My Most Attainable Dream Car

(Note 1: In my last post I wrote that my next post would be about the things I'd want done to improve on my folks' Lite Ace. Well, right now I've got something else on my mind, so bear with me. Plus, if you want detailed resto-mod articles, frag's Project e30 articles are wicked awesome.)


(Note 2: Once again I will be linking pictures I will find online to my article.)


Everyone has dream cars. Yes, I used the plural form. I doubt anyone will have just one dream car, and if you're like me, you have many categories for your dream car. Let me talk about one dream car category I have: My Most Attainable Dream Car. What I mean is that this is a car I can eventually afford to purchase and (hopefully) maintain.


My most attainable dream car? The Volkswagen Beetle Baja Bug.

(This image can be found at this site: http://www.dune-buggy.com/FAQ/FAQ.cgi?read=10)

If you've ever read my personal blog, you'll find that I've written more than my fair share of Baja Bug daydreams. And the funny thing is, I never get tired of writing why I'd want a Baja Bug.

So here are a few reasons why this vehicle is one of my dream cars.

Affordability. If I can save enough me-money I can probably afford to buy a decent VW Beetle in good-running condition in about two years. Then it's all just a matter of saving up funds, tinkering with the car, slowly converting it to a Baja Bug, lather, rinse, repeat. Plus there are plenty of places that sell VW parts in and around the Metro.

Sentimental value. My dad once owned a Beetle, and I was fortunate enough to experience riding in it plenty of times. I used to think it was "crap" when I was younger, even calling it "Bulokswagen" - bulok in Filipino meaning rotten. But as I grew older and started appreciating cars, I realized that the Beetle was actually a great car with a great pedigree. Unfortunately by that time my dad had sold the car because of various reasons I'd rather not let you readers know. Plus nothing would mean more to me than spending a few hours every weekend with my Dad (and hopefully my daughter) performing DIY mods and tinkering with the car.

Practicality. If you read my post about the Baja Bug in one of the links above, you'll know what I mean by this. The Baja Bug has a taller ride height than most cars, meaning I have good clearance for the potholed Metro streets. It can also tackle most flash floods (why do I feel like I sound like a broken record? Because these are the main categories I always consider when I think of rides for Metro Manila.) And if ever I forget where I parked it in a parking lot, it would be very easy to find.

Uniqueness. There are still plenty of Classic Beetles driving around. I've seen them. I've even seen an occasional dune buggy or four. But I have never, ever, seen a Baja. Plus even if there are other Bajas I can still customize mine to fit my own sense of style and my personality.

Fun factor. Beetles weren't exactly built for speed. Neither are Baja Bugs. And that's exactly how I like them. Imagine cruising along the (hopefully traffic free) roads heading to some faraway destination on a Baja Bug, enjoying the scenery (if there are any to enjoy) and the tunes playing in the car's sound system. Now imagine doing that with your family or close friends. Now back to me, er, I mean and you'll realize that it's sometimes not the destination that matters, but the journey itself.

Well, there you have it. Those are some of the reasons why a VW Beetle Baja Bug is my most attainable dream car (God, how many times did I use that line? I DO sound like a broken record). And, God-willing, I may just end up getting one sometime in my lifetime.

Out.

Project e30: Entry #4

Things are finally progressing with Project: e30. It's taken a really long time, but I can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel. It's not a finished car by any means, but at least it soon will be roadworthy, and then some.

Still, there were issues to be solved that have yet to be addressed. So here are some more trouble-shooting updates:

1. Door lock problems: Still needs to be taken care of. I'll work on this when after all the engine stuff is done.

2. Brake problems: As explained before, the brake lights are out of whack, the ABS only works intermittently, and I've got my hands on an e38 BMC. So far the electrical system was just checked and contacts cleaned. We'll see if this fixes the lights and ABS, but we won't really know until the car is actually running.

3. Body damage: This STILL is last on the list.

4. The aribag sensors are shot. There's a strange black goo that had leaked out, and it's solidified into a rubbery solid. Normally I'd be more worried, but I'll be swapping the ancient airbag steering wheel with a non-airbag M-Tech 2 part anyway, so I'll just get rid of these.

I'm sure more problems will arise when I actually start running the car. But hopefully, the list won't be too long. In the meantime, engine work continued.

The block has been honed to remove the surface corrosion. Port and polish job has been done, and a lot of work was put into balancing the crankshaft, pressure plate and flywheel. The crankshaft also got new bearings. New valves are to be fitted, since the old ones are showing signs of wear. New valve springs and retainers are about to be put in, too, and the valve guides have been properly matched. The valve guides were also shaved a bit for better airflow. The flywheel was also lightened as it was being balanced. A slightly more aggressive camshaft is on its way - a 272 degree item that should give me a bit more push without sacrificing low-end torque.

Bernard and I have talked about installing a Unichip piggyback ECU controller to manage all the changes made to the engine. The Unichip was the first choice because it's fairly well supported here in the Philippines, and most of the poeple I know who installed this system have favorable reviews. However, at Bernard's suggestion, we are considering using Miller Performance's WAR chip instead. This is so that we can have multiple maps installed and I can switch between normal road driving, economy, and track settings on the fly. I need to do more homework on this before I make my final decision.

If all that sounds like a lot of work, it is. However, it's almost done. The engine itself still needs to be put back together, but at least the components are pretty much done and ready to go. The net effect of all this work is that we may even exceed my target power output. Bernard expects a compression ratio of about 10:1, which is a huge jump from the stock m20's 8.8:1 compression. But this leads to a couple of issues.

When compression goes up, it means more power is being generated, but it also means more heat will be generated, too. The stock cooling system may not be enough, especially in typical Metro Manila traffic, and even more so in the summer. Did some reading on several forums and one option is to upgrade to a high-performance radiator. Apparently, the 1988 and up models have the same radators as the standard e36s, so an e36 M3 radiator should be a direct fit to the stock piping. It's got a thicker core, though, so I'll have to check out the clearances. I'll look into uprated oil coolers as well, as they may also be needed. What isn't 100% clear yet is if the electric fan conversion (the stock setup is a mechanical unit with a clutch) will also help.

To deal with the increase in power, I'll also be considering further brake upgrades. I'm already running on better pads and rotors, but I am now seriously thinking about a big brake kit for the front wheels. That's not a cheap fix, so I'm going to decide only after taking the car on a few braking test runs. I'm just worried that a BBK will mean that I can no longer use my beloved BBS RS 16s. The rims barely clear the calipers as it is - there's just 3mm of space between the two - so having a BBK will almost definitely mean new rims. I was really looking forward to using my RS's, so I'm a bit disheartened by that. Another option could be some wheel spacers, but I've had some rubbing issues to begin with. I really don't want a wide body kit. I was really hoping for more of a sleeper look, so the only way for that to work is to pull my fenders out a bit. I hope I can find someone who can do a good job of this.

If much of the work I've mentioned here isn't very well explained, there's a simple reason why - all this in new to me. My previous cars have been modified for simple aesthetics, with a big helping of car audio. My last e46 stepped up a lot in the handling department, with uprated parts for the brakes and almost every imaginable bolt-on upgrade to the suspension, including a set of PSS9s coilovers. But this is the first time I've ever got into engine tuning (aside from the typical intake/exhaust upgrades that nearly all car enthusiasts have done), so much of the technical aspects are very new to me. Massive thanks are due to Bernard Sy (my tuner), the guys in r3vlimited.com (rav320uk, Wanganstyle, MR 325, SkiFree, nando, and many more) and my dad, who is a certified petrolhead OG.

I'm still a student in this, but I'm definitely looking forward to learning this new phase of my petrolhead life. And whatever new stuff I learn, rest assured I'll be putting it here.

safety tip: lock your doors

On coding days, as many people do, my girlfriend takes the taxi to and from work. On one such occasion, which was actually just last week, she witnessed kids rob the taxi in front of her on the way to work as well as going home from work (both robberies were done along EDSA).

Now this isn't new news, but it seems a lot of people are still victimized by these kids. 

Their MO is they attack when its traffic, so EDSA rush hour is ideal for them. The open the doors, grab what they can, and run. Its that simple. 

It seems their targets are really taxis, as their used to taxis not locking their doors. This doesn't mean, however, that private vehicles are completely safe. 

So whether you're in your car, or took a cab or an FX: LOCK YOUR DOORS. And tell your drivers and cab drivers to do the same. 

Lastly, some of the newer cars have doors that lock automatically. It bears noting which of the cars you use or ride in do and which ones don't. And don't think that every new car has this feature. For example, my 2010 Subaru Forester doesn't, and this car boasts safety as one its selling points. 

Drive (and ride) safe people.

Project e30: Entry #3

When we left off, there were a bunch of issues that had to be dealt with. One by one, here's how we fixed them:

1. Headlamp and fog lamp problems: The HID relay was water damaged, so I had to replace it. Unfortunately, Philips does not sell them individually, so I replaced everything with an new 6000k set sourced from C3 4x4, care of Sanny Sarcia. I also replaced the fog lamp bulb, and cleaned the contacts while I was at it. Now I have light! As for the fogged-up projectors, a simple hair dryer took car of this, and a quick check of the seals revealed no problems.

2. Door lock problems: Still working on this.

3. Brake problems, both electrical and mechanical: Still working on the electrical part of this. As far as the mechanical, we've bled the brakes, and while it improved a little bit, the feel still seems off. I've been reading up on a possible upgrade for the brake master cylinder, which is a stock e38 7-series unit. It makes brake travel a lot shorter, at the expense of a much harder pedal. It sounds interesting, and I went ahead and sourced the part. Also considering a complete caliper rebuild.

4. Idling problem: Cleaned out the fuel tank, using solvents and water. We also replaced the fuel pump with a higher-flow fuel pump. This was part of the original plan anyway - hence the fuel regulator. And, of course, we put in a new fuel filter.

5. Body damage: This is last on the list.

6. Stalling problem: Replaced the O2 sensor for the ICV, and that corrected the issue.

7. Aircon problem: This one hurt: had to replace both the compressor and expansion valve. Changed all the hoses while I was at it, as well.

8. Steering problem: The old steering rack needed a rebuild, but opted instead to upgrade to a remanufactured Z3 unit, which shortens the ratio from 4.1 to 2.7 turn to lock, meaning a much sharper response.

As for the engine, there were a few things that needed to be addressed. The block is pretty solid, but there is some surface corrosion. This will be addressed by milling the head just a little bit, which will also increase the compression ratio. There's also some pitting on the cylinder wall, but a port and polish job will correct this, as well as help with the airflow, thereby increasing power even more. A couple of intake and exhaust valves that are slightly bent, and a few have some pitting and corrosion on the ends. These will be replaced with new ones.

Since a lot of the problem areas were not just corrected, but improved upon, it made sense to maximize these upgrades. I have better steering, hopefully better braking, better fuel delivery, and (hopefully) better breathing for the engine. Bernard and I talked about further options to take advantage of what was already done, and in the end, I gave him a goal - I want 170hp at the rear wheels (approx 200hp at the crank, which is within e30 M3 range), and do it with NA tuning. That means no turbo, no supercharger, no nitrous - all motor. Verification will be done via rolling road in Speedlab. Why there? A few months before the car was flooded, I had taken it to Speedlab for a dyno run, to see where the engine was at. Peak hp was 129rwhp at 5700rpm, while peak torque was 129lb-ft at 4000rpm. That's my baseline, and I hope to see a good result.

With that agreed upon, we set about mapping out the other work to be done. First, 19lb injectors and an m30 MAF will be installed to increase air and fuel delivery. This takes advantage of the port and polish job as well as the fuel regulator and the high flow fuel pump. A new exhaust - from the manifold all the way back to the muffler - will also be fitted to be able to deal with increased exhaust gases from the increased combustion. And finally a Unichip piggyback ECU module to properly mate all the new components.

In the meantime, I got a set of Ireland Engineering strut brace, front and rear, and powdercoated them red. They should compliment the existing chassis upgrades, and spruce up the engine bay and trunk a bit. The engine bay in particular should look good - anything that could safely be powdercoated we done so in black. The fuel line attached to the fuel regulator and the spark plug wires are both red, so the red strut bar will continue the black-and-red theme.

The direction of the car was starting to veer off course, and into some uncharted waters for me. But this may just be the beginning...

The Toyota Lite Ace

(Edited Note: The Lite Ace above is the Lite Ace of my family.)

My family owns a 1993 Toyota Lite Ace GXL. Silver green and still running. Similar to the car shown above. And as much as I've been pushing my folks to sell it, part of me still has a great deal of fondness to that car.

I've learned to drive using that car. I brushed the entire right side of the van against our subdivision's gate while driving in from a practice run in FTI. This was because at the driving school I was driving a car with wheels in front of me, while the Lite Ace's wheels sit below me. Hence, I turned too early and the rest is history.

That car has been on plenty of road trips with my folks. We've driven it to Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte, for family vacations. And it has dropped me off in Naga, Camarines Sur to finish college.

I haven't driven it in years, the last I can remember is in 2000. I don't count the times I fix it's parking since that just involves first gear, reverse, and some small maneuvers.

It's a great car, but it's age is showing. The engine just isn't as strong as it used to be. It's very slow to accelerate, slower than before. It has difficulty climbing inclined slopes. And it has a tendency to overheat once the A/C is turned on. (Lite Aces are known for overheating but my dad fixed that problem by replacing the radiator hose with a more durable one - end of problem.)

Some switches work only when they feel like it. Like the A/C switch. You have to pray to the gods for the A/C to switch on. Or you have to let the car warm up before even attempting to turn it on or else be prepared to spend the whole trip without A/C. Then there's the hazard light switch - it doesn't work at all.

The headlights are really, really weak. I'm guessing this can be easily fixed by putting stronger bulbs.

The rear seats have no seatbelts - no place to put the child seat in.

But despite all of the faults I just wrote, the Lite Ace is still a great van. Why?

It's spacious. It can seat five comfortably, and if you fold down the rear seats you can seat another three. Or it can carry a huge amount of cargo. We used the Lite Ace when my wife and I moved into our condo before, and we used it to carry our stuff when we left the condo a year later.

It's easy to drive. Believe it or not, it has no power steering but it is very easy to turn the wheel even in slow driving. The only issue I have is that a) it's manual transmission and b) the handbrake is not in the usual sedan position.

It's got excellent ride height. You don't have to worry about shallow flash floods in the Metro. You don't have to worry about some potholes, and you don't have to be concerned about some of the crappy-built speed bumps.

It's just recently that I realized that the Lite Ace we have is a perfect family car. If, and only if, a lot of work goes on it to modernize it. And that's what I'll most likely write about in my next entry - what I plan to do with the Lite Ace (if I had the money).

Out.

Project e30: Entry #2

As I mentioned in the first post, this project car was to be a long-term project, with restoration and modifications coming at a slow, deliberate pace.

Phase one was to get the car in good running order, with OEM and aftermarket upgrades used when applicable if something needed to be replaced. Second part would be a simple resto-mod job - mostly in the form of a respray (perhaps even a color change) and with era-appropriate mods which would make the car unique. The last would be performance upgrades, meant to be done slowly, over a period of time. This was so that I could enjoy each tweak a little at a time, and truly appreciate the effect that each mod had on the overall package. In the meantime, I was doing a lot of treasure-hunting, looking for rare or interesting parts for my project car. Among the parts I've sourced:

- Alcantara 355mm diameter Mtech-2 steering wheel from the e30 M3 Evo

- Recaro N-Joy seats that I've reconditioned and updated with leather surrounds

- OEM M-Tech 2 kit (half of it, anyway)

- e46 ZHP weighted shift knob (to go with my Z3 shifter)

- OEM rearview mirror with maplights

- OEM battery cover

- OEM black leather door panels

- OEM 15" BBS "basketweave" rims

After Ondoy hit, the car spend a couple of months in the shop, getting it back to road-usable status. And it was usable... barely. The car had developed various problems:

1. The driver's side headlamp (my poor HIDs!) and fog lamp are dead. This may be corroded contacts, or at worst, an electrical wiring problem.

2. The central locking and driver's side door lock don't work properly. Same as the lighting, this is more electrical work.

3. When I step on the brakes, some lights on the dashboard come on. So there's definitely a lot of electrical work to be done in my future.

4. The headlights are still fogged up, but a bit of dryer work, and it should be as good as new.

5. The car idles pretty rough - once in a while, idling runs up to 2000rpm. A quick dab of the throttle and it normalizes, but it's still something to look into. It feels like the car has no low-end pull, either. Apparently the fuel tank still had a lot of residue, not from the flood, but buildup over its entire lifespan. Then the flood water loosened it up just enough for it to be sticky and clog up the fuel filter. We later found that the fuel pump was also affected, and i was running very lean. So a cleanup of the fuel tank is in order, and I'll need a new fuel pump.

6. The brakes were also non-responsive, and the ABS check light was on, so that has to be addressed as well. The brake pad wear sensor is also dead. The brakes may need to be bled, and the e30 is known to have long brake pedal travel, so perhaps an adjustment of the linkage will do. The ABS system needs checking, though, and there are

three possible ansers: the ABS sensor, the ABS relay, or the wheel speed sensor.

7. To add a little extra grief, there's a ding on the hood where some debris must have hit.

8. When I gave it a test drive, the car stalled on me. It appears as though a sensor that controls the ICV also needs replacing.

9. The aircon cuts in and out a lot, and I fear the worst - a new compressor may be needed.

10. The steering feel is off, being very loose in the middle and heavy when nearing full lock. Turns our that the power steering pump is leaking, so that has to be replaced.

There are probably more little things (and maybe even big things - but hopefully just little things) that need sorting out. But these alone were already worrying me. It was also very difficult to decide where to begin, since there was so much wrong, but eventually I decided to start with the heart of the e30 - it's M20 motor.

Since the engine was to be overhauled AGAIN, I decided that this time, I would not just do the standard maintenance, but do some real refurbishing, as well. I took the car back to Goodwrench, the shop in Bulacan where the car was flooded in the first place. The owner, Bernard Sy, is a whiz with e30s, and the m20 in particular. We discussed options for the car, many of which are upgrades that we can do while the engine is already opened up. I didn't realize it at the time, but this marked the beginning of a new direction for the car...

On the next chapter of Project e30: how plans can change...

Traffic Tsinelas

Saw this a couple of days ago... not exactly regulation, is it? I'd love to see some appropriate captions in the comments box!

short term wishlist

I actually wrote most of this before the posts of Gani and Frag. But it seems right that its only being posted now. This is sort of a synergy of the 2 previous articles. The cars on this list have a reason for being here. They're on my wish list (just like the STi is on Gani's) and they are all cars that have impacted me in my youth.

This is not a fantasy wish list, but more of a goal for the next maybe 3-5 years for myself. Meaning the cars and the plans in this post must be more or less realistic for me. Now I don't see this as a limitation per se, as I've always been a pretty practical guy. Of course I'd love to have a Bugatti Veyron and a Rolls Royce Phantom, but thats just dreaming. 

So within the next few years, I've been eyeing these cars:

1. A late 90s-2000 Toyota Hilux. 

This will be my workhorse. If I need a car to load something in, the pickup has the bed in the back to hold most anything (as long as secured properly). A high car, and outfitted with nice off road tires, it can go almost anywhere. Outfitted with a snorkel, and even floods are no match for it. 

Now I love pickups. With a passion. I've had the privilege of having 2 already, an Isuzu Dmax 4x4 and an Isuzu Dmax 4x2. Yeah, I know, 2 of them. Well one was my personal car and the other was a work car, though I didn't have them both at the same time. Also, the 4x2 was a company "hand me down". 

So why a Hilux? And why an old one? One is the limitation of funds. I can't just shell out over a million for a new Hilux. Budget for a workhorse pickup is around php350k-php450k. And from a quick scan on sulit.com.ph, well this fits the bill.

As seen in Top Gear, the Hilux is nearly indestructible. And we all know how easy it is and how cheap it is to find Toyota parts in this country and get a Toyota serviced, so extra points for those.

edit: if i had my way, this would actually be a Toyota T-100, a pickup my uncle had (same one that owned the FJ-40). I had a chance to inherit that car, but my dad backed off because the car was an import and he was worried about parts and service. we did have a white one in the office a while back, and that was tough as nails.

2. BMW e34 Touring.

The weekend traveler. Something I can take on a trip to Tagaytay or Batangas or Subic and I know everything I need will fit in it, and I can take a bunch of people with me as well.

I'm actually eyeing one right now, and am just saving up enough money to buy and restore it. I've looked the car over, verified the papers, and even had it checked by Klassik BMW (which is now a Hyundai showroom). 

Projected price is somewhere north of php300k, with repairs going somewhere north of 100k. If ever, I'll also want to repaint it.

edit: my love for the e34 stems from my dads e34 sedan. i've actually been on the lookout for an e34 for a few years now, and the touring just speaks to me for some reason. probably because i also loved my grandma's old benz td300 wagon back in vancouver. 

3. Mercedes Benz SLK or BMW Z3 late 90s-2000 

The Sunday car. I've always wanted a roadster and told myself I would have one before 35. So I literally have 5 years to get myself one. Crossing my fingers on this one (and working harder).

Benz or BMW? I can't really choose between the 2. The prices are very similar, with the Benz being maybe a little bit more expensive (unless I go with the 200, which seems kinda slow with only 134bhp). The Benz is the prettier of the 2, the BMW the more iconic (Brosnan James Bond). So it will all depend on what I see when I'm ready to buy, but the budget here is only around 1.5M tops. I know cheaper ones can be found, but I prefer local units. You never know when they decide to crack down on imports and grey market cars.

Now unlike the previous 2, it will take more time for me to be able to afford either one of these. By that time, maybe I can afford better, but right now these are it. 

edit: one of my uncles had a bmw z3, right after james bond came out. he brought it to the house during a family dinner, and it was just awesome. because the local models only went up to the 1.8L engine here, he indent ordered a 2.5L engine to put in it. his brother owned the ferrari 308 in Frag's post. 

Thats it right now, and I think the goals are very realistic in the next 5 years. Well, maybe not the roadster, but the pickup and the e34 seem reasonable enough. 

The 2008 Subaru Impreza WRX STi

You can ask birdman or frag, I am a "ricer." I am a huge fan of Japanese (and to a extent, Asian) cars. Yes I do like Euro cars, but since I became a serious car nut I've mostly been biased towards the Japanese cars.


What are my three favorite Japanese car models? The Nissan Skyline, the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution, and the Subaru Impreza WRX STi. My bias leans either way for the Evo or the STi, depending on the model and what year. Right now I am leaning more towards the current hatchback STi. Why?

It looks better. The wider fenders, the aggressive stance, and the hatchback shape just makes it look so mean. If the Evo X looks like a shark, then the STi looks like a coiled cheetah ready to pounce.


It sounds better. Seriously, I've encountered STi's and Evo X's on the street. You can hear the STi coming. The deep rumble of the boxer engine makes sure everyone can feel the STi's presence. The Evo just sounds like a louder normal car.


It seems like a more sensible family car for me. Being a hatchback, the luggage space is definitely bigger than a normal sedan. I'm hoping it can fit my kid's stroller, a bunch of groceries, or other big luggage.


It's less expensive than the Evo. Last I checked, at least. The Evo X is, I think, around PhP2.8M or higher, while the STi is around PhP2.5M. Actually the Hyundai Genesis Coupe is the most affordable, but seeing as how I have a wife and kid, I need as much seating capacity and luggage space as possible - but I also like the Genesis.


I know that right now the STi is still out of my league, but a guy can dream, can't he?


Out.

Top 10 Most Memorable Cars of My Youth

As with all petrolheads, the cars we grew up with and around played a huge role in our petrolheadedness. For this - my first - installment of my Top 10, I will list cars from my youth (until my 13th birthday) that had an impact on my life. It had to be either something my parents owned, or a relative, or a family friend, and made an impression on me and influenced my taste in cars. (In other words, no pin-up and dream cars - these are cars that I had personal experiences with).

10. 1980s Toyota Tamaraw

This humble tin box was the car that used to take me to and from school, delivered bakery goods and other products to my mom's little bake shop, and was the workhorse of the family. It had no seat belts and no airconditioning, just a flap below the windshield that you could open and close to reveal a few holes punched into the sheet metal that allowed air to come in. Still, since it had bench seats, I could change gears while my dad or whoever else was driving operated the clutch. I'd just slot the lever in the gear that they told me to. And when you're 6 years old, that's something to look forward to.

9. 1984 Toyota Landcruiser FJ40

My uncle had one of the coolest cars ever - an FJ40. Rugged and tough as nails, it was noisy, bumpy, and spartan, but that just made its character stronger. I imagined being on safari, or in a military expedition, or traversing rivers and rocky terrain, and the Landcruiser just taking everything in stride.

8. 1990 Mercedes Benz 500SL (R129)

I remember coming out of church one day and my dad's friend waiting for us a the bottom of the church steps. Behind him was a gleaming red 500SL, black canvas top up. As I ran up to the car to admire it, dad's friend said, "stand back! Watch this!" and with a push of a button, the convertible roof slowly folded itself away into the boot, completely automatically, as I watched wide-eyed and amazed. To this day, everytime I see one, I have this urge to own one.

7. 1990 Volkswagen Type 2 Vanagon Multivan (T3)

Dad bought this as a family runabout, with the idea of using it to take my mom, my brother and myself on long road trips. And road trip we did - most memorably from Vancouver to Edmonton, and later, from Vancouver to San Francisco. It had a little fold-away table, a cupboard, curtains, and a pop-up bed up on the roof where my brother and I would take naps in when my folks would take rest stops. Thanks to this wonderful dark blue minivan, we were able to have great family vacations that were truly memorable. But this wasn't our first VW Bus...

6. 1980s Volkswagen Type 2 (T2)

...This was. In a typically VW-like yellow-and-creme two-tone color scheme, this VW Bus was the first car we ever had with a moon roof, which was operated with a rotary windup mechanism. I can't recall how many times we would open up the top and poke our heads out while the good old VW cruised around the Manila streets. nearly 20 years later, my cousin snapped a picture of it, still alive, in Baguio. It feels great to know that this part of my childhood lives on.

5. 1987 Volvo 740 Turbo Wagon

This was my first encounter with forced induction. On the left side of the instrument cluster was a turbo gauge, with an orange band at the end to tell you that you were entering boost territory. I remember watching that gauge waiting for the dial move and approach turbo range, and scream "TURBO!" when it finally got there. It also had a pair of jump seats - a third row that face rearwards - that my brother and I would ride in (even if nobody sat in the second row) to play "punch buggy" or pretend to be gunners in a fighter-bomber.

4. 1984 Mercedes Benz 230E (W123)

My dad's first Benz is certainly a memorable one. When I went missing as a 6 year-old, the best place to look was the garage. My favorite place to be was inside our white 230E, marveling at the vacuum-operated central locks. I looked forward to seeing the 3-pointed star on the hood as we drove past, imagining it to be crosshairs on the nose of a fighter jet. Such was the magic of the 123 Benz.

3. 1991 Mitusbishi Montero

This was one of the cars I learned to drive in. And yes, I was 13 years old. When the family would take trips to Batangas, I waited eagerly to approach the sparsely populated back roads and dirt paths for my dad to finally tell me to get in the driver's seat. He didn't have to tell me twice! I begged and pleaded for my dad to keep the car 'til I was old enough to get a driver's license, to no avail. I still would love to own one, or its later iteration, the Fieldmaster.

2. 1988 Ferrari 308

A trip to San Francisco to visit family rendered a big surprise - my first REAL encounter with the most famous marque of all - Ferrari. My uncle's 308 was tucked away in his garage, and it seemed unreal that I was so near automotive greatness. It was a the treat of my life 'til that point to get in the back seat and get a ride around town while my dad drove and my uncle riding shotgun, but that lasted just a few minutes. But it was then that I realized that dreams can come true, and if it could happen to my uncle, then I may be able to make it for myself. I still hold on to that dream to this day.

1. 1989 BMW 525i (e34)

This was my first encounter with the marque that would capture my imagination. Because of this car, I started reading up on both classic Bimmers and (then) current ones, leading to my infatuation with the 6-series shark, the exotic M1, and my favorite sports car of the time, the 850 CSi.The 5-series blended performance, reliability, sporting character, and luxury all wrapped in a handsome package. Even today a clean one catches my eye, and is a reminder of those magical days when the Bavarian brand first stole my heart.