MR-S in the flesh

As a fan of Toyota sports cars, you can not leave out the Toyota MR-S and so I was very excited to be able to meet one in the flesh. If you have frequently visited my blog, you would remember a review that I wrote about the Toyota MR-S or you could read it here, MR-S review, if you have not. Ever since I decided to let go of my Celica, I started to sell off my mods and someone was interested in my Camcon unit. So, I arranged to meet up with him and to my surprise, he drives a Toyota MR-S. That was a period where I have detached myself from anything related to cars and meeting this MR-S made me felt like a small boy, getting ice-cream on a hot day. I was not even paying much attention to the owner when we were talking business and when I got the chance, I asked if he could show me his car. That is when it got interesting.

When I first saw his MR-S, I noticed it has a hard top, facelift rear lights and facelift rear bumper. I thought I was lucky not only to be able to see a MR-S but also a well equipped, rare late model. In Malaysia, it is really difficult to get a facelifted JDM sports car because they are mostly grey imports and only the initial models were popular. I know because there only a handful of facelift Celica that I found excluding the one I driven before. However I was told by the owner, it is actually an early model only will an exterior upgrade, even with facelift front lights. The car talk went on and on, and was even longer than the business talk. Maybe there is a lack of photos and sorry about the quality. I was also given a tour of the interior and sat in the cockpit. Being all excited I forgot to take photos of the inside. The gear knob indicating 5 speed manual gives a strong indication that it is an early model because facelifted models have 6 speed manual. 

I actually thought of getting a small sports car as my weekend ride and the MR-S came to my mind and so I asked a lot about owning one and learn more about it. Frankly, I like how its stock looking with the original rims but comes with the exterior upgrade and rare hardtop. Owning one does sound fun but it is still unaffordable because of its age. The only regret of this meet up is that I could not have a test drive of it and could not take better photos. At least I get to say I have seen a Toyota MR-S up close. I really hope there are more meetings like this. Let's hope I get a sports car again soon. Please bare with these limited photos though. 

Farewell to You

You came into my life unplanned and caught me by surprise. Never in my life would I have guessed that I would have a chance to have you in my life. This was the beginning of my story of my Celica. It has only been 4 years since I met you and some say it is short but to me it has been a lifetime. My car related life before you was just the beginning of me as a driver. Back then I knew nothing much about cars and was beginning the aesthetic phase that struck many drivers that most never left that phase. Prior to you, I only had experience with bodykit and rims for my Vios. You taught me a lot about sports car performance know how and driving skills that I could have never learned from driving a regular car or from reading magazines.You gave me actual experience of driving a sports car and showed me the effects of mods. Rather than reading about how a lift kicks in, I had the chance to feel it firsthand and I get to experience changes as the car undergoes more and more mods.

My curiosity of how a car works, what a mod does and how to properly handle a sports car increased and I started to learn more. You taught me that raw horsepower and high displacement engines are not what that matters. You taught me the difference between brake and wheel horsepower. Other includes the potential of cars with different drivetrains, power of naturally aspirated cars versus force inducted cars, the different types of layout and engines available and my personal opinion that handling is more important than increasing horsepower. Thanks to you, I even had the chance to enter a race car circuit for a drive (twice actually). I happen to be the type that learns faster by doing the deed and having you around makes that easier. I also get to know a great bunch of enthusiast that enable me to learn from them and allowed me to drive different setup for the same car such as TRD spec, super NA, supercharged and turbo Celicas.

It was really hard for me to hand over your keys and watched you left the premise, knowing I will never see you again. It really breaks my heart to watch my mentor, my partner in crime, my pride and my companion leave my life so early. I had many good memories together and remembered taking you out for a spin whenever I am depressed. Most of the people around me knows I treated you like my wife, taking care of you most of the time. You have done well accompanying me in the process of learning. I am a better driver thanks to you. The new car might be here but you will never be replaced so easily. You are my first sports car and I will never forget you even if I have a new sports car in my life. Now my car is just a car and not my partner in crime but I will always have the memories when we were together.  Farewell and I hope that you will find a new owner that will care about you like I did soon. Thank you and Goodbye.

On the Track

First Wedding Convoy

Dyno Time !

First Model Shot with my long hair

Full Blast Models