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May 2020 Updates: Car Projects, House Projects, New YouTube Vids, & Upcoming Travels

Posted in Detailing, Integra, Legend, RL, TLX, Vigor on May 11, 2020 by tysonhugie

Can we talk about how cool this little LED sign is? Found this baby on some random Facebook sponsored vendor’s ad. Imagine me getting ads for Acura related merchandise. How dare they think they know my life!

I’m wrapping up about 8 weeks in quarantine as I type this, and if it weren’t for the occasional socially-distant excursion like a couple of weeks ago at my friend’s pool nearby, I might have lost my insanity altogether. Say hello to Midge the pup there in the lower left.

Car updates have been on the checklist as usual, and I’m pretty satisfied to say that I’ve accomplished pretty darn near everything I wanted to do when I set out to make my isolation time as productive as it could possibly be. The 1992 Integra got a fresh coat of VHT wrinkle black paint on the valve cover. It’s something I’d been meaning to do on the engine bay for a very long time. Check it out!

The RL got a new under-hood insulation pad to replace the one that was ripped before.

The Vigor got some suspension bushings and brake pads at Hon-Man.

The laundry room (aka showroom entry) got a new LED lamp like the one I installed in the garage itself. Here’s the before & after.

Here’s a video of those updates.

The SLX is getting a brake master cylinder as we speak. And then I think I’m seriously done for a bit. Famous last words, right? Okay so that gets the chore updates out of the way for the most part.

Take a peek at this cool article from a 2001 issue of a magazine called “Velocity.” It was an Acura/Honda enthusiast mag, and it talked about a guy named Leszek who put 500k on his 1992 Legend sedan by using it as a taxi.

Fast forward a couple of decades. Leszek got rid of his Legend at 530k and then went into an RL that got 450k. Then he moved to Lexus, and now he’s with Mercedes. I found his website – aptly named “Legendary Private Car” – and emailed him. See his email response below.

In fitting timing, a friend needed airport transport last week so I decided to dress the part and pick him up in appropriate fashion, name tag and all.

This is what happens when you’ve been in quarantine 8 weeks and take things way too seriously.

Check out this cool little info blurb I got from a friend about the original concept for the 1987 Legend coupe. They almost named it the Legend Climax.

YouTube is still a major source of entertainment for me as I’ve spent quite a bit of time creating videos.

Here are the latest two productions: A tour of the garage, and then an intro to the assembly of a display rack where I’m showcasing my (100+) brochures in the garage now.

Garage Tour

Display Build

I won’t see much of you all for the next few weeks. Work is still busy, but going through a state of change as the hospital system I’m with transitions through the different phases of the coronavirus pandemic. I’ll be taking a mandatory two-week furlough the first two weeks of June.

But guess what – I’m about to make lemonade out of lemons. I’ve just arranged to get a long-term loan in a 2020 Acura TLX PMC Edition starting May 29th. I’ll be taking that car on a 6-state, 2,000+ mile adventure. You’ll read about it here sometime in June.

Lastly, I’ll leave you with a little bit of Q&A. A couple of weeks ago, I was corresponding with Patricia who bought my 1994 Legend coupe when it was new. I had a few questions for her that I emailed in a Word document.

You might get a kick out of her answers – especially the last one.

1 – I understand you were the original owner of the (now nearly 600,000 mile) 1994 Legend. What did you drive before buying that car?

Honda Prelude

2 – What about the Legend coupe particularly caught your eye or interest when it was new?

Loved the styling and the feel of luxury – it was my first aspirational car purchase. The color was not my first choice – I wanted the dark green but there were no more of that color in stock in California

3 – What was it like to be in the market for a Legend back then? Was the trim, color, and configuration that you wanted difficult to come by, or was the car already in inventory and readily available?

I answered this question above – the Legend was marketed by Acura as their sporty luxury brand

4 – One particularly cool aspect of your car history is that you seem to prefer a stick shift, since the BMW 530i that you replaced the Legend with was also a manual transmission. What do you drive today, and does it also let you row your own gears?

The last car I drove was an automatic Lexus 250 – I wanted to continue to drive a manual but was later convinced an automatic was better for resale. I just read a recent article that most automotive companies are no longer offering manual transmissions.

5 – Your ownership of the Legend lasted about 9 years and 90,000 miles, which is longer than many people keep a car. What were some of the road trips or experiences that stand out as highlights during that time?

Difficult to remember but, living in Northern California provides anyone who loves to drive so many opportunities for open roads and beautiful vistas.

6 – When you sold the Legend, did you ever think you’d be interviewed for a questionnaire about it 18 years later?

No – I was surprised when I received your phone call, identifying yourself as the new owner, and wanting to connect.

7 – On a scale of 1 to 10, how crazy do think Tyson is?

Off the charts 10+

Take care and stay safe, everyone!

23 Comments »

‘Homemade’ Film Festival (6 Videos) & Other Random Projects

Posted in Detailing, ILX, Integra, Legend, NSX, SLX, Vigor on April 14, 2020 by tysonhugie

Odometer (ILX): 223,692

Checking in on all of you out there! Let me know how you’re doing.

I’ve been productive around here playing Steven Spielberg when I’m not tied up in work meetings from home. Get your popcorn ready. Actually, make a couple of batches while you’re at it. If you’re in the mood for a movie marathon at some point, here are some selections I cooked up, with walkarounds for some of my cars.

Most are still ‘unlisted’ and will debut on my public YouTube channel on the dates indicated (subject to change!). You’re welcome to wait and just watch them then!

ILX Detail – Public

1992 Integra – Public

NSX – Premieres April 18

Legend Sedan – Premieres April 25

SLX – Premieres May 2

Vigor – Premieres May 9

The RL has not yet been shot but I’m prepping the car over the next couple of days.

Here are a few ‘beauty shots’ taken at the time of each film shoot.

I had the Vigor console out the other day in order to get the serial number so I could track down the radio anti-theft code.

Used the SLX to haul some firewood.

Did a bumper light restore on the 1992 GS-R.

Dug through some magazine articles to archive more stuff.

Adopted a friend’s modified 1995 NSX for a few days while he refinished his garage floor.

Received a massive Easter egg delivery from family in Utah.

Hung up some art work in the ‘ugly’ one-car garage that usually gets no attention.

And detailed my mower, topped off with an “A” emblem on the motor.

This morning’s work teleconferences started off with an Acura wine glass of iced coffee.

As you can see, I’m staying plenty entertained here.

What have you been up to?

17 Comments »

NALM AZ 2020 Registration is Live, Integra & SLX Updates, Visitors in Town

Posted in Detailing, Integra, Legend, Maintenance, NALM, NSX, SLX on March 6, 2020 by tysonhugie

Odometer (SLX): 141,046

If you’ve ever wanted to visit Arizona, I’ll give you a reason. This year’s 16th annual National Acura Legend Meet is now open for registration as of this past Sunday. In the first 5 days, 13 vehicles have already signed up. We could be on track to witness the largest meet of its kind since 2014 in Los Angeles which saw about 30. Come be a part of history.

Link to Registration Instructions

In other news, my blogging time has been limited lately because I’ve put a little more effort into my YouTube channel which is nearing 6,000 subscribers. I invite you to join me there for a few updates on automotive projects and other activities. I usually post a new episode (or more) each Sunday. I’ll post 5 of them here to catch you up. Some are still ‘unlisted’ so I can stagger them out over the next few weeks. Get your popcorn ready.

Integra Part 4

Integra Part 5

Integra Part 6

SLX Video 10 – The Project that Never Ends!

Do you want to test-drive 10 cool cars in 5 minutes? Then I have just the video for you. Last Saturday, I had a really unique experience of helping my friend Greg (the same guy who I wrote about with all the Japanese RHD cars) document the driving experience for a collection of cars that he’ll be auctioning off on Bring a Trailer website later this month. Among them was this exceptionally rare 1989 Pontiac ASC-McLaren Turbo Grand Prix with only 5,500 miles on it.

Check out that tech!

Here was the list of cars, in order of appearance in the below video:

1989 Pontiac Turbo Grand Prix
2000 Mercedes-Benz CLK55 AMG
1989 Dodge Lancer Shelby 5MT
2000 BMW M5 6MT
1989 Honda Prelude Si 4WS 5MT
2000 Honda S2000 6MT
1992 Toyota Aristo (RHD)
1992 Jeep Wrangler Renegade 5MT
1990 Nissan 300ZX TT 5MT
1992 Autozam AZ-1 (RHD) 5MT

Which was my favorite? Honestly, and this might get me in trouble with my Honda friends, I fell in love with the BMW M5. The sturdy shift feel, the power, the growl, and the utility of a ‘sportscar’ 4-door sedan with a manual really made that one check all the boxes for me.

And speaking of Bring a Trailer auctions, you might have missed this so I’ll share it here. A record-setting sale took place this week when a 1994 Legend LS coupe 6-speed sold for over $25,000. Here’s the link.

Maybe my own collection will be worth a dollar or two someday as well? I guess time will tell.

As Spring Training baseball games get underway here in Arizona, we are soaking up our last few weeks of very enjoyable weather and I’ve been spending quite a bit of time working on the never-ending list of “to-do” items. The latest 1999 Integra, which started out with a laundry list of 50 “needs” that I listed in an Excel document, has already been through half. So in two months’ time, it’s come a really long way.

One of the major milestones for that car was a comprehensive ‘professional’ detail, for which I engaged the help and services of a friend named Travis who helped not only with the interior & paint, but with removal of the hodge-podge of aftermarket stereo & alarm spaghetti wiring that was strung throughout the car. It was strangled.

The results speak for themselves. This paint was rough, and it came out brilliantly.

The NSX doesn’t get a video this time around, but I took it to the experts at Science of Speed for a regular checkup and it’s doing great at 116,000 miles.

I had a few special guests in February including folks from Atlanta, Chicago, New York, Detroit, and Seattle. The guest book is nearing page 50 and I’ve already purchased a second volume because pages are running out.

Here’s Tim:

Jaysen and his sister Tavali

Brad and Richard

Dave

Finally, I had to share some new wallhangings in the garage. I loved this anniversary 1986-1996 photo enough to frame and hang it up.

And the one in the middle here – I have to show you that a little more closely.

It contains the 6 Acura models from 1997.

The paragraph suggests that you pick whichever one fits “your definition of luxury.”

Except, the punchline suggests you should just buy a big garage and own all 6 (highlighted above).

Does that remind me of anyone else you know? This is the ad that goes along with it.

Have a great weekend!

10 Comments »

A Honda Beat, Leather Seats, and Other Deets

Posted in Detailing, Legend, Vehicle Reviews on July 3, 2018 by tysonhugie

Odometer (Legend Coupe): 561,566

Odometer (Legend Sedan): 158,203

“Midship Amusement” – what in the world could that possibly mean? Sometimes a translation comes across a little funky when crossing continents. When Honda engineers put together the Beat, a 3-cylinder compact car, in Japan 27 years ago, they thought that would be a fun tagline to promote the car with. And I can say with a certainty that this little 2-seat, mid-engined car did indeed provide the most automotive amusement that I’ve had in years!

A friend recently went through extensive efforts to import and register one such car to the states: a remarkably well-kept 1991 model in yellow with only 47,000 kilometers on it (about 29,000 miles). He was in Arizona with the car earlier this week and I got to try my hand – my left hand, that is – at shifting through its 5 gears.

One of about 33,000 total cars produced between model years 1991 and 1996, the car is a total grin-machine. It turned heads from the second we backed it off a trailer, on every street corner, and in my own driveway. Speed demon it is not, but the handling is precise and the shifter operates with typical Honda flawlessness.

I was able to get comfortable in the small cockpit and got acquainted with the controls. Everything is the same as a left-hand-drive car except for the turn signals & wipers being reversed. So the pedal layout, shift pattern, and everything else is exactly as you’re already used to. My friend and I blasted through the gears in urban Phoenix for a few miles and by the time I’d gone a couple of blocks, I was already comfortable managing it.

That zebra-patterned interior is really one of the best parts!

Here’s a video of my experience trying the Beat out.

I spent some time over the weekend performing a leather seat conditioning on the Legend sedan. It has original seats, and they’re in nice shape but have some cracks on them. The process involved a product called Fiebing’s Neatsfoot Oil from the local Tractor Supply store. It’s a regimen usually reserved for other saddles, boots, and other leather items but I’d heard from a few people it was good for car interiors.

What I discovered is that it does a nice job of moisturizing, but on lighter seats like mine, it will permanently stain the cracked areas darker so they become more visible. I only recommend this process if you have black seats or they’re still in nice condition. This is a picture from when the oil was soaking in.

Midway through ‘soaking’

And here’s a video capturing the start-to-finish process, including a few scenes from other things like a 72,000 mile Integra GS milestone.

Since you’re already on YouTube, check out this video montage capturing the most recent 220 submissions to my “spy shot” collection. I don’t have time to crop and upload all of them like I’ve done in spy shot blog entries in the past, but I did put them into a video which I hope you’ll enjoy. Thanks to all who have contributed!

I have a few more links to share as we close out this week’s updates.

Darren from IDrewYourCar.com finished the latest piece of artwork for the gallery in my garage. Check out his rendering of the 1992 Integra sedan.

And Pat from Honda Vintage Culture has started releasing T-shirt designs that revolve around Honda motorsports heritage. A couple of weeks ago, his first 3 designs came out on Blipshift. Subscribe to his website, VintageCulture.store and follow his page on Instagram at @hondavintageculture for more information!

My friend Kai has listed the 1989 Honda Accord SE-i that was being stored at my house for the last 6 months. It only has 43,000 miles on it. The 7-day, no-reserve auction began on Monday. It’s a great car and I hope it finds a good home.

A few shots I helped Kai with ended up making their way into the auction. Here is the listing. He’s off to a strong start already. At the time I type this, it’s been online for only about 1 day with bids in the low $2,000s, 156 watchers, and over 3,400 views.

Here’s the 72,000-mile readout on the Integra GS.

My friend Michael visited from Chicago last week and we met up for a bite to eat. He has a gorgeous Vortex Blue TSX.

I also met up with my friend Daniel who has an awesome TLX A-Spec.

Thought you’d get a kick out of this license plate on a Civic Si.

Have a great holiday week!

14 Comments »

NSX 110,000-Mile Mark, Integra Tint & Engine Detail; Upcoming “WestFest” in Las Vegas

Posted in Detailing, Integra, Maintenance, Milestones, NSX, Running on April 22, 2018 by tysonhugie

Odometer (Legend Coupe):

Odometer (Integra Sedan): 117,737

Milestone!

The NSX has been a great car for the 30,000 miles that I’ve put on it. It received a new right axle and a 10W30 Castrol GTX oil change in preparation for this week’s upcoming trip to WestFest in Las Vegas, Nevada. The original axle had flung a bunch of grease on the undercarriage and I started getting a ‘clicking’ sound consistent with speed, so it was time. Science of Speed in Chandler, Arizona worked to squeeze in the car in the nick of time.

Thanks to Chris & his team for their help!

WestFest is slated to be one of the biggest NSX Club of America regional club events this year, anticipating 45 vehicles and upwards of 70 attendees. Here’s a post from where I scouted out the proposed WestFest group drive earlier this year, and a write-up from last year’s program. We will be in Vegas from Thursday through Sunday.

The Integra has been getting some more attention. I had Desert Shield Window Tinting give it a new set of shades. It’s a necessary update when you live in an area that has 300 days of sunshine per year.

You can see here how the clear rear window showed those faded rear headrests.

Little better here, especially to preserve the interior from further deterioration.

I have had Desert Shield work on 5 or 6 of my cars in the past, but I honestly cannot say I recommend them any longer. I specifically asked for the side windows to be all the same shade, but the technician installed limo tint on the rear side windows. I had it stripped and redone. Then 3 days later, there was peeling tint from the left rear door. It will be fixed under warranty next week. But I’m tired of taking trips back there.

I spent an evening earlier in the week getting the engine bay cleaned up. It wasn’t really bad to begin with, but just in case I end up showing this car at any events, I want things to be ready. There’s a video below.

In other noteworthy news, my friend Vlad stopped by this week. He drives an RLX that I featured in a Reader’s Ride last year. It was great to catch up with him.

And yesterday, a friend and I joined 28,000 other runners in the 14th annual “Pat’s Run,” in Tempe, Arizona. It’s a 4.2-mile race in recognition of our armed forces, past and present, named in honor of Pat Tillman who was a professional football player killed in the line of duty in 2002. It was a well-organized event and served a good cause.

Enjoy the rest of your weekend!

15 Comments »

The Last Puzzle Piece, Part 3: Detail Day, Photos, & Some Brochure Materials

Posted in Detailing, Integra on March 24, 2018 by tysonhugie

Odometer (Vigor): 110,000

The final chapter (for now!): After two whirlwind trips from Phoenix to the San Francisco Bay Area — one to bid on the Integra, and another to pick it up, I finally had the car back home at my garage. Of all the cars in the collection, it needs probably the most work – both mechanically and cosmetically. The long list of to-do items will be addressed in due time – a long time – as the Integra will probably only be driven occasionally.

I wasted no time in heading over to the self-service car wash and getting the undercarriage and wheel wells all shined up. I spent time that same day on the door jambs, the interior, wheel covers & tires, and trunk. I’ll leave a complete engine bay detail for a later date – that task can take up to an entire day in itself.

The results achieved after just a simple one-step cleaner/wax with Meguiar’s are pretty remarkable, so I’m happy about that. I’m waiting for my California title to arrive in the next couple of weeks so meanwhile I’m rolling around on the existing tags until I get it registered in Arizona.

Here’s a list of things I’d like to have addressed on the car:

Bring maintenance up to date
Register with historic plates
Engine detail
Paintless dent removal
Source factory stainless steel exhaust tips
Add GS trim wheels
Tint windows
Source front bumper license plate plugs

Meanwhile I’m thrilled with the little project for the time being and it fits well in the garage. Color coordination was not 100% intentional, but I did end up with 2 greens, 2 reds, and 2 tans. Here’s a 13-minute video on how my detail day went.

Just for fun: I thought this would be kind of a cool time to share some scans and verbiage from my vast collection of Acura literature. Below are a few things I pulled out.

You’re not likely to find two cars more dissimilar than the Acura NSX and the Legend. One looks like it could break the sound barrier standing still. The other looks like it was built for royalty. You’re also not likely to find two cars so dissimilar built by the same carmaker. We’re not sure why, but it probably has something to do with “tradition” and a certain inflexible thinking about how things “should be done.”

Some automakers, even those claiming a hundred years of experience, feel there’s safety in doing the expected. Even fairly new arrivals in the luxury car market don’t deviate much from fairly rigid boundaries. At Acura, we operate under a different set of rules. Actually, there are only three rules. Build the best. Be at the leading edge, and pour all your passion into it. Apparently, it works. The Acura NSX has been called “the best driving experience available from anywhere in the world.” It’s amazing what a car company can accomplish when it refuses to follow the same old ruts in the road.

Acura tailored each of its vehicles at that time to cater to a certain attribute or goal.

NSX: It takes just one word to express the unique philosophy that inspires every Acura automobile: NSX. Conceived as the ultimate exotic sports car, the NSX was designed to achieve the razor-sharp response, breathtaking performance, and delicate balance of a Formula One race car, but with the poise, reliability, and ergonomic excellence of a world-class grand-touring automobile. The result is one of the most acclaimed exotic sports cars ever offered to the public.

1992

1993

1994

Legend Sedan: In designing the second-generation Legend sedan, we made a courageous decision, especially in light of the stunning success of the original Legend sedan. We started over. After five years of intensive research and engineering, the completely new Legend sedan emerged, a combination of the best in automotive design. It is graced with precise, sure-footed handling, developed from lessons learned designing the scalpel-sharp NSX. Exhilarating acceleration, motivated by an aluminum V-6 with an impressive Grand Prix pedigree. An elegant interior environment of intelligent design and painstakingly developed ergonomics. And the high levels of sophistication, dependability, and safety for which Acura has become justifiably famous.

1992

1993

1994

Legend Coupe: One look at the sculpted shape of the Legend coupe tells you what this automobile is designed to do: knife through the wind with speed, poise, and grace, leaving only a murmur in the air to signal its passage. In Europe the Legend coupe will be called upon to cruise at speeds over 130 miles an hour, a level of performance that magnifies the significance of even the most subtle advance in aerodynamics. From its steeply-raked windshield and backlight to its flush-mounted windows and low-profile grille, the Legend coupe is much more than beautiful – it is the product of countless hours of wind-tunnel testing.

1992

1994

Vigor: The design goal for the 1992 Vigor was a supremely challenging one: to combine the best of automotive technology, creating a uniquely satisfying personal performance sports sedan. Start with the confidence-inspiring dynamic balance of the NSX. Add the distinctive style and interior ambience of a sophisticated touring coupe. Factor in the responsiveness and agility of a lightweight sports sedan. Incorporate the security and elegant practicality of a four-door luxury automobile. And bring together these qualities in an aggressive, yet eminently usable, personal sports sedan – delivering the excitement and performance of a world-class sports coupe, but with the universal appeal of a four-door road car.

1992

1993

1994

Integra: Since their introduction, the Integra 3-door and 4-door sports sedans have earned a reputation for stirring performance, exhilarating agility, extraordinarily refined road matters and intelligent ergonomics. Many automakers would be reluctant to change such an impressive automobile, one labeled “… a superb car” by no less an authority than Car and Driver magazine. But not Acura. The 1992 Integra has been substantially improved, with significant advances in engine power, driveline smoothness, interior detailing, and aerodynamics.

1992

1993

Every Acura automobile has been meticulously inspected and tested to ensure the high levels of reliability and durability which the Acura name has come to signify. Many car companies claim to build satisfying cars, but the Acura Division has an impressive record of top rankings in both short-term and long-term customer satisfaction surveys to back it up. Most recently, Acura has ranked best in the J.D. Power and Associates Vehicle Performance Index (VPI), a survey that measures the operating performance and overall comfort of a vehicle after three full years of ownership.

The interesting thing was to consider the demographics of Acura’s customers at the time. This is a chart found within a massive, boxed “Dealer Kit” I got my hands on many years ago. The average NSX owner was 44 years old with a $230,000 household income. That’s $396,000 today. Big money.

1994 was the change-over to the “bug eye” Integra in the full-line photo below so that’s why my collection is better described as 1991 through 1993 era, even though the Legends and Vigor are 1994.

Thanks for reading!

15 Comments »

‘Acura Day’ Video, Integra Maintenance, TL Sale, & Infiniti for Sale

Posted in Detailing, Integra, TL on November 5, 2017 by tysonhugie

Odometer (Legend): 556,317

Odometer (Integra): 241,282

Odometer (I30): 134,609

Hold up! What’s that Infiniti odometer reading doing in the mileage lineup? You’ll find out shortly. Meanwhile, let me bring you up to speed on the latest & greatest in current events. As my readers already know, on October 13 I was hosted at Honda/Acura headquarters in Torrance, California to participate in a short “enthusiast Q&A” segment with head of Acura Public Relations, Matt Sloustcher.

This was a photo taken with senior leaders of the brand, Jon Ikeda, Jeff Conrad, and Matt (to my left) after the program, with me holding up my custom personalized Acura jersey which I was presented as a gift. Score!

Matt and his team were kind enough to get ahold of the 8-minute video segment for me, so here it is for your viewing pleasure. Once again, thanks to the Acura team for letting me crash the party for a day. I had a great time.

It’s been a busy last few weeks in the garage. I finally had a few longstanding mechanical needs on the 1992 Integra GS-R addressed by my trusted friend and Honda know-it-all, Tait, also known as “Hon-Man.” Here were the items I had him work on:

Oil and filter with synthetic blend 10W30
Manual transmission service
Recharge air conditioning
Replace hatch struts
Adjust window clearances for better wind noise abatement
Replace short shift lever with OEM

While the car was in there, it also got a new windshield so things are finally crystal clear from the driver’s seat. I treated the car to a full (and much needed) detail yesterday, even getting into the nitty gritty details of the engine bay and radiator support with a toothbrush. I’ll be sure not to put that brush back in the bathroom vanity closet.

Things ended up looking pretty magnificent, if I do say so myself, for having nearly 1/4 million miles on this motor.

I even cleaned up inside the fuel filler door. Obsessive-compulsive disorder? Nah!

Finished product tucked away in the garage.

On Friday I bid farewell to a car from my fleet. While I only owned it for about 6 months and 5,000 miles, my 2007 TL Type-S was an incredibly fun car. I enjoyed taking it on a road trip this summer to the far reaches of northern Utah and southern Idaho, but in an effort to reprioritize and evaluate financials, I simply couldn’t justify keeping this car – my 7th currently. I was only driving it on average a couple of times per month, and it had a loan racking up interest. Time to cut it loose.

So, better to let the TL go to a long-time friend who will enjoy it more than I’m able to. My friend Dave from the St. Louis area flew in on Friday night and drove it away on Saturday morning. Dave is no stranger to the Acura collector hobby, as he was one of just a few of to attend the very first National Acura Legend Meet in 2005 in Dallas with me. His 1995 Legend LS coupe has since been handed down to his daughter. Dave made it to Amarillo, Texas by Saturday evening. And by the time he reads this blog entry, he’ll be home sweet home. Congrats, Dave!

Short video with some clips from taking delivery.

Quick intermission: I’m sure by now you’ve all seen the now-viral “commercial” for a 1996 Honda Accord EX coupe that was put together by a guy in California trying to help his girlfriend sell her car. Entertaining stuff if you get the chance! (And the car is now shockingly in the $100k+ bid range on Ebay, thanks to this clever advertising).

Finally, how about a shift in gears – literally – in a brand besides Honda? I recently had the opportunity to pick up a very rare and very nice 1999 Infiniti. On the surface, it’s not much more than a rebadged, upscale 4th generation Nissan Maxima. But this I30, priced at $31,200 when it was new 18 years ago, is equipped with an ultra-rare 5-speed manual transmission. Only a handful of Touring models like this one were configured in such a manner. And today, my hope is that there’s some enthusiast out there who wants to give this one a good home.

To that end, I’ve listed it on an auction site called Bring a Trailer for a 7-day, no-reserve listing. The highest bid as of this coming Friday afternoon, November 10th will take this beauty home!

Link to Bring a Trailer Auction

Check it out, and let your friends know if they’re in the market for such a ride!

22 Comments »

Carfidant Paint Depth Gauge – User Review

Posted in Detailing on August 29, 2013 by tysonhugie

Odometer (ILX): 52,634

We’re taking a break from my long-distance late summer travels for a product review today.

“What’s under that shiny paint?”

That’s the tagline for a new product that promises to potential car buyers that it will help them determine if a vehicle they’re looking at has ever been involved in an accident. I was given the opportunity a couple of weeks ago to perform a review of the Carfidant paint depth tool, so I used my 1994 Legend and my 2013 ILX as subject vehicles.

The idea here is that an all-original car should have pretty consistent readings around the entire vehicle. A car that’s been hit & repainted, however, can vary widely from panel to panel. The reason for this is that extra layers of paint & Bondo cause the meter to give higher readings. Those high readings are red flags and could be an indication that body work has been performed, even though the vehicle may look 100% mint condition to the naked eye.

See the results for yourself here:

7 Comments »

Saturday Car Wash Party

Posted in Detailing on July 17, 2013 by tysonhugie

Odometer (Legend): 522,604

Odometer (ILX): 45,120

From the time I was old enough to pick up a sponge, I was helping my dad uphold our family’s reputation for having the cleanest cars on the block. In fact, he used to pull the cars out onto the front lawn from time to time and take pictures of them. I remember a neighbor coming over to ask one time, “When’s the car show?”

(That’s me on the right)

When I got a little older, I’d detail cars for neighbors and friends. My pride and joy was this chrome-tastic 1989 Honda Prelude Si.

This was one car that I loved working on: A Geneva Green Pearl 1991 Acura Legend LS Coupe. It had the Ivory interior and an automatic transmission.

This car belonged to a couple named McKay and Joan who used to visit the copy shop where I worked at the time. From the moment I sat inside this Legend and drove it to my house, I knew I’d someday own one. These pictures were taken in 1999 when I was 17.

It wasn’t until 4 years later that I ended up buying a Legend of my own. McKay and Joan sold this Legend to someone else but I’ll never forget the thrill of calling it my own, even if just for an hour.

In fact, that Legend coupe even inspired me at one point to start making a small clay model of a Legend. I didn’t get very far with it.

Last Saturday, I hosted a car wash party of sorts at my house. My friends showed up with a hodge-podge of vehicles, including the following:

Joe’s 1995 Acura Legend LS Coupe Automatic

Jack’s 2008 Volkswagen GTI 6-Speed

Matt’s 2013 Nissan 370Z 6-speed

Jacob’s 2013 Jeep Wrangler 4-door 6-speed

Joe’s Legend is pretty special. It’s production #1234 from the last model year of the Legend, 1995. He’s had it for just a few months but already done quite a bit of maintenance to it.

At 155,000 miles on the odometer, it’s got a ways left to go.

Joe recently ditched the aftermarket wheels that were on the car previously and replaced them with the correct 16″ Legend “GS” wheels.

Another friend who came to the party was Paul in his 2013 Acura TL SH-AWD.

Paul’s TL is the definition of “fully loaded.” This car is equipped with the Advance package and Acura’s signature “Super Handling All-Wheel-Drive” (SH-AWD).

It’s a good thing I was wearing sunglasses, because that Bellanova White Pearl is blinding in the Arizona afternoon sunlight. The darkly tinted glass on Paul’s TL gives a nice contrast.

Here’s the immaculate interior. It still smells brand new – and, at only 5,000 miles on the odometer, it should! Those seats are ventilated. A great feature to have here in the desert!

My favorite upgrade to Paul’s TL is a Grumpy Cat sticker on the right rear window. Grumpy Cat, also known by her official name of Tardar Sauce, lives not far from me in Morristown, Arizona.

Who would win this race? Battle of the brands.

2013 Nissan 370Z Sport:

332 horsepower, 3.7 liter V6 engine
6-speed manual transmission with Synchro-Rev match system

2013 Acura TL SH-All Wheel Drive:

305 horsepower, 3.7 liter V6 engine
6-speed automatic transmission with sport-shift paddles

It’d be a fun match to watch.

Current events:

My ILX went in for an oil change yesterday at 45,028 miles. The technician recommended replacement of the cabin & engine air filters, and fresh manual transmission fluid, due to mileage. Otherwise, just a few quarts of fresh 0W20 oil and I was on my way.

Here’s the latest ILX rendering by Hondatalover.

In his own words, here are the makings of this amazing looking custom ILX.

Things you can see:

Tinted windows
Tinted Headlights (lightly, just going for a darker housing look)
Clear strip for Reverse and turn signal’s on the taillights.
18″ European Honda Accord Type-S wheels.
A slight drop. Probably 1/2 an inch,
‘A-Spec’ front, side and rear bumpers with wing spoiler. (One piece, not a lip kit) –I have a non-wing spoiler version. Since not everyone likes wings, I’ll send and let you pick.

Things you cannot:

Dual, quad exit exhaust (can’t see, but it’s implied)
Dark metal trim w/ fake Carbon fiber accenting.
Full LED interior lighting and accenting.
LED puddle lights in the L and R mirrors, behind the door handles, bottom of the door (when open) to shine onto the ground, and license plate.
Sound deadening material through out.

Mechanics:

HFP/ A-Spec suspension (1/2″ drop)
High performance summer tires.
RV6 Bellmouth down pipe w/ Si mufflers.
Limited-slip differential.
Cold Air Intake.
Beefier stabilizer bars.
Beefier front and rear tower struts.
Hondata reflash optional.

Sounds like a dream ILX to me! Sign me up for those enhancements.

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Unique Legends & A Quick Wash

Posted in Detailing, Legend on February 6, 2012 by tysonhugie

Odometer: 506,706

I was pulling out of my neighborhood this week on my way to work one morning and stopped dead in my tracks when I spied a car ahead in a parking lot that I hadn’t seen for a couple of years: this 1988 Acura Legend convertible. Back in March 2010, I test-drove this converted ride out in Eloy, Arizona at a private seller’s home. It had 87,000 miles and was for sale for $1,900.

These next two pictures were taken this past Wednesday, February 1, 2012. Actually – the car looks even better than it did two years ago, which is a relief. At least it’s now wearing seat covers to obscure those ratty leathers.

This definitely isn’t the first time a Legend’s been chop-topped. It’s been done on several occasions with the second generation (1991-1995) model, too. This particular 1992 coupe is painted in a 1995-only color, called Garnet Red Metallic.

On the topic of oddball conversions, try this one on for size. As any die-hard Acura Legend fan knows, the 2 door and 4 door Legends share no exterior body panels in common. There’s an ongoing Legends in Junkyards thread on the acuralegend.org forums. One of our members spotted this interesting creation.

Coupe with sedan front end!

This has been done before, and even on a model in Desert Mist Metallic like mine.

Weird seeing the different front end on the car!

This morning I decided it was time to give the old high-miler a little TLC so I’ll walk you through my easy process. I’m often asked how I keep an old car looking shiny. In reality, it doesn’t take a ton of time! Start to finish, I only spent about an hour on this. I’ve had a slow leak on the left front tire so I topped off the PSI before doing anything else.

This old car is definitely not without its squeaks and groans. Over the last few months, the driver’s door hinge has been getting really loud. I finally took a minute to spray some WD in there and it’s completely silent again.

I pulled out the vacuum and did the whole interior. The floor mat you see there is my “daily” mat, complete with a hole worn through from the heel of my shoe! I keep a “show” set of mats separately in the house – they’re fresh in the box for special occasions only.

Thankfully while most of the country battles bitter winter weather, the worst we typically deal with here in the Phoenix area is a little bit of dust. The car didn’t need a whole scrub-down, just a quick rinse.

I use only micro fiber towels. I’ll usually go over the bulk of the water first with a chamois, then come back for the streaks with these towels. Water is still beading up pretty well since the last wax several months ago.

Don’t forget to take care of all the jambs – including doors, engine, trunk, and even the fuel filler door.

This is also a good time to wipe down the dust on the motor.

Nicely cleaned up interior! You may notice something here. Protective dealer plastic on the carpet of the door sills – yes! I bought a roll of this stuff on Ebay many years ago.

I did a quick polish on the chrome exhaust tips. They get a little oxidized from time to time. I just used a one-step Meguiar’s wax called Gold Class.

You’ll notice that I use Meguiar’s products for mostly everything. I love the Endurance tire shine. Smells like grape!

Take a damp towel and wipe down the wheel wells a little while you’re in there.

Meguiar’s Natural Shine is a nice product for exterior rubber, vinyl, and plastic – like my front grille and fog light surrounds.

The finished product. Battered and scarred front end with nearly 507k, but it still looks decent from afar.

All original paint back here!

In current Acura Legend club news: Every year since 2005, I’ve attended the National Acura Legend Meet (NALM). Each year the location changes to a new “host” city based on bids that are submitted by local chapters that would like to bring NALM to their hometown. Bidding was closed a few days ago for the 2012 event.

Stay tuned because in a couple of days the NALM Committee will make the announcement regarding the location of the 2012 event!

Tomorrow the high-miler goes into Acura of Tempe for a few items of maintenance to keep it mechanically in tip top shape. Among the list of “to-do” items are an oil change (just because I might as well) EGR system cleaning (EGR system last serviced at 434,000 miles), front upper control arms (still original to the car), alignment (because the new front suspension work will require it), and manual transmission fluid (last changed at 467,000 miles). Any other recommendations, fellow Acura owners & drivers?

Happy Superbowl Sunday! Hope everyone’s enjoying the big game. Here’s Acura’s contribution to the long-awaited game day commercial lineup, featuring the next generation supercar Acura NSX concept vehicle.

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