Get a Clunker - Almost Everyone Needs One

Clunkers. They can drain you of cash and pile your debt up to your nose. That's why you get rid of them for brand new or relatively new cars that don't act up as often or strand you on your way to work or to somewhere else important.

Yet, clunkers are something you don't really worry about when it comes to parking in dodgy places. Just leave them in open car parks or dark basements, and they'll still be there when you return to them.

Why? Because no one really wants to steal clunkers. It's just too much trouble for too little gain.

By contrast, if you have to go to dodgy places with your brand new Honda or Toyota, you'd think twice about leaving it unattended. Why? Chances are, they'll get stolen.

And this was exactly what happened to my sister's relatively new Honda Accord 2.4L. While I still don't think it's a very good car, it appears to be in high demand among car thieves, such that hers was stolen almost as soon as she left it unattended in an open car park somewhere in Damansara.

OK, she may have neglected to use a steering lock and/or a brake lock, which was why I believe her car was targeted among the many, many new cars in the open car park. Even if she had used either or both of those things, they are not foolproof measures against determined car thieves - at best, they are initial deterrents.

So, now, my sister is utterly sad and utterly without a car.

However, had she owned a clunker, I believe she would still have both her clunker and her new Honda Accord.

In other words, if you have a clunker and are thinking about getting rid of it, well, think again. It still has its uses. Besides, you're not going to get much for it anyway.

If you don't have one anymore and if you think you're going to be going to dodgy places often enough, perhaps you should get a clunker of your own, like a cheap Kancil or even a Kembara.

Me? I'm getting my Kembara soon. In the event that I have to go places where I don't want to have to worry about my car being stolen, I'd use my Kembara.

When Even an Old Kancil Will Do

After having to make do with just one car for nearly three months, I now know exactly how valuable a second car is. It's so valuable that without it, you can literally go insane.

Imagine having to lug your two kids to school in the morning, along with two dogs in the back seat, with a tired and bothered wife (or husband if you're female) sitting next to you. Imagine doing that five days a week for nearly three months.

Drive you and everyone else in your family (including the dogs) nuts, yes? Well, that was pretty much the case with my family. Having sold off my Focus in anticipation of getting my new car, which turned out to be very late in arriving, my family had to endure the hardship of getting around in just one car.

It got so bad that, on some days, I wish I could fly instead. And when I looked at people with very old cars, I considered them to be very lucky indeed.

So much so, I seriously contemplated spending RM5,000 to buy an old Kancil. That would have been preferable to having to go through the motions of dragging the family about in just one car, five days a week, for nearly three months.

But what would be the point? As soon as my new car gets delivered, the old Kancil would just rot away by the roadside, to be used only when absolutely necessary.

Still, there were days when I thought, "What the hell? Let's just do it."

My motivations? Seeing my wife's behaviour changing from calm and happy, to nervous wreck bordering on abusive; seeing my kids coming home lethargic and unmotivated to study and even play; and seeing my dogs growling and barking aggressively in the car because they get squashed between my kids.

Thank God, my new car arrived just before all hell broke loose. Now that it's here, our lives are slowing getting back to normal or becoming tolerable and even enjoyable - even the dogs appear happier.

Still, this experience has taught me the importance of having a reserve car. As soon as I'm able to, I'm going to get a third car. And it doesn't matter if it spends most of the time parked by the roadside or under the tree outside my house. At least, it'll be there when my car becomes unavailable for whatever reason.