This past week we came one step closer to becoming full-on
Aucklanders. We got the keys to a brand new (to us) 2001 Toyota Corolla Runx. A
minor step down from the 2009 Corolla we had back home, but still a Toyota and
still a pretty cool car. It is a hatchback, which seems to me to still have
some negative connotations in the US. However, the New Zealanders have this one
right, in that most people drive cars that are functional over fashionable and
over-the-top.
Wait a sec…… "hey honey, the steering wheel’s on the wrong
side of the car, did we just buy a mailman's car?”
Being a proficient driver on the
other side of the road is fairly easy, but it's proving difficult to become the stellar driver I am in the US. All of the quick instinct
moves that make me a great city driver in the US now require more thought and
precision. Tally is often asking me “did you see that car coming” or “did you
look both ways before doing that turn?” And let’s not kid. I still am hitting
the wipers instead of blinkers at least 1-2 times per trip. Don’t act like
you’ve never…
 |
| Tally, in the driver's seat? |
Most used cars are imported from Japan here, so it’s fun that
all typical writing in the car (safety warning on visor, information inside the
door well) is in Japanese. Because they are imported and they have a relatively
lower supply and higher demand, they are a little more expensive than their US
counterparts.
Cars are also a little less powerful, on average. Our engine
is 1.5 liters, compared to our 2000 Camry, which was 2.2L. The car struggles a
little bit with the bigger hills and I hate seeing the tachometer moving so far
to get up a hill.
Gas here is about 2.10 a liter and our tank is about 30
liters. Doing the rough math, gas can be over $6 USD a gallon. So no more
complaining about gas prices to us!!
Here is a picture of our car along the harbor. Come visit and we'll drive you around!
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