By Trav Stanley.

When is the last time you sat back and really observed a bunch of people who are all passionate about one thing talk, converse or debate that one thing? I love my wife to death; she’s the best but 99% of her close friends are teachers, just like her. There have been many occasions where I am ‘stuck’ amidst an animated group of teachers talking, usually loudly about kids, the P&C and other random teacher crap. My usual response is that of a possum when faced with a predator…. ACT DEAD. Once their attention on me has fades, I slowly remove myself from the immediate area to find a bloke to scratch my nuts with and/or to enjoy a spot of BS talking.

It’s fine for me to comment on what’s its like when a bunch of passionate teachers are together socialising and carrying on but it’s the same for ANY bunch of passionate people. Say a bunch of Honda heads. We all get into group conversations with other like minded enthusiasts and go nuts. Does anyone actually listen to themselves? Like, REALLY listen? Usual topics include; plans for future mods, new parts out and general scene gossip. Sound about right? Well a topic that my close mates seem always to cover is the ‘next’ car. The ‘next’ car is like your second wife; a newer, younger model with more ‘potential’ and it’s usually a bit newer. I think this seems to happen to us because the majority of my mates have had their Hondas for 5 years or longer which is an eternity for usual gen Y and I’s (read: you and me).

After 5 years, the honeymoon is well and truly over, it’s merely a distant memory, the real car has shown itself. You have had 5 long years to discover all of the dodgy things the previous owner did to the car that you didn’t know about when you first purchased it. You’ve rolled many different setups or combos, done some racing, done some parking and probably got a ticket or two. Like milk, has the car/project gone…..off? Was it always destined to happen or is it your own for fault for not be able to stay ‘faithful’?

So at this stage, you look for a new project, maybe sell off your current whip, part it out or commit some dodgy insurance fraud. This consideration of other projects comes up in the convo’s you have with your mates. Most sentences’ start with; “You know what would be cool?” or “You know what I have always wanted to build?”

So what do you do when you start thinking like this and even worse, talking like this? God only knows but recently that’s been me. A bit dodgy I know, especially if you remember my previous blog entry. For me it has allot to do with what my mates are doing with their cars. One mates ride gets more hardcore every time I talk to him. Its ridiculous, this thing is a straight up track monster, its sick to death, I love it. I am so jealous. Another mate, has got a pretty sick ride that is both track worthy but still doable (just) on the street. More jealousy. Another has his ride prepped for a super neat lil JDM swap that’ll really round the car off as really fun street car, plus it looks clean as hell with a bunch of J’s Racing parts on it. Even more jealousy. Finally, the last mate has gone pretty much back to stock. Back to comfy. Back to quiet. Back to fuel efficient. There is also a tiny bit of me that is also jealous of him.

So I guess you’re wondering what will be my second wife? The next project. A track monster? A stocker? Or something in between? I don’t know what you’d call it but I have always wanted to build an Accord Wagon. A 94-ish CD Accord Wagon or Aerodeck as it’s also known. See photo.

Tonnes of potential, plus its definitely different and I could probably fit a baby seat in the back. Lol. Imagine it lowered on some SSR’s, sticky tyres, F20B 5spd under hood and a pair of fixed back buckets. Rad.

So where does this leave me? Am I on the look for an Aerodeck, heading for the for sale forums with some photos of my car? Nah. Like all good urges they come and go. When I sit in my EG at the lights, ill just stick to dreaming every time I see an Aerodeck roll past. Like a good husband, you can’t just jump on the next ride when you get tired, bored or disgruntled. However when that does eventually happen, just click the JDMC banner up top, order some new parts and freshen’ up wifey number 1 with some tasty ‘bolt ons’ ;o)

Postscript: This entry made me remember I had a super old photo of myself and my EG when I first got it back in the day. The photo was actually taken an actual film camera Lol. I searched high and low for it but couldn’t find it. It’ll be a hoot if I can find it. Ill keep looking, stay tuned peeps!

category: Trav's Garage Diary