Japan Travel Tip: Why You Should Try a Kei-Car Like the Suzuki Spacia

Japanese Kei-Car We Rented in Japan

      As I mentioned in earlier entries, my husband and I visited Japan this March. Whenever we return to our hometown Fukuoka, we usually rent a car since, unlike a big city like Tokyo, public transportation is limited and driving is more convenient. In the past we chose compact cars, but this time we rented a kei-car for the first time. 

      A kei-car (軽自動車) is a category of ultra‑compact vehicle in Japan, defined by strict limits on engine size, dimensions, and power output to qualify for lower taxes and insurance. By regulation, a kei-car must be no longer than 3.4 meters, 1.48 meters wide, and 2.0 meters tall, with an engine of 660cc or less. These rules keep the cars compact for Japan’s narrow streets, yet clever design makes them economical, easy to park, and surprisingly spacious inside — practical for everyday use.

       Did you know that kei-cars are gaining popularity abroad, especially kei-trucks? In the U.S., new imports aren’t road‑legal, but older models can be brought in under the 25‑year import rule. Many owners use them on private property — farms, ranches, or large grounds — where their compact size and efficiency make them handy utility vehicles. That’s why renting a kei-car in Japan is special — it’s something you can’t easily experience in the U.S.

      And speaking of common questions, some people outside Japan wonder whether kei-cars are safe on highways — but they absolutely are. In Japan, they can cruise at around 100 km/h (about 62 mph) just like any regular car.

Suzuki Spacia

     I rented a Suzuki Spacia, and despite its compact exterior, the interior felt impressively spacious thanks to clever design. Its tall, boxy shape, large windows, and thin pillars reduce blind spots, while the wide windshield and generous side glass make the cabin bright, open, and safe — so it feels much bigger inside than its size suggests.

      Experiencing a kei-car in Japan is more than just driving — it’s a rare chance to enjoy clever design, spacious comfort, and cultural authenticity that you simply can’t find on U.S. roads.

     My husband and I drove to Costco in Japan, and I’ll share that experience next time.

These are my entires you might like.

• Daihatsu Move Canbus - Adorable Japanese Kei Car

• The Interesting Functions of the Recent Japanese Cars
  

These are my entries related to Fukuoka.

• Top 3 Seafood Restaurants to Visit Around Hakata

• Hakata’s Udon Gems: Two Must-Try Udon Restaurants in Hakata, Fukuoka

• A Tempura Lover’s Guide to Hakata: Two Must-Try Restaurants in Fukuoka, Japan

• Best Breakfasts in Hakata: 3 Must-Try Restaurants
  

• 5 Best Delicious Souvenirs from Fukuoka
  

These are my entries you might like. 

♥Hotel Room Tour and Review - Hotel Villa Fontaine Grand Haneda Airport in Tokyo, Japan

♥5 Best Delicious Souvenirs from Fukuoka

♥My Shopping List for Japanese Beauty Products - What I Want to Get in Japan

♥How to Purchase Japanese Affordable Eyeglasses at Zoff 

♥Driving A Rental Car in Japan, 6 Things You Should Know Before Driving in Japan 

♥6 Facts about Kokyo Gaien Jogging Course 

♥How to Purchase Japanese Affordable Eyeglasses at JINS 

♥6 Japanese Products Loved by Foreign Tourists in Japan

♥Top 3 Japanese Powder Sunscreens   

♥3 Best Japanese Sunscreen Products to Try This Summer

♥3 Best Japanese Eye Creams Won Beauty Award This Year 

♥3 Best Facial Sheet Masks Loved in Japan This Year 

♥7 Most Popular Japanese Facial Cleansing Wipes for Removing Makeup   

♥7 Best Japanese Beauty Products Hall of Fame  

♥Top 5 Life-Changing Japanese Beauty Products   

♥Top 5 Most Popular Japanese Charcoal Soap 

♥5 Best Japanese Facial Lotion (Toner), Kesyou-sui 

♥The Most Popular Facial Sheet Masks in Japan 

♥4 Reasons Why I Love Kose Softymo Cleansing Oil 

♥10 Best Japanese Beauty Products on Amazon Japan, You Can Also Purchase Them at Drugstores in Japan 



     My entries related to Best Japanese Beauty Products can be seen here.
  
     My entries related to Japan can be seen here.

     My entries related to beauty can be seen here.

     My entries related to Japan Haul can be seen here.

     You can find my beauty entries by categories from here.

Getting Bridgestone Tires at Costco

     Last Sunday, my husband and I went to Costco Tire Center to get new tires for his car. It's been many years since he got his tires at Costco last time, and he found that his tires needed to be replaced weeks ago. (By the way, I learned from him how to know when tires need replacing after moving to the U.S.) We have been satisfied with our tires and batteries purchased from Costco because they sell great products with great prices. We love that they provide lifetime maintenance service, which includes inflation pressure checks, tire balancing, tire rotations, as well as flat repairs.

     His old tires were Michelin, but this time he chose Bridgestone tires because there was a $70 off instant coupon with purchasing 4 Bridgestone tires. Bridgestone is a Japanese auto and truck parts manufacturer and was found in Fukuoka in 1931. Actually, our hometown is Fukuoka, Japan, and my uncle works for this company in Fukuoka indeed. Moreover, my sister used to go to the Bridgestone sport gym for exercise such as swimming, dancing and etc. Anyway, we really trust the quality of  Bridgestone tires. :)

Bridgestone Ecopia EP 422 Plus

     This time, Costco's technician recommended him Bridgestone Ecopia EP 422 Plus, which are more fuel efficient tires. His new tires were $425 including tax, balance, tire disposal and etc. :)

Bridgestone Ecopia EP 422 Plus

 

     We took his car to Costco Tire Center at 10 a.m., and it took 3 hours to get new tires installed. When we picked up his car at 1 p.m., we asked the technician if it was still available to get my tires rotated because I was going to bring my car to Costco for it anyway next week. My tires rotation was done at 5 p.m.! :) I was glad that getting his new tires and my tires' rotation were done at the same day!

I Witnessed A Car Crash

     Today, while I was waiting for a red signal to change at an intersection, I witnessed a car crash. I just exited a highway and stopped at the first intersection because of a red-light. I was at the first person on the second lane in order to turn right. While I was waiting for a red signal to change there, a black sedan drove through incredibly very fast from the first lane, just next to my lane. It seemed that the car was speeding at nearly 60 miles/hour or so. The car ignored a red-light. It was insanely fast to go into the intersection and crashed into the other vehicle. It seemed that the car was not going to turn right. It just drove straight toward the intersection even though there were only two ways (turn left or turn right). I was very scared that it happened in just front of my car. There were other drivers who witnessed the scene, but I think I was only person who saw the car crash very clearly. That's why I told a police officer everything I saw at the scene. After coming back home, I was still shocked that it actually happened in front of me.

      These days, my husband and I have talked about the risk of motor vehicle accidents. Some drivers drive very fast, and some drivers don't look carefully. Actually, our small car was hit by the other huge car at a parking lot once. The RV was going backward from a parking space suddenly, so my husband honked at the car, but eventually, we couldn't avoid it because it happened too fast. The driver should have looked at back carefully before going backward. It was just a minor accident, but we spent many hours to contact the insurance company and get our car fixed. In addition, last year, I saw the news that a tragic accident happened in my neighborhood. A boy was killed by a car accident in our local area. Even though it's a school zone, some drivers drive very fast. Since we moved into this area, the number of population has increased very rapidly. The schools were built near our home, and more children are walking, riding bicycles and skateboarding. Before the tragic accident happened, we had talked about that we should drive very carefully in our neighborhood. Even after the accident, I still see speeding cars in this area. :(

     We also talked about that how easy it is to get driver's license in the U.S. In Japan, it cost about $3,000 to get a driver's license. In order to get a license in Japan, people must take lectures and practices at a driving school for many hours. If you fail a class, you need to retake the class and pay an extra fee. It usually takes 3 months or so depending on how often you go to the driving school and how fast you can pass all classes. It took me about 90 days until I got the driver's license in Japan. In the U.S., however, I needed to go to DMV, Department of Motor Vehicles, just two times to get a driver's license. I just took the writing exam and the practice exam. I don't remember how much it cost exactly, but I think it was about $30 or so, which was very inexpensive. I think learning how to drive safely is very important to avoid car accidents. I learned many important things from professional driving instructors in Japan. I think all drivers should have safety driving skills.

My Car Maintenance & Smog Check

    After I got my car in 2009, I made my car maintenance checklist because I should know when I'd better to get the parts replaced and the fluids exchanged. I don't want to get unnecessary part replacements, but I would like to keep my car in good condition to avoid any unexpected damages and troubles.
  
    According to my checklist, it's time to get my car's radiator fluid and break fluid exchanged. My husband told me that my car also needed the drive belt replacement. That's why we made appointment for those at Pep Boys yesterday. Soon after we did, I received the Vehicle Registration Renewal Notice from DMV that my car also needs smog check last night. I took my car to Pep Boys this morning and finished getting those done today. It cost $275.49 in total for radiator fluid replacement, break system inspection, break fluid replacement, the drive belt replacement and smog check.

Oil Change & Multi-Point Inspection

     Today, I took my car to Toyota for oil change and multi-point inspection for the first time in a year. Because I used a coupon, it cost $34.95. I was told that my car had no problem. :) Next year, I will take my car for checkup again.

Unleaded Fuel 87

      I usually fill up my car with gas at Costco. Before putting gas in a car, you can choose from two different types of gases, unleaded and premium, at Costco gas station. Even though I don't know much about car, I just know that my car needs cheaper one, which is unleaded gas.


Costco Gas Station

      While I was giving my husband a ride to the airport, he told me that my car was almost out of gas, so I needed to stop by at a gas station on my way back home. I didn't want to stop by Costco that day, so I went to the nearest gas station from my home. However, at the gas station, I was confused. There were four options. "What does EC Unleaded 87 mean?" "What's difference these four gases?" I usually choose cheaper one at Costco, but I was not sure which one I should choose at this gas station. Eventually, I gave up filling it up there. It was pretty embarrassing for me because I have been living in the U.S for six years now. I should have known about that.

       After that, I asked my husband which one I should have chosen there. He told me that I could choose "87" there. It goes out saying that I didn't know what 87 means. I had never paid attention to these numbers before.

      Today, I searched about the types of fuel. The fuel numbers, 87, 89, and 91, indicate octane rating, which is a standard measure of the performance of a motor fuel. According to Wikipedia, the higher the octane number, the more compression the fuel can withstand before detonating (igniting). In broad terms, fuels with a higher octane rating are used in high performance petrol engines that require higher compression ratios. In contrast, fuels with lower octane numbers (but higher cetane numbers) are ideal for diesel engines, because diesel engines (also referred to as compression-ignition engines) do not compress the fuel but rather compress only air and then inject the fuel into the air heated up by compression, whereas petrol engines (also referred to as gasoline engines) rely on ignition of air and fuel compressed together as a mixture without ignition, which is then ignited at the end of the compression stroke using spark plugs. Therefore, high compressibility of the fuel matters mainly for petrol engines. Use of petrol (gasoline) with lower octane numbers may lead to the problem of engine knocking.

       It's still difficult for me to understand about types of fuel though. I just understand that my small car, Sion xA, needs unleaded gas, 87.

       By the way, in Japan, I have never had problem with choosing types of gases. There are three different gases, レギュラー, ハイオク, and 軽油. レギュラー, regular, fuel is for usual cars such as my Mazda Demio. ハイオク, high octane, fuel is for high performance engine cars. 軽油, light diesel oil, is for heavy-duty trucks and huge buses. Japanese fuel options are much easier to understand, are they?

Pep Boys Auto Parts Replacements

     On December 29, my husband also took his car to Pep Boys to get some auto parts replaced. Toyota detected that the power steering return line hose was leaking by their inspection, so he was going to get the hose replaced as well. However, Pep Boys told him that the power steering hose wasn't leaking at all; in fact, the transmission oil cooler hose was leaking. I think Toyota might have miswritten the result of the inspection. :( Today, all replacements were done this evening.

The description of the replacements is...
Replace Valve Cover Gasket for $138.50
Tune-up Package for $103.38
Front Brakes Basic Plus for $252.51
Rear Brakes Basic Plus for $134.99
Fluid Leak Evaluation for $31.49
Remove & Replace Oil Coo for $105.93
Transmission Oil Cooler for $16.19

     The total replacements fee was $782.99 plus tax. In addition, Pep Boys offered their $60 rebate for getting Brake Service done. It will end up being $722.99 after the rebate. Considering that Toyota quoted $1,527.88 plus rotor price for all, Pep Boys did the entire job at great price. :)

    If you are planing on getting auto service done at Pep Boys, check their site first. They always offer many coupons. Auto service is always very expensive, so it will end up being huge discounts with a coupon. My husband saved $87.01 with using a 10% off coupon today.

All the Replacements Were Done

     Last Saturday, my husband and I took my car to Pep Boys for some auto parts replacements, and we picked up my car next day.

The description of the replacements is...
Rear Wiper Blades Installed for free (regularly $23.38)
Computerized Wheel Alignment for $71.99
Dayco Serpentine Belt for $34.18
Remove & Replace Power Steering Pump Drive Belt for $115.56
3 Step Pro Fuel Pkg (E.F.T) for $80.99
Brake Clean & Adjust for $26.99
Tune Up Package (Spark Plugs) for $93.75
 Pepguard Limited Extend for $26.61
Serp Belt for $29.06

      Toyota's estimate was $697.29, but we paid $479.13 to Pep Boys, so we saved $218.16. It still cost a lot for the replacements though. However, maintaining your own car periodically is crucial to prevent driving trouble. If your car suddenly breaks down, it will cost more money and waste of your precious time.

Free Tire Rotation at a Costco Wholesale Tire Center

     My husband and I went to Costco to get my tires rotated this morning. Because I bought my tires at Costco on November 2010, they have been providing my tire rotation for free since then. We are really satisfied with their Lifetime Maintenance Services, which include inflation pressure checks, tire balancing, tire rotations, as well as flat repairs.
     We arrived at the Costco Wholesale Tire Center at 10:15 a.m., and it was not crowded. All I needed to do for my tire rotation was telling them my Costco number and my car model, and they nicely accepted my request as usual. My husband asked the technician if they open next Sunday because he also wanted to get his tires rotated next week. The staff told us that they open as usual except for Christmas Day and New Year's Day and that it's usually slow the day before and after Christmas, so that's why today was not crowded at all. During tire rotations, we shopped at Costco and grabbed quick lunch at their food court. I was surprised that many tables were unusually empty at 11:30 a.m. while it was crowded inside the store as usual. It was the last Sunday before Christmas Day, so I assumed that the reason why the food court was not crowded was that many people were busy due to preparing Christmas party or something like that.
     They finished rotating my tires at 12:30, and we picked up my car. Next week, we will take our cars to an auto repair shop to get some auto parts replaced.

     My entries related Costco can be seen here.

http://itisapieceofcake2011.blogspot.com/search/label/Costco

Oil Change and 21 Point Inspection

     Today, my husband and I took our cars to Toyota for oil change and 21 point inspection. It cost $42.62 for each car. It's been 20 months since we got a car inspection there, so it's about time. Besides, I'm going to drive long distance for commuting from next month, so I wanted to get my car inspected later this year. 


     As the results of the inspection, his car become apparent that something needs to be replaced before too long. Toyota quoted...
rotors for (?),
front brake for $479.88,
brake fluid exchange for $149,
clean and adjust for $57,
power steering hose for $369,
spark plugs for $169,
valve cover gasket for $235, and
cabin air filter for $69.
     The total estimated price of Toyota was $1,527.88 plus rotor price. He took his car to another car repair shop and asked for quotation. They quoted $685 plus a power steering hose price. He already made an appointment for getting the job done next week.

     Toyota also recommended me to get something replaced for my car. They quoted...
rear wiper Insert for $5.77,
drive belt for $212.97,
alignment for $109.55,
E.F.T service for $135,
clean and adjust (shoes) for $55, and
spark plugs for $179.
     The total estimated price of Toyota is $697.29. It will cost a lot of money, so I took my car to another auto repair shop and asked for the quotation. They quoted $478.36. I haven't decided where to take my car yet, but I will finish getting all replacement done this year.

     I'll take my car to Costco for tire rotation tomorrow morning. Because I've bought my tires at Costco, they provides the lifetime services which include inflation pressure checks, tire balancing, tire rotations, as well as flat repairs for free. Which means that alignment fee, which Toyota quoted $109.55, will be free. (Update: Costco does not do wheel alignment!)

He Ended Up Getting His Car Fixed

My husband ended up getting his car fixed. He was in hit-and-run accident on April 22, and his car got a dent on the hood. He first told me that he wouldn't fix it because it didn't bother him a lot, but he finally found a car repair shop, which provides automotive repair services with pretty reasonable price.  He also wanted to replace the front window regulator, which the car dealer had given him a quote for $600 before.
Replacing the hood and the front window regulator cost $900, and they did a good finishing job. Specifically, the color of the hood and the the car body matched perfectly. My husband's car looks much better than before, and we were satisfied with their excellent job. :)

Alberto G. Auto Body & Paint
13841 Harbor Blvd.
Garden Grove, CA 92843
(714) 265-9517

My Car Battery Lasted for Seven Years

Today, I searched about the average life for car battery. I found the life-span of a car battery is 5 to 6 years nowadays, but the length of the life-span depends on how you use the battery. If you use your car battery well, your battery will last longer like 8 years or more.

In 2009, I bought an used car, which is a 2006 model, and yesterday was the first time to replace the battery. It comes out that the battery had been used for seven years. I thought it lasted longer. :)

Actually, I was planing on getting it replaced earlier to be safe, but I put it off again and again since I was busy. Last week, we accidentally left the light inside the car for two days. Right after I noticed about this, I also noticed it was taking extra time to start the ignition that morning. The battery warning light was on my dashboard even though it disappeared after about 10 seconds. From that day, it took extra time to start the ignition my car in morning although there was no problem at noon. It still remained through this week. That's why I needed to get a new battery as soon as I could. I really wanted to get the job done before my car battery was completely dead.
Yesterday, I bought my car battery $74.99 plus $9 for core fee, which is refundable upon the return of your old battery, at Costco. My husband replaced the old car battery with my new car battery last night. It took him for 20 minutes or so to replace it. My husband seriously told me, "Make sure not to take this old battery to Costco because it is too heavy." He knows how serious my back condition is. These days I haven't had any backache because I have been exercising everyday, but he knows that I can potentially strain my back if I carry heavy stuff. Nonetheless, I decided to take it to Costco and carried it into the tire center anyway. It was very very heavy just as my husband said. The tire center staff kindly told me, "You don't have to carry it here. If you asked, I could have helped you. Next time, ask us first." My backache was okay (Actually, I have a little backache now though.), but my arms got really tired. Anyway, I was able to refund the core fee. I will be scolded by my husband tonight. :P Because we are going to move out our current apartment tomorrow completely, I didn't want to leave any chores and wanted to get some cardboard boxes for moving at Costco while I was there.

Marshalls Haul

Last Sunday, my husband and I went to Marshalls. We found many Yankee Candle products were on sale there. We bought some air fresheners for our cars. I didn't know they sell car air fresheners. I had never seen them at any other similar discount stores such as T.J. Maxx and Ross. Maybe, I just hadn't noticed it before.

I chose two different kinds of vent sticks. I like the fact that these sticks looked like actual Yankee Candles. They are so cute and smell good! :)

bamboo & bermuda beach

These were originally for $5.49 for each but were on sale for $2.99.


My husband chose Car Jar Ultimate air freshener.  

Midsummer's Night

This was originally for $5.49 but was on sale for $2.49.

And also there were many candles, but I found the candle which was my favorite lavender fragrance. I love lavender fragrance because it makes me relax. I always put lavender near my pillow before I sleep. That helps me to fall asleep. This Harry & David candle was very close to authentic smell of lavender. :)

Harry & David English Lavender Fragranced Candle 18 oz

This was originally for $24.50 but was on sale for $9.99. :)


I think these were good deals. :)

 Today's Vocabulary

・ vent : noun / 排出口、通気口、通風孔

・ fact that : ～という事実

Smog Check

My husband had reservation for smog check at Pep Boys at 8:30 a.m. yesterday. I was going to pick him up there and drop him off at his work, but I gave it up. It's because when he got there, they told him that their machine for smog check had broken down and it may not be fixed before noon. Then he called Pep Boys around noon, but they told him that it hadn't been fix yet and would be done next week. Then, he found another place for smog check, which has many positive reviews. He called them for an availability for a smog check that day. They said yes. Then he took his car there, and they told him it would take for 25 minutes to finish it. That's very fast! It cost only $40. Considering their quick service, it's not too shabby. :)

Bake Smog Center
15795 Rockfield Blvd
Irvine, CA 92618
(949) 305-8733

Smog Check

Yesterday, I took my car to Pep Boys for smog check. My car was able to pass all inspections for smog check. It cost $ 38.24 (CA certificate was for $8.25, and official CA emission test was for $29.99.)
It took only 45 minutes because I went there early morning.

Last month, I was looking for a place to get my car's smog check done. I found some places which provide smog check for $23 to $28. I thought it was very cheap! Then, I checked their review. Most customers have complained about their price and service. They were giving away coupons for smog check. But when people went there, they said, "You can't use this coupon for your car, it will cost about $60." I didn't know whether it was a fraud or not, but I didn't want to get my car checked there.
I finally decided on Pep Boys. My husband and I have gotten our car inspections and some replacements in the past, and we have never felt discontent with their service. And the price was not too shabby. :)





 Today's Vocabulary
・ emission : noun / 排気、排出
・ fraud : noun / 詐欺、ペテン師　（Pronunciation is frɔ'ːd ）
・ discontent : adjective / 不満な
　　ex) feel discontent with : ～に不満を感じる

In All It Only Cost...

Last Sunday, my husband and I dropped off my car at Pep Boys to get my car brakes replaced.

It took about 5 hours to finish the replacement. In the mean time, we used my husband's car. We went shopping and finished our usual Sunday chores.

The front and rear break replacement was $153.78 including tax. It was cheaper than I expected. It was already cheap, but Pep Boys staff gave us a rebate form. I'm going to get $25 with the rebate. So, it's going to end up with $128.78!

By the way, the rear wiper blade was replaced by my husband last week.

Toyota quoted front pads for $259 and rear brakes for $59.88 about two weeks ago. Total $318.88, but Pep Boys replaced these for $128.78.
And also air filter was estimated for $54.88, and rear wiper was estimated for $13 by Toyota, but we repasted  both of these by ourselves. These only ended up costing $3 (Retail prices were $12 for air filter and $9 for rear wiper blade.) with my husband reward with previous purchase.
So, total Toyota's estimate was for $386.76, but in all it only cost $131.78. We were able to save  $254.98!
Good job! :))






 Today's Vocabulary
・ in all : 全体で、合計で

We Came to a Conclusion

Today, my husband and I went to Pep Boys to buy an air filter and a rear wiper blade. We checked each model number with a catalog in store to identify the appropriate products for my car.

I purchased an air filter for about $12 and a rear wiper blade for about $9. And my husband had $20 reward with his previous purchase, so I ended up paying less than $3 including tax. Yay!

Then, we checked how to replaced these on youtube again. It seemed pretty easy, but it took a while to figure out how to do this.
Eventually, we replaced the old air filter with the new one.

new air filter and old one

Then, we tried to figure out how to install the rear wiper blade. However, the blade we bought did not match the old ones. Therefore, we came to a conclusion that the new wiper blade wouldn't fit on my car. We searched the product on the Internet. Some people complained about the same thing. One person said that he took the rubber off the wiper blade and replaced it. Hmm.... I have to decide between returning this, or replacing it after removing the rubber. It's not an easy decision.






 Today's Vocabulary
・ identify : verb / （身元を、正体を）確認する、識別する
　　ex) I tried to identify my coat at the Lost and Found. : 私は遺失物取扱所で私のコートを見つけようとした。
　　ex) We need to identify data errors and corrects them. : データの誤りを特定し修正する必要があります。
・ including tax : 税込み
・ install : verb / （機器などを）据え付ける、設置する、取り付ける
　　ex) The new equipment was installed in our factory. : 新しい装置が当社工場に設置されました。
・ match : verb / （検索・照合などで）～にマッチする、一致（調和・適合）させる
・ come to a conclusion :  結論を出す、決着する、断定する、終わる
　　ex) I've come to a conclusion. : 私なりに結論を出しました
・ fit : verb / (形や大きさなどが～に)合う、適合する、フィットする
　　ex) That's the shoe that fits me. : それは私にぴったりだ。
　　ex) My clothes don't fit me anymore. : 服がきつくなった。／服が合わなくなった。
　　ex) The key doesn't fit the lock. : 鍵が錠に合わない。

Oil Change and 21 Point Inspection

Today, my friend and I took my car to Toyota for oil change and 21 point inspection. It's because I got a coupon for these from Toyota, and I wanted to get my car checked. It cost only $15.65. After we dropped off my car, we waited for a shuttle bus to take us home. While we were waiting, Toyota served some sandwiches, cookies, snacks and drinks. That's good!
My car needed to replace front break pads, air filter and rear wiper. I didn't get them replaced today.

Toyota quoted ...
front pads and rotation for $259,
rear brakes for $59.88,
air filter for $54.88,
and rear wiper for $13.

I'm going to take my car to another auto repair shop soon. But I think I can replace air filter and rear wiper by myself, I've never done it before though.






 Today's Vocabulary
・ take someone home : （人）を家まで送る
　　ex) Take me home. : 私を家まで連れていって。
・ rear : adjective / 後ろの、後部の
・ quote : verb / 見積もる

Costco Battery

My husband and I went to Costco to buy a car battery yesterday. We asked a technician which batteries is for our car. We bought it for $66.99.

I think Costco provides the best value and good warranty for batteries.

Today, my husband  replaced old battery with new one.
Now, we are ready to go on a road trip for end of this year!





 Today's Vocabulary
・ technician : noun / 技術者、専門家
・ mechanic : noun / 整備士
・ replace ~ with - : ～を－と交換する、－が～の後任に就く
　　ex) We replaced our old computer with a latest brand-new one.
・ go on a road trip : 車で旅行する

Comparison for Prices

I gave my friend a ride to Toyota.
I found the board of comparison for prices there.

I had thought the service of car dealer was always expensive, but I knew sometimes that's not true.
It's very helpful to know the prices.





 Today's Vocabulary
・comparison : noun / 比較 (pronounciation is kəmpæ'risn)
　ex) Attached is comparison of freight rates. 運賃の比較表を添付しました。
・in comparison with : ～と比べると
　ex) In comparison with China, Japan is a tiny country. 中国と比べると、日本は面積の小さな国である。