Young Version — April 1998

RED ZONE letters: Hello, editors. This is my second letter. Please listen—I finally got the 180SX I’d always wanted! I arranged for delivery on my birthday, but the dealer let me down. A friend’s used-car shop searched for about a month before finding one. It’s used, but the engine runs well and the interior is clean, so I’m happy. My boyfriend also drives an 180SX (a white one). We lined up the cars on delivery day and took a photo right away. I’m still learning to drive; before this I hardly drove at all because my previous car was a kei car. He told me not to listen to music until I got used to driving. I felt he was looking out for me. I’d always ridden in the passenger seat, so driving home for the first time was nerve-racking, but he rode along part of the way and made me feel safe.

I learned to drive in my dad’s car, but my family opposed buying one. I couldn’t say what I wanted, so as a last resort I wrote a letter explaining what I couldn’t say aloud. My family finally agreed, and the letter worked. For anyone whose family opposes a car purchase, writing a letter may be worth trying. Every time I see my 180SX, now my beloved car, I smile. I spent all the money I had saved for a year and a half—and I love the car so much. I washed it today. I bought it for ¥1.55 million. I’ll keep saving and gradually tuning it. I can’t wait to go driving with my boyfriend. I’ll take good care of my 180SX!