Hey, everyone. My name is Matt (also known as twa727) and I live in Richmond, VA. I have a 2005 Honda Civic LX named Piggie. It's probably the most boring and plain jane car that you're going to read about on this blog, but I'll try to help you understand why I love it and what makes it more unique than any other Shoreline Mist Metallic '05 Civic on the road. I know, it's not sporty, it's not fast, it's not entirely beautiful, especially by new car standards...but hopefully by the time I'm done you'll understand why I love it.
I paid $10,995 for Piggie with 50,546 miles. Then started the real fun. I had just bought a car I didn't really know how to drive. I know, a gearhead that didn't know how to drive stick? How sad! The salesman gave me a quick rundown in the parking lot of the dealership (even before I bought the car!) and I was off on my way after doing my paperwork. I think I must have stalled that poor car 35 times getting the twelve miles back home. It never skipped a beat though, even when I smelled some burning clutch and decided to stop trying and let my mom drive the car home...
Over the next almost three years I drove and drove and drove like there was no tomorrow. The first year I went from 50,546 miles to just over 75,000. Then another 25,000. It took me everywhere: to my father's house 800 miles away in Georgia, 400 miles away to my family in North Carolina, and then of course all the shenanigans a late teenager could possibly get into trouble. Mall trips, late night adventures on dirt roads, taking turns entirely too fast, racing the resident rednecks in their huge modded F-150s, Silverados, Rams, and even a few old Tundras. Acting like I was a cool guy with a Civic Si or CRX, even though I didn't even have the slightest hint of VTEC. It's seen cold air intakes from eBay, short ram intakes from eBay, HIDs from eBay (none of the above are still on the car, thank god) and even, yes...a fake plastic VTEC cover from an EX model.
Despite being beaten pretty rough, all I've ever done is change the oil, put gas in it, change the brake pads ONCE at 92,000 miles, and a set of four tires. Just last week I had to replace a motor mount, and I think that's just about as reliable as anyone could ever want a car to be. I've run over raccoons, mistakenly, scratched the front bumper on concrete posts, backed into a Mustang GT one time while I was applying for a job at a Ford dealer (no, I didn't get that job), and being rear ended by a 2000 Mercury Sable on Interstate 95. Luckily, he did nothing more than slide under my rear bumper and leave a few scratches!
The moral to my story is that I think this is really the story of what a car should be. It doesn't have to be fast, sporty, pretty, or anything else fancy to make it yours and to make you fall in love with it. I'd rather have my old, comfortable, fuel-efficient, 116,000-mile, strong-as-nails Civic than any new Focus, Mazda 3, Cruze, Elantra, Forte, Corolla, and yes, even the new Civic.
I don't think cars quite have the "soul" they used to. There's something about having a car that's grown up with you that makes it completely and utterly priceless. Every dent, scratch, stain, and blemish tells a story. Even working around new cars (I'm currently a Used Car Manager at a Ford dealership) can't seem to get me away from it. No one else will ever get their hands on Piggie. It's mine until the day I take it to get scrapped. It's my car. -- Matthew (twa727)
stromson says:
05:05 AM, 02/ 8/12
Another Richmonder, nice! Nice car, great story.
mlowery85 says:
06:09 AM, 02/ 8/12
Exactly the way I feel about my 2005 Mercedes C230K. Sounds like our cars have shared similar life stories. My car was featured back near the beginning of this blog if you care to read it.
eidolways says:
07:46 AM, 02/ 8/12
That's actually a very nicely and cleanly executed interior. Ditto for the gauges.
noburgers says:
09:06 AM, 02/ 8/12
I enjoy the stories at least as much as the cars on these blogs, so don't feel bad thinking your car is boring. It reminded me of my first Civic purchase--I did not have a lot of experience with manual transmissions at the time and the dealer was in another state. I only stalled a couple of times but had to adjust to the clutch take-up on wet cobblestone streets.
Those clean gauges beat the later Civic digital speedo. I can read it when they go by on the road.
isend2c says:
01:20 PM, 02/ 8/12
I'm glad that you're so happy with your Civic, and I think it's great how determined you are not to let anybody else have it. I think manual cars always have more personality, although I still prefer the paddle-shift variety.
It's odd that you've added things and then realized that it wasn't a wonderful idea and taken them off, I see countless import idiots in way over-done orange civics listening to (as far as I can tell) their sub woofers on full blast, sounding awful. It's nice how close of a connection you have with your Civic. I think I like it better than any newer Civic short of a 2006-2008 Civic Si Coupe.
ibook says:
07:26 PM, 02/ 9/12
That's the spirit!
The best car I've ever had was a 1990 Civic Si, and I so wish I could get a car like that again.
You're smarter than I am because I only realized what I had given up *after* I gave it away.
j_wong408 says:
01:44 PM, 02/17/12
Great post Matt! I think it was the most relatable story to the average person. Your story reminds me of the love I have for my 2006 Scion xB. I've had it since I was 16 and it's been with me for road trips, late night shenanigans, and pretty much everything. It has been hit, scratched, but the scars are always there for memories. These are not muscle cars that can earn street credits and kudos from many fellow readers. But these are cars we can afford and hell, who says you can't have fun revving a small Japanese motor to high RPMs? Stay golden!!