One day while arriving at my in laws' house, we saw a Honda CRV parked outside the house. I was very surprised to find out that my in laws bought a Japanese car,as the whole family was a die-hard fans of French cars.
It never occurred to me that this day could come. A Japanese car in the family? That's certainly a revolution. When I bought my car, I wanted a Japanese car with an automatic transmission. And I got a French car with stick. I have always loved Japanese car, because I had a very good experience with my Honda Civic, the first car I ever bought, when I was living in the USA. It seems that automatic cars are more popular in Malaysia and in USA these days, but not in France. Here are the responses from different people concerning automatic car:
A friend from USA : You meant you are still driving a stick? Oh my God!
A friend from France: Why would you want to drive an automatic car, they are for handicap people!
So when I got my French manual car, emotionally I was not happy. But on the practical side, I know my family was right, it would have lower maintenance cost plus a better resale value, compared to an imported auto car. Today, I'm totally comfortable to drive with my car, on the other hand I have lost my skill of driving in Malaysia. Well, that would be another story.
Back to the story. Why the sudden change in my in laws family? They told me that they had no choice. They needed a powerful car as when they go on vacation, this car has to tow along their camping car. And the French manufacturers do not produce these cars anymore. They had visited several car distributors, and this was the only one that has a manual transmission. Well, it will be another revolution if one day they decide to change to auto transmission!
Hubby and I had a very weird feeling while riding the car. We thought we were in Malaysia! Especially hubby, as he remembered he was driving one the earlier years he visited Malaysia, he found it weird that he was not the one driving as he was sitting on the right front seat, the driver seat in Malaysia.
Indeed, there are few Japanese cars in France and I think all French can drive standard. I had to when we rented a car at Christmas because it took Feng a while to get used to switching gears manually!
ReplyDeleteWhen we got a toyota, we've been having some negative comments from my in-laws. They couldn't help themselves. I think it is normal to buy French to encourage their economy, but I couldn't see myself owning a French car. We got an automatic and my husband doesn't miss driving manual car.
ReplyDeleteI got a stick shift (a Honda Fit) a couple years ago and I love it! I will never go back to automatic again if I can help it. I agree with you on the Hondas. They have always been my favorites of all the cars I have owned.
ReplyDeleteAll those car companies are multinational conglomerates now anyway so saying a car is "American" or "Japanese" doesn't mean much--at least here in the USA. Not sure about the manufacturing details in Europe.
You must be very skillful driving a stick car now. What do you mean by you have lost your skill of driving in M'sia? Since an auto car is much easier to drive here.
ReplyDeleteI'm afraid to drive in Malaysia because there are just too many cars and motobikes! Just to join the main roads there were always tons of cars around and I'm too slow to act. I have no problem driving a car but I'm afraid of the motobikes that bypass me or drivers that do not respect the traffic rules.
DeleteVery true. Have to be very alert and apply defensive driving when driving here because sometimes the motorbikes or cars will suddenly cut in front of your car without signalling. I also have not driven here for a long time.
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