its a 12-year old Nissan AD Resort that I got since late 2003. I was so crazy of this wagon then, and still is! The problem is that I cant really go far with this machine. I mean, I had saved up since last year to turn this wagon to what it is now - a souped-up ’space’ wagon with wings and curves that makes your head turn (well, at least for a while for any laymen). It never come to my head to sell this baby away for a new car ever since I bought. But what to do, to love is to let go *sniff* or else it will ‘eat up’ on you.  Love it or hate it, life still goes on.

I have been considering lately to get which car and have been getting lots of input on it. What will it be? Stay tuned to find out on my next post!

Life has been very interesting lately. Life is more relaxed in fact. The past year has been a living hell as it was all stress and no play. Running your own business full-time is not as easy as one thinks ( I never thought it was) but now that I am back in the workforce, I have no complaints. Not to say that I have quitted the biz but now its converted into a freelance business. Customers still stick with me, thanks to my rapport with them, they still support me no matter where I go. Now, this is very valuable. I am still learning the ropes of effective customer relationship though so dont think that I’m an expert yeah.

Now that I have a salaried job, I’m looking towards to seriously realising my dreams. Well, at least getting a job is one of a dream realised, I’m in full swing now to not only makan gaji but to really give more value onto this job. Let’s call it a career from now on.

Since I’m into motoring and automotive stuff, feel free to check out my new category - Automotive, on this blog. I will eventually phase this category out to be 100% automotive blog but for now it will be sharing space here. I mean, I cant be separating my passion from my life, right?

Stay tuned guys, I got lots of pictures in mind to put into text. I start to feel the fire is burning again to continue blogging (due to some *ka-ching* reasons) Dont worry, Friendster has been doing a great job informing to you all on any latest updates.