Georgia On My Mind: 1994 Honda Acty vs 1998 Honda Life

Good morning! Today we’re getting just a little bit topical, looking at two cars caught up in Georgia’s anti-Kei-car madness, but these two are safe and sound (for now) here in the Wild West. But before we dive into those, let’s see how Friday’s roundup went:

Wow, it’s a regular LUV-fest around here. The little white truck won by a landslide, despite being panned as “too expensive” earlier in the week. But in fairness, it was up against a really charming old Alfa Romeo for the same price.

A vehicle like a 1980 Chevy LUV is, as many of you like to point out, a deathtrap by modern standards. It has virtually no crash protection, no driver aids of any kind, barely adequate brakes, and only just enough power to maintain highway speeds. And yet, it is still completely legal to drive on any public road anywhere in the United States. Is it safe to drive on any road? That is up to the person behind the wheel to determine.

The wailing and gnashing of teeth over cars imported under the 25-year rule seems to be mostly over safety, a word that has motivated do-gooders, and frustrated car enthusiasts, for a very long time now. And while cars are vastly safer due to their efforts, this latest round of the debate over car safety isn’t being made in good faith. Kei cars, a term that has become shorthand among the uninformed for “Japanese imports,” are too small and too slow for American roads, they say, and can’t possibly be safe because they didn’t pass American safety tests. We know that’s a flawed argument, of course, but what really irritates me is that it speaks to a deeper misunderstanding of the word “safety.” We buy things and pass laws and wrap ourselves up in padding and expect those things to protect us, while we just keep on acting the same way, which will never make us safe. Safety doesn’t come from the things you buy to protect yourself from others. It comes from the things you do to protect yourself and others.

All right, I’ll get off my soapbox. Let’s look at some kei cars.

1994 Honda Acty – $6,500

Engine/drivetrain: 656 cc overhead cam inline 3, five-speed manual, RWD

Location: Granite Falls, WA

Odometer reading: 120,000 kilometers

Runs/drives? Yessir!

The classic cab-over kei truck design is at the center of the controversy. Endlessly useful, far more economical than even a compact traditional pickup truck, and as tough as old boots, kei trucks are popular imports to the US for use as runabouts within contained environments, like a farm or a college campus. But they’re also adorable and seem like they would be fun to drive (I’ve never had the opportunity), so plenty of people want one in their own driveway as well. Honda’s Acty is a popular choice, largely because of Honda’s excellent reputation here in the US.

This second-generation Acty is powered by a 656 cc triple under the bed, sending power to the rear wheels through a five-speed manual transmission. This truck lacks two options that I think really make kei trucks appealing–four-wheel-drive and a dump bed–but the tradeoff is that the 2WD truck can actually reach highway speeds. Driving this at 70 MPH down the Interstate has got to be terrifying, however.

The seller imported this truck from Japan two years ago, and it already wore the wild not-quite-camo paint job, so someone in Japan chose this look. It’s distinctive, I’ll say that, and it is a nice change from the sea of appliance-white kei trucks you typically see. It runs and drives great, and has a new radiator.

More importantly, it already has a Washington state title and registration, so if it stays in the state, you’ll have no trouble with paperwork. Take it elsewhere, and you might have an issue, but most of the Pacific Northwest is pretty import-friendly.

1998 Honda Life – $4,900

Engine/drivetrain: 656 cc overhead cam inline 3, five-speed manual, FWD

Location: Ferndale, WA

Odometer reading: ad lists as 64,000 miles

Runs/drives? Indeed it does!

Case in point–this little Honda Life hatchback is for sale from one of many specialty importers/dealers in Washington and Oregon. This car is not the usual fare; most people seem to want Mitsubishi Delicas and Nissan Skylines. But I’ve always had a soft spot for small manual economy cars, and this little guy really appeals to me. And it really is little–we think of the older Honda Civic hatchbacks, or the more recent Fit, as small cars, but the Life makes them look like Escalades.

The Life uses the same three-cylinder engine as the Acty, but fuel-injected, and driving the front wheels. Many non-sporting kei cars are automatics, but this one has a five-speed manual. It’s probably not as entertaining as something like Honda’s mid-engined Beat sports car, but I imagine it’s sort of like driving a non-Cooper original Mini, and that can be a lot of fun.

Inside, it’s almost as Spartan as an old Mini, too–kei cars are not known for their creature comforts. But aside from basic controls and instrumentation, what do you really need? It’s all in decent condition, too, it looks like. It runs and drives great, and the dealership has changed the fluids and replaced the tires, so it’s ready to rock.

I really like this “tall wagon” style. I imagine working within the kei limitations is a bit like those store displays at IKEA, showing what you can do with only 300 square feet of living space, and like a small apartment, if you want more space in a small car, you have to think vertically. The result is this charming little box, perched high on its tiny wheels, taller than it is wide. Not the best thing for handling, but it sure is cute.

Obviously, these cars aren’t for everyone, and that’s another part of the problem with the argument against them. Anyone who wants one really wants it, and they’re well aware of the dangers inherent in driving something so small. Lawmakers aren’t protecting anyone from anything by banning them. And because there are so few of them on the roads, the whole issue seems pointless. Just let people enjoy things. With that in mind, which one of these would you enjoy more?

(Image credits: Craigslist sellers)