TurboPicks: Reasons Why I Want A K-Car For My First Car

Hello once again, CTzens! This is the TurboCarl, and today, I will give you some valid reasons why I would like a K-car as my first vehicle in the future. Nowadays, with the more paved roads and the more chances of getting stuck in the freeway, it makes much sense that the car that you would want would be something that is value for money, or something small yet very spacious. And what else would better fit the description than a car that is small yet a bang for the buck? The answer there is the Kei car.

Just to give you an idea of what a Kei car is, let’s just say that it is a cute, small, and boxy car for those who want a beginner’s car. It’s cute in a way that girls like this pint-sized creation. Small in a sense that it’s half the size of a compact, and the engine is small. Finally, it’s boxy - although before it wasn’t.

But I don’t want to spill the beans, so let’s cut to the chase and let’s go with reason number one.

1. It can carry up to 5 passengers with maximum comfort.

For example, you want to haul your friends to go bar-hopping, but a van is big, bulky, and consumes a lot of gas. But wait - you have a K-car. At first, you might think that some of them may be crammed like sardines in a can. But if you try doing some tests on the backseat, you will feel like you’re in a five-star limousine, because despite its size, the legroom is long, and there’s no hassle for the front passenger while driving. And here’s a bonus: when you go home with a lot of grocery bags, don’t put them on the floor - because there are K-cars with handles at the back of the seat that hold the bags, without having your legs to hit your precious groceries. Look mom, this is a dream come true!

2. It can carry your luggage, no matter how big or how small.

Yes, luggage can be very heavy, and you need some help. But a conventional truck, though it carries more luggage, can’t fit through narrow roads, and are very wide. However, the K-truck can do the same thing. It can load your luggage, deliver your packages, and if you’d look at the photo above, it can carry another car ( as long as it isn’t an SUV). Wonder why some mail companies use these kinds of trucks in Japan? Because they haul your luggage and fit through narrow alleys that are around 7 people wide, unlike the conventional ones that have to stop at the nearest wide-open road and cause the driver to deliver it by foot.

3. You don't have to go have a respray, because it has interchangeable panels.

Resprays for your car usually would cost you 2,800 pesos if you would have a car panel resprayed here in Manila. Have your whole car repainted, that’s around 20,000 pesos, which is a hefty tag for those beginner car owners. But if you have a K-car like the new Daihatsu Copen, there’s no need to go to your paint shop - because ALL the panels are interchangeable, such that if you want new parts, just go to the dealership and they’ll swap it without disassembling it or using a can of car paint. Hassle-free, right?

4. It can be a portable home.

The recreational vehicle (RV) can be your portable home in America, but it can’t fit through the minor roads in your narrowly-made roads in your municipality. But in Japan, it has been shrunk down to of course - the K-car. You might think that only a dwarf or a midget would fit in there, but no, you’re wrong. Inside that camper, or the so-called Tentmushi, there’s a sofabed, a folding table, and a small gas range, a small sink, and some cabinets. Think of it as a tiny house on wheels - because you’ll need it.

5. It's a pint-sized, budget JDM car.

If there’s one car culture that makes up CT, that’s gotta be the JDM group. But it will take a lot of modifications to turn an everyday car into a JDM superstar, and the common cars for JDM mods are the Supra, the S13 Silvia, the Lancer, the Impreza, but it is rare that we have K-cars for JDM mods. But don’t worry, there are some K-cars that still earn street cred that a normal JDM car gets, and those are the Honda Beat, the Autozam AZ-1, and many more. Now who says K-cars can’t be modified? I don’t.

6. It's as tough as a 4x4.

At first, you might think that a Kei car is weak, and because its engine is small, it can’t go on tough terrain. Not this time, because there are Kei cars that are capable of going out to explore the open world with no asphalt at all. See the Suzuki Carry above? It has tank tracks, off-road bumpers, roof racks, and other essential mods on a 4x4; which proves that the Kei car can go beyond its limits. Want some examples? Here are just some 4x4 K-cars:

• Suzuki Jimny/Suzuki Samurai
• Mitsubishi Pajero Jr.
• Suzuki Ignis
• Honda Vamos

So there’s no reason for you to underestimate the K-car now.

7. It has great MPG.

See the photo above from Canadian Renewable Fuels Association? The photo says it all. It proves that a usual 800cc K-car engine gets 5.8 liters for every 100 kilometers. Saves up on gas when you drive.

8. It can race around the track.

Motorsport might just be one of the things that make cars popular, because it showcases the power of a certain vehicle in terms of performance, handling, and aesthetics. See the K-car above? It races like there’s no tomorrow, and it actually proves people wrong again, because for once in a K-car owner’s life, they just had proven the high-performance quality of their K-car.

9. It can be anything.