the Hunt

As promised, I shall continue the story of the search for my 1st project ride. Maximizing the capabilities of my broadband DSL connection, I did my search online, scouting the entire metro for a good deal on a 1992-1995 Civic Hatchback, more popularly known as the EG Hatch. Doing my research at home is a very efficient way of getting this task done as I had very limited resources/money and time working as tech support for Dell and making only around $450 a month. Since I had really bad taste, I found one that really got me interested, well, see for yourself...

tadaaa!

Hopped on a cab and met the owner in an exclusive village in Quezon City. The car was parked outside what I assumed was the owners house and thru SMS, I was told the sellers sister would welcome us while we wait for him. I was also expecting to get welcome drinks which we didn't get, it's summer time and temperature outdoors reached 40 to 45 Celcius, feels more like 100 degrees! I love this tropical country!

So while I was trying to get someone to open the door for us, I wasted no time. Checked out the exterior of this baby and started contemplating if the wheel size and type works for me. I was so caught up into visualizing how I would turn this car into Hector's that I didn't realize someone was already talking to us asking us to wait a little more as her brother is already on his way. The person who greeted us looked somewhat familiar so I tried to run a facial recognition scan in my mind, then it hit me! A celebrity! It was in the flesh, Paula Peralejo! I was starstruck for about a minute then went back to checking out the hatch.

Here it is again from another angle.

The longer I stared at the car the more it grew on me. It sort of works... how non-stock non-traditional looking it is. So finally the seller met us and talked about the history of the car. I couldn't hold on to my curiosity anymore that while he was still talking about the hatch, I blurted "Isn't that Paula Peralejo?". He casually just said "Yes" as this question has probably been asked so many times. Another surprise greeted us when an SUV suddenly pulled out of the garage. It stopped almost in front of where we were standing and as the rear window rolled down, another familiar face! Rica Peralejo!

I sincerely hope I don't get sued for sharing this story here. It was a memorable experience for me, why? Because it was my first celebrity sighting in Manila. I was born and raised in the province so this experience was so surreal for me and my buddy.

Just to end this part of the story, NO, I did not end up with this hatch. Even for my bad taste it felt a little too much attention grabbing(what we would now refer to as Ricey). And the wheel type was not really my taste.

So in the coming weeks we found another prospect, this time more subtle looking. It didn't scream modified and didn't look stock at the same time. It was perfect!

Here goes our first meetup with the seller who was about to leave the country and wanted a new caretaker for his EG.

I'll share with you a secret, you'll know it's the right car when the exhaust pulses beats with the same rhythm as your heartbeat. Even if it was only 1.2 Liter. Clap! Clap! Clap!

This is where my 10 year on and off relationship with Amber(the moneypit) started.

Till next time folks! Ciao from the Cheap Ricer