Yep! This was seriously the luckiest thing ever. I was about to fall asleep and was scrolling my socials as you do, when I randomly went to Facebook Marketplace and searched '4wd'. No idea what prompted me to do that but the first one to pop up was a 2010 Nissan Xtrail with 230,000 kms on the dial and its priced dashed from $7000 to $4000. It looked pretty good but then I fell asleep as I do. 

The next day I had a proper look at the ad and when I saw it came with a rooftop tent I decided I just had to have it. There was just a few minor problems. It came with NSW plates which meant it had to get a full roadworthy inspection done before I could transfer the plates and the guy selling it was leaving the country in a few days (COVID-19 was ruining his travel plans and he had to return to France, hence the desperate slash of the price). If there was any minor thing wrong with the car, I would have to pay to fix it before I could drive it. Everyone I talked to told me not to touch it with a ten foot pole. So I went out, just to look, and bought it. We'll soon find out if I've made a huge mistake or not! It's booked in for its inspection this Wednesday. As the guy was leaving the country he let us take all his camping gear as well including gas stoves, camp chairs, tables, mattresses, sleeping gear, cutlery you name it! Oh and we got the car for $3700! Dad offered him $3500, he counter offered $3800, dad agreed and then he said we could have it for $3700. I was pretty stoked with that outcome!

Another teeny tiny technicality though is that she's manual. I've only ever driven a manual in a huge, treeless, paddock with the oldest, banged up paddock bombs imaginable.  Can't be too different on a real road though right? I have since found out that it's a lot different. The first driving lesson dad took my on, he instructed me to reverse out of the driveway onto the steep road and then do a hand-break start to take off. Yeah no worries dad. Thanks. I stalled no more than 9 times and managed to still smile once I took off which was a real miracle as Riley was screaming at me from the back seat 'ALLLLLEEEEEXXXX! Let me try! What the heck!?". 

Today though, I drove for over two hours without stalling once! I feel super mature and accomplished! However I did encounter a new issue with manual driving when I went to the servo to buy lunch today. I walked in and bought a toasted panini which looked delicious and then got back in the car to eat it (eating whilst driving is probably one of my biggest hobbies). As soon as I had a bite and started the car up I realised there was no way I could manage a panini, the gears and the mental strain required for manual at the same time. So I awkwardly sat alone in my car eating whilst everyone else stared at me judging as they walked in to pay for their fuel. Why did I have to park in the closest bay to the entrance? Safe to say I'll definitely be teaching myself how to manage a meal whilst driving manual. 

If everything works out the way I hope it will at this inspection, I'll have all the freedom I planned to have whilst in WA plus more! Whilst my little Mazda 3 is packed for the road trip at Nan's in Melbourne, a 4WD will be amazing for beach drives and accessing all the best camping places along the coast! I'm now planning a trip up the west coast of WA to Broome! May as well spend the time I've taken off exploring more of Australia if I have to cancel my overseas plans. I'll fill you in on whether I have to pay a bajillion dollars to fix everything on Wednesday but please cross your fingers for me! 

A few days later:
I thought I'd fill you in on my new 4wd situation. I got it inspected yesterday and the dude messaged me within half an hour to say it was done. There was absolutely nothing wrong with it! Hallelujah! Such a steal! Legitimately could not be more stoked! Road trips, here I come!