Toyota Duet!

I got my car!! Here's the features:

• 2001 Toyota Duet (1,000cc, automatic)
• 5-door Hatchback
• 50,000km (~35,000 miles)
• Forest Green
• Leather Seats
• A/C
• Power doors/windows/mirrors
• CD/Cassette player
• 40-50 MPG

Watch me on YouTube in HD!

In Japan, there are two types of cars. There are white plates and yellow plates. Yellow plates are referred to as "Kei" cars, and are basically advanced go-karts. They have really small engines, and they are much lighter (and less safe) than their white plate brothers. Kei cars are much cheaper to own and operate, as the reason for their very existence is to take advantage of certain loopholes in car laws/regulations in Japan.

Fortunately, I got a white plate. It's got more kick, has airbags, and feels a lot more sturdy than a Kei car does. And here's the kicker: I pretty much got the car for free. I paid ¥120,000 for it (which is about $1,500 at todays exchange rate), but this cost isn't for the actual car itself. Because I know the daughter of the man who owns the car shop who "sold" me the car, they gave it to me for free. The ¥120,000 breaks down as follows: ~¥100,000 for mandatory taxes, inspection, etc. and ~¥20,000 to file the necessary documents, change ownership, etc.

So, yeah! Awesome!

I took it out for my first drive in over 8 months yesterday. It was also my first time ever operating a vehicle with the handle on the right side, and also my first time driving on the left side of the road. Overall though it wasn't nearly as hard as I thought it would be. In fact, it seemed somewhat natural.

I'm definitely looking forward to the increased freedom that owning a car will bring. No longer will I have to wait around for 2 hours to catch the next train if I want to go somewhere. Best of all, living in one of the rainiest regions in all of Japan, this baby will REALLY come in handy on days when the sky is practically falling and I HAVE to go to the grocery store because I am out of food.

Finally, I hope to go and visit friends in northern Mie much more frequently, and I definitely want to plan some road trips as well.