Since hubby passed, what I most wanted to settle was his car. It was a huge thing and I'd never driven it. Well no choice but to keep it active. It was my weekend job to 'exercise' the car. The probate arrangements took about half a year so for all that time, I would drive round and round the neighbourhood, tears streaming down my face at the memories and the familiar smell of its interior. I would talk to hubby mentally and also out loud as I drove. Oh how I miss him. The air-conditioning had gone kaput so it would be a hot drive.
The insurance and road tax expired while waiting for probate approval. So when it finally came through, I had to get the mobile inspection unit to come (inspection being a necessary step before selling) - not cheap at RM500 a car. Luckily his nephew in the car industry helped to arrange.
1. First visit: Failed as the car couldn't start and the bonnet couldn't be opened to check the chassis number. (What?! I was driving it just the weekend before!!) RM500 gone.
2. Second visit a month later: Failed as his nephew had incorrectly informed there was no need to remove the window tinting film. Another RM500 gone.
3. Third visit after another month: PASS. Phew. I got the car transferred to my name and bought insurance/road tax. It was a 4-litre car and road tax was over 2k for just 6 months!
4. Next, the nephew arranged a runner to drive it for inspection, this time to sell. The tyres were too bald to pass. Never mind, the runner got the tyres changed so it could pass. The engine overheated. Never mind, the runner sprayed water on it. Eventually, PASS.
5. On the drive home, the engine overheated every 20 mins. Oh dear oh dear!
6. Next problem, no 2nd-dealer would take it as it was considered a 'high-risk' car which might be difficult to sell. Hubby's nephew kept trying.
7. Last problem, the engine temperature shot up the moment the engine was started. I really didn't know how this car could be sold when it couldn't even be started.
Throughout all this, my anxiety levels were sky-high. The car rapidly produced new problems. I got the battery jump-started, but it went kaput and I had to replace it for RM800. New fault messages kept appearing. Engine oil leaked. Leather inside peeled. The plastic lever to open the bonnet broke. Fortunately the boss of our nearby car workshop was super helpful. He advised not to fix things as far as possible. He arranged for towing to his workshop when the battery died, he let me use his hydraulic jack without charge for the mobile inspection people to look at the chassis number under the car. Of course I made sure to promptly pay for necessary repairs without question.
And finally, there was a buyer for the car. They were dealers and knew what to do. It was at a bargain price but I was happy to get rid of the problem.
Wow, good to read that at the end, the ending was a happy one. You sold the car for enough 💰 to cover all your expenses with 💰 remaining else it would make sense just to scrap the car if sell at a loss.
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