“Renault 4, older than myself, is my partner”
In recent years, more and more owners of classic cars, young timers, and other hobbyist cars are enjoying the younger generation. Mr. Makoto Wakimoto, 25, drove his Renault 4, a popular French car, from Ishikawa Prefecture across Hida to an event in Yokohama. We asked him about the car life of a young man who enjoys everything from commuting to long-distance trips while doing his own maintenance as much as possible.
This is actually his second R4
Mr. Makoto Wakimoto, 25, was relaxing in the luggage of his Renault 4, which looked like a pair of well-worn sneakers. He is moderately well dressed, very natural and the car and its owner are in perfect harmony.
His R4 car was registered in Ishikawa, in the Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse, where around 100 cars owned by young car enthusiasts up to the age of 35 had gathered from all over the country under the title “YOKOHAMA CAR SESSION-Young People’s Car Life”. He was quite a far-flung group. He had driven over the Awa Pass from the Okuhida Highway to Matsumoto, and then used the Chuo Expressway.
“The French Blue Meeting, a French car event, is also on that course, and winding roads are more fun anyway.”
Mr. Wakimoto said with a smile. His car is a Renault 4, first registered in 1994, which means it is probably the last limited edition model manufactured in 1992.
“I was also interested in water-cooled VWs such as the Golf 2, but as I was adding a car while maintaining the NA Roadster I already owned, I was looking for a car that was relatively cheap to buy, that I wouldn’t have trouble finding parts, that I could maintain in the same way as a motorbike, and above all, that would have no character at all like the Roadster. When I looked for a car with these conditions, it was either a Citroën 2CV or a Renault 4.”
Just as Mr. Wakimoto began his search, a friend of a friend he met on Twitter (now X) bought an R4 GTL that was for sale within his budget.
“The one I’m driving today is my second R4, the first one I drove for a little over a year rusted out, but I still wanted to drive an R4, so I switched to this Savane, which was for sale in shops in the prefecture, two years ago. I kept the first GTL as it was, and took it for parts.”
Maintain more emphasis on institutions than on appearance
From commuting to everyday use, Mr. Wakimoto does not treat it as a special old car, but drives it on hot summer days, rainy and snowy days. He says he has friends of the same generation in his local area who drive BL “Minis” and SRL311 Datsun “Fairladies”.
Mr. Wakimoto, who also travels far for events and trips, says that his way of dealing with his R4 is to do as much maintenance as possible himself, to return home by himself even if he goes far, and to focus on the engine rather than the looks and not bothering others, which is his responsibility for driving a car different from the current cars. He has quite a firm policy.
“I used to go to Kawazu in Izu with a friend in a Subaru Brat, and I will never forget the West Izu Skyline and the view at the foot of Mt. Fuji that we drove in the R4 car. My goal for this year is to get to Shikoku. By then, I’d like to import parts and refresh the water system.”
In summer, he goes camping with his luggage on a mini Monte carrier, and in winter he goes skiing with a ski carrier! The story of Mr. Wakimoto and his car has just begun, as he enjoys his hobbies to the fullest with his R4 in all four seasons.
translated by DeepL
