21. Proud owners of a 2001 Rav4 - used-car shopping in Kigali

Nov. 18, 2015

The 1998 Nissan Pathfinder we didn't buy.

Another huge milestone in our "moving process" was completing the car-buying process. The whole thing had started with a 'used car ad' for a 1998 Nissan Pathfinder, which I had received while I was still in the US. Looked great! So I had called Jean Marie soon after we arrived and within my first week, Jean Marie had arranged to bring it and show it to me. Long story short, it got stuck in the driveway and after multiple attempts to get it going, nothing seemed to be working. I left Jean Marie there with the Pathfinder because I had to continue with Isaac and Naomi for our dinner appointment (at a place we would possibly rent.) I learned later, the vehicle had to be towed.

While we didn't buy that Pathfinder, we actually did end up working with Jean Marie all the way through the car-search-and-buy process. He showed us a newish 2011 Ford pick-up -- "no, not going to work." We test drove two 2001 Rav4s, each privately owned and in different parts of the city.  Then John arrived in Rwanda. By this time, I was convinced a Rav4 was going to be the way to go. Se we test-drove "Chantel's" Rav4 carefully and even drove it out to a mechanic to have him check it out. But - could not come to a price agreement with Chantel. So we walked away. The next morning, John had gotten in touch with someone else selling a Rav4 -- but she didn't want to give up possession until January. "Not going to work."

Next day -- got a text. Chantel had come down slightly in price and we were dreading the thought of more arduous days of finding and test-driving vehicles. So we came up a little from our price and, behold! We finally had a deal. We agreed that the next day, Nov. 18, Jean Marie would pick up John, take him to meet Chantel and finish the transaction. 

There were many steps in this final purchasing and registering with the authorities process. One step for us involved John searching desperately for a passport photo required when changing ownership of a vehicle (?!?... don't ask.)
[Author: Ruth Ann]