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As the conflict in the Middle East continues, petrol prices have surged in various countries such as Australia and the United States.
And while some Aussie drivers have stockpiled litres of petrol to keep them afloat, this one US motorist has turned to an affordable and creative DIY solution.
According to a report by Atlanta News First, resident Sota converted a pink toy car into a makeshift go-kart, installing a seatbelt and a motor from a power washer to propel it.
“Gas is very high right now with having an older car and multiple cars, it’s crazy, you know,” Sota told the local news outlet in March 2026.
Asked what type of fuel it takes, Sota explained, “Good ol' regular gas. It takes about USD$2 to fill up and I can go ahead and ride all day man. I pretty much ride wherever I need to ride. Whenever I run out of gas, put another $2 in and keep it going.”
The Atlanta local has gone viral on social media, with the driver being photographed and recorded in videos numerous times as he travelled around the city.
Social media users were baffled at the sight of Sota, with one TikTok user on Atlanta News First’s video stating, “No way he takes [the car] on the highway”, while another remarked, “The government's gonna see this and require him to get it insured and licensed”.
Other users applauded the local driver amid the soaring petrol prices in the country. A different commenter on the social media platform said, “[I] don’t blame him, gas prices [are] crazy right now”, while another TikTok user said, “Recession INDICATOR”.
Ethan Cardinal graduated with a Journalism degree in 2020 from La Trobe University and has been working in the fashion industry as a freelance writer prior to joining Drive in 2023. Ethan greatly enjoys investigating and reporting on the cross sections between automotive, lifestyle and culture. Ethan relishes the opportunity to explore how deep cars are intertwined within different industries and how they could affect both casual readers and car enthusiasts.
