Preparing The Transport...

Today, I took my motorboat for it's overdue service in preparation for its 439km journey to Kuala Kedah next Wednesday afternoon. Yes... motorboat... the story behind the motorboat... there was a hole in the mid bullet of my exhaust system due to corrosion. I then took it to the so-called exhaust specialist who recommended a replacement mid bullet. He then suggested I change the piping and the muffler as well. I agreed provided that it was not noisy. He assured me it that it won't be noisy but we all now know what happened to his assurance. So... my car now sounds like a freaking motorboat... and I won't be surprised if my car can actually make a dive into the sea just like James Bond's ride in The Spy Who Loved Me... but it's quite fun too as the low drone does trigger off some  car alarms... heh-heh-heh... I think I shall leave it for now until I start showing signs of deafness.

Anyway... back to the service. The timing belt was due. The car has clocked 122k kms... so it is 2k kms overdue for its service. The last change of timing belt was done by the ex and since I couldn't find the service booklet, I couldn't tell for sure whether it was changed at 60k or 65k or 70k. Rather than be sorry, I decided not to take the chance. I had a cracked engine mount as well but it was not in stock so I'll have to send it back in on Wednesday morning before I make my trip. The bill came to RM1100... which got me thinking... again... as usual... maybe if I grew my hair back I won't think so much (wishful thinking).

I spent RM1100 this time... RM500+ for the change of exhaust.... the last service was about RM350... I did aligning, balancing and changed two wheels about 3 months back and also all 4 rims as they were all dented and  that cost me about RM1500... road tax and insurance costs about RM1500 too and with the upcoming engine mount. So, I was thinking... with about 4 services a year and what I spent it would be about in excess of RM7k a year just on the car excluding petrol. I earn a decent salary yet this hurts my pocket just doing very BASIC maintenance for the car. Hmmm... how do others manage? I know someone who used to work for me who drove a Honda City... and the Duty Manager drove a Vios... my Sales Manager drove a Vios too... the Assistant Financial Controller drove an Altis... the Assistant Housekeeping Manager drove a Waja that could fly... and moi, a motorboat...  sigh... I must be doing something wrong, no? Or am I?

Enlighten me please...