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Hola amigos, It's been a while since I've been a part of the forum. Anyway I didn't seriously start learning how to drive til I had saved up enough and could afford my own car. Usually older than most. And my grandma used to taunt me about younger cousins getting their restricted and cars before me... Well now my Grandma's at her final resting place and I got a faster car than my cousins I got a few choice words for ya grandma!! jk I love my grandma but it's a shame I can't drive her round cos that'd be fun. Anyway first car was an 04 Suzuki Swift, while that was allgood for being normal and safe and economical it was an automatic cos back then I thought who wants to be effing round with gears at give way signs.. I used to get paid lessons as a teenager 4-5 years before getting money for my own car yeah parents didnt trust me/yelled too much.. got rid of that car after owning for a year. I bided my time between jobs and giving self employment a go I got a chance to rekindle my love for cars and eventually when I got the money I decided first priority would be a car. It had to be rear wheel driven manual and decently quick. With a modest budget of 3k I thought an MX-5 would be legit but I only really liked the British racing green NA that comes with tan leather interior nardi wood steering wheel and gear knob. I didn't want to pay 3 grand for any other mx-5. And my other favourite, the 190E (because the Evo Cossies just look the business and are mean as) only came in auto. I was thinking of going FWD and getting an Integra til I stumbled on the MR2 and decided that I'd check it out. At first I was intimidated being in the drivers seat and couldn't even drive manual so got it towed cross Auckland home. Til I got my first paid lesson from a guy who also was a car enthusiast, I was scared but his technical approach to driving was notches above any other instructor I got lessons from so I stuck with him, practiced driving at night, got restricted on black friday and the rest is history. Also been thinking if it's old school or not... I think it is, but seeing as this car was made from like 1990 - 2000(?) with minor cosmetic changes i.e. wings/wheels/tail lights and better engines/suspension design over time, then it isn't. And IMO It was a design ahead of its time looks wise, whereas cars from the same year from like France or Australia were still stuck in the 80s looks wise. And also when you take into account the oldness of oldschool cars on here I think this section is more appropriate. Since my ownership I've done: - clean air filter - change wipers and battery and gear knob shit - oil and filter change - coolant change - cleaned general gunk and slime - learnt how to detail, club member friend who details professionally taught me a few things - bought a set of wheels that had tyres too big so learnt lesson - painted front and rear bumper; had a crash with front, rear was peeling, albeit in the wrong shade, also learnt from mistakes with this What needs to be done? - tiny bits of rust** - new rubber, rear tyres getting bald and will most likely be Potenzas on the wheels I'm getting from Japan through Alex / ML Racing** - clutch is worn, not slipping (yet)** - pro respray, paintwork all over to red but a shade I like, car has been keyed by some fuckboy** - body kit, pro fitted** - engine swap, blacktop from Altezza, 1uz-fe, 2gr-fe, 2zz-gze** - headlight alignment and new bulbs** - need missing indicators for safety** Now for some pics.