Wow, this treads is wonderful becoz it reminds me a lot about what I always dream of being a student – (9 years ago).All of u guys are really good in giving advice and keep up the fresh grad to hold on to their dream although I can see a lot of cold and hot waters come flushing in.
Guys, If its ok, I would really love to share my part of story. It maybe long so u guys can just skip it if u find it bored. Hehehe sorry.
At that particular time, being a student I just can’t wait to work, earn money and ultimately and as quickly own a ‘Sports Car’ for myself to enjoy. What definitions of sports car is to me than?: It is a must be 2 doors cars with FR Layout or MR Layout, comes with LSD Gearbox, well balance weight distribution, got many spare parts available to tweak around, manual transmission, prefer NA engine rather than turbo and very-very fun to drives around corners! with decent audio system....To me there is no need for heavy accessories (such as oversize rim, flashy wings and spoiler). So the cars I would always envision myself behind the wheels will be cars like RX8, AE86, SW20, ZR32 (Fairlady 300zx),NSX, S2000, 180SX, E46, or the Silvia family. Wahh so damn rejuvenate that time when come to think about it!
So than I graduated, so here comes the story of what majority senior people would advise, which is, save money and spend it wisely! I graduated as an engineer but job was very tough that time, so u can’t be so picky, luckily I got an offer as a Marketing Exec. I work my damn ass out! Save some money, another mature wise advice comes in: “ Boy, car is a liability, just get ur self a decent car to get from point A to Point B’. But that doesn’t put out my fire of owning a sports car, I still believe I could own a sports car but I just need to be patient (as most of the former here advice). So what I did back then was to get myself a 2nd hand Toyota Corrolla worth RM11K. I pay cash from the saving that put up from my hard day and night work and since my student days. Ok fine, is a real boring car, I could modified it but let’s face the fact, it will never be the same handling as a sports car as what I define. So I just keep it the way it is. That time I just think it will be a waste to modify the car. But the good thing is with just minor modification, the car doesn’t give much trouble.
After 4 years of working and saving (with no major problem from the good old car), and my salary getting so-so lah, then I starts to fire up my dream again, but then again, there is an advice better to buy property coz it is an assets and it will grow ur money. So that time I was really in a dilemma. I still haven’t get married becoz I do heard lot, once u married, game over! U can say good bye to ur dream sports car, better get ur self an MPV, ur wife sure suka one! And some more, I don’t have gf that time, too bz working meh. So then with what my saving that I have I decide..to buy property…first, it start with only one, but that time property was really booming, so I get spare cash, then I try to buy IPO’s and few stocks. Some I lost and some I gain but most of it I gain. Then I invest in gold pulak. Yes cash was growing.
Now after 8 years working, I end up with 4 properties few others assets that not important to mention here. BUT unfortunately I still drive this 25 year old Toyota Corrola. People who don’t know me sure will think I’m just poor guy working his ass out. I am still single with no gf. U really can’t imagine how hard to convince a girl now a days if u just drive an old junkie like mine especially when u past the age of 30’s (people seems to portray, as a man past that age, u should be driving a more presentable car to reflex ur success).
What happened to my dream of enjoying a sports car? Well I think I have lost hope, life sometimes really feel miserable. So the only think I can do right now is just dreaming like I am driving one of my dream cars while I am behind my wheel in my Corolla. How I convince myself then? Well I would play songs from The Fast & Furious or Initial D while I’m driving my Corolla and dream as if I am in one of my dream sports car. Is really f#*king pathetic! I’m sure u guys will just tell me “to go get urself ur dreams car, u already have all the assets”. I tell u the true story man…with all the properties that I have, u can’t imagine how much monthly installment that I need to f%#king pay every month. Not to mention if my tenant pay late or there are time I need to save becoz I have no tenant to rent my properties and my agent still in the look on that particular time. And all this properties need maintenances. If u thinks maintaining a 300ZX is a pain, think twice man! Maintaining more than one properties is really a pain in the f*%king ASS. Leaking problem, electrical problem, cracking problem, ‘jamban problem’, tenant ridiculous complain, all the capital u need to fork out to make ur property in demand for rental and all other bullshit staf that come when u least expected!. Not to mention other cost of living that I’m sure others member face it here too.
I know my story is long but what I want to make my point here is, especially the one who started this tread, life is about balance. U can’t just go and chase only ur dream car or properties/investment like many people would advise (which they think is a wise advice). Is good to make money, but it is also very DAMN IMPORTANT to reward ur self. YES u must be patient, but don’t be too patient becoz u will end up miserable. Go and chase ur dream becoz that’s what motivate u and MAKES U A MAN! With u enjoying ur sports car and with the money that u have been making good (both from ur job and ur wise investment) people will look up to u! Believe me, it is a hard sad fact in Malaysia, people especially the girls or their parent (can be both) will obviously look down on u even though u have a lot of money and properties with u if u just drive an unpresentable car at a certain particular age (for me i just like to keep to myself and not to show off people around me all the assets that i have). Even though for guys a 25 year old Corolla might be a decent transportation but for girls is a hell different of a picture. To them these types of cars (if driven by single guys above 30’s) are just plain junkies for guys who have no future! So for Seng_song, I wish u all the best, keep up the flame in u and make ur self a man!
