Last January I decided it was time to get rid of the Lexus LS400 I’d been driving for the last 7 years as a daily. I drive from one end of town to the other every day for work and had this car up to 230k miles. It was falling apart and because of that, I had lost interest in it. It had served me well, but I was ready to move on.
So, my search for a 4 door Honda began. I wanted something with better gas mileage and room for passengers. Honda’s ease of being able to fix things myself has always drawn me to them, so I was mainly looking for a 15 year old or newer Civic sedan.
That’s when I came across a 1999 Acura CL with decent mileage that appeared to be well taken care of for it’s age. Not a sedan. Not a 4 cylinder. 20 years old. BUT, it was different. It was unique and that’s what I’m all about.
I went to check th car out the next day. The guy selling it was a former Acura tech who now owned his own shop. He had maintained the car over the years as the female owner had always brought the car to him and eventually gifted it to him after she herself moved on to another vehicle. The body was rough, but the interior was in great shape, it ran well and had years of service documents. I wanted it. I offered the guy $1500 and the car was mine.
The next day I drove it straight to the body shop I’m employed at to assess the body. The clear was peeling on most panels, but worst on the hood. There were small dents and dings on every panel, but nothing major, and a small spot of rust on the right quarter panel. My plan initially was to just clean it up and drive it. That’s all it was supposed to be any way, a daily. Then I figured why not just paint the hood and front bumper and polish the rest of the car to improve it a little. My co-workers though asked me “if you’re going to do that, why not not just paint the whole thing?”.
Well, I did still have the Lexus to drive in the mean time…sure. Why not.
And so it began.