[koji]

Invariably at some point in your life you’ll go through an identity crisis. I don’t care if it’s a run of the mill mid-life crisis, ethical crisis, or whatever. It happens to everyone. It’s just a part of the modern human condition. I say modern because I somehow doubt that the Geico Cavemen, back when they were clubbing their food and cooking it on open fires, ever sat back and thought – I wonder if this living room set accurately defines me as a person?

I had an identity crisis fairly recently. There’s really only one thing I’m passionate about outside of my family and making things: cars. I’m a car geek. I go through car magazines and parts like tissue paper. Some guys go to sleep thinking about women in compromising positions – I think about taking corners at extra-legal speeds.

I’ve owned the same car since a year after I graduated from undergrad. When the Subaru WRX hit the US, I was one of the first people queued up with my checkbook out. At the point when the crisis occurred the WRX was on coilovers, had a methanol injection system, wide ass 18” wheels, etc. etc. etc.

It was a fantastic handling street car that also performed quite well on-track. There were a couple of problems though: 1) It wasn’t exactly family friendly and I have a three year old and another on the way. My wife didn’t quite refuse to ride in it, but she certainly didn’t like to either. 2) I couldn’t take it out into the conditions it was intended for. If you own a WRX you should be able to traverse gravel and snow and just about anything else you wouldn’t need a lifted Rover to get through. When it snowed in the Seattle area last year I had to call a friend of mine (who also owns a WRX) to give me a lift to the grocery store. That’s uber levels of ghey.

I wanted family friendly and I also wanted fun. I was also convinced that I couldn’t get everything I needed out of a single car. I therefore briefly contemplated selling the WRX and buying a used S2000 and a Legacy GT. Then the wife came up with a great suggestion: “Why don’t you just put the WRX back to a less extreme setup and get a cheap rear wheel drive project car? You could build up the project car however you wanted and it’d be a hell of a lot less expensive.”

I love you honey.

I started surfing craigslist regularly looking for a new toy. The list of potential projects was pretty long because I had only two requirements 1)rear wheel drive 2)reasonable after market support. I could get an RX-7 and throw in an LS1. An old skool Supra and turn up the boost. A 1st gen Miata and a turbo kit. A Porsche 914 and a WRX engine.

I had totally forgotten about the car I would eventually buy till an ad jumped out at me:

-91 Toyota MR2, $2900, Issaquah

Oh.

Oh hell yeah.

In 2004 Sport Compact Car Magazine (may it rest in peace) published an article called "25 ways to live like a car guy". If you're a car geek you've probably seen it in one form or another. After I finished the article I immediately began checking off what I'd already completed. I was surprised by how many I could legitimately say I had already finished. There were a few items in the original article that I never see myself doing (Spending an entire Nascar race on the infield? Are you serious!?) so shortly thereafter I made my own version of the list and added things like rebuilding an engine, welding your own exhaust, etc.

I've been checking off things ever since.

There was one particular item on the list that I kept intact that was important to me. I left it because it really summed up the "car guy" experience for me in relatively simple terms:

#17: Buy the first car you fell in love with.

Now that is interesting. When you're a kid you watch cars go by on the freeway and think "that's cool". Since you're riding in your parents Minivan you're not exactly at a stage in your life where you can procure a vehicle. As you get older and (hopefully) your income goes up, now all of a sudden that cool car that drove by the Chrysler Town and Country of your youth is not only attainable, but is way less expensive.

I was completely oblivious to cars until I turned 15 in 1991. That year a car came out that I absolutely fell for: the Toyota MR2. I can’t believe I had forgotten about the MR2 when looking for a project car. I clicked on the add, called the owner, and a few days later crossed #17 of my personal list.

A little about the car: It’s in great shape except for the drivers side fender which will need to be replaced. It drives great. The engine is strong. It looks to have been driven lightly. It has absolutely no options. Power steering? Uh, no. Power windows? Nope. Power door locks? Nada. Upgraded speaker system? Nein. Stock as a box of rocks. This is all good by me as that crap just adds weight and the car is basically a blank canvas that I can start working on.

What’s my plan for this car? Well, I’ve thought about it a lot. I had considered gutting the interior and making a track only car. The problem is that with two kids, I’m getting too risk averse to do more than one or two track days a year. One or two track days a year makes it hard to justify a track only car so I’m going for streetable with a large side of autocross slut. Everything with cars is a compromise. Go for all out track – get ready for a kidney massage on the street. Go for all out street – get ready for a really frustrating drive on the track. It is what it is. You decide what’s important to you and then go with it. Any way you look at it though, this is going to be fun.