- Can you drive? If yes, when did you get your license? How was learning to drive for you? How often do drive now? Why? If no, why not?
- How many cars are there in your family, what are they, and who drives them?
- Of all the cars your family has owned, leased or rented, which has been the best? Why?
- Which as been the worst? Why?
- If you had to buy a new car tomorrow what car or what kind of car would you buy? Why?
- In the future, will car ownership become a thing of the past? Are you looking forward to the day that you no longer need to own a car? Why or why not?
Question 1
Yes, I can. That said, my Australian drivers license has expired now and I was never legally allowed to drive in Japan. I got my drivers license when I was eighteen years old. It was somewhere between fun and stressful. Eventually, during the learning process, I switched driving instructors and it was much more fun and easy after that.Question 2
My family in Australia has downsized to just one compact car now that both my parents have retired. While I was growing up, we had a larger family car. When my mother learnt to drive, we became a two-car family. Once I was licensed, we had three cars until I moved to Japan. My family over here has no cars – neither my wife nor I can drive in Japan. Actually, that's not true – my wife is a "paper driver".Question 3
We had a Ford Escort when I was learning to drive. It wasn't much but it was fun to drive. I think the nicest car we had was a Ford Telstar. It's strange that I've named two Fords in this answer. We were always a Datsun/Nissan family apart from those two. I don't know exactly what my folks drive now, maybe a Kia?Question 4
The Nissan Bluebird I inherited from my dad was probably the worst. Though it was my first car, it was a gas guzzler. I was in university at the time so I didn't have that much money. Yet to keep myself on the road, I had to put most of the money I earned back into the car. The steering was really heavy too – it turned like a boat!Question 5
Maybe some kind of electric self-driving car? I want something that will be better for the environment than the cars I've had prevously. It would also be nice to take a nap or read a book instead of piloting the vehicle. I've gotten used to relaxing while travelling and letting someone else do the driving. The Japanese public transportation system has spoiled me!Question 6
I'm already there! I don't own a car nor do I think I need to own one. Anywhere I want to or need to go, I can get there by train, by bicycle, or on foot. In those times when a car would be more convenient, I shell out the money for a taxi.Tough Vocabulary
| - English - | - Japanese - |
|---|---|
| during the learning process | 学習プロセス中 |
| downsized | 小型化 |
| apart from | の他に |
| I don't know exactly | 正確にはわからない |
| a gas guzzler | 燃費が悪い |
| pilot a vehicle | 車を操縦する |
| I've been spoiled | 私は甘やかされてきました |
| in those times | 当時 |
| shell out the money for | お金を払い出す |