A Tribute to Suki: How a Car Saved Me

GENERAL General G2/G2IC Discussion
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[SIZE=5]If this story isn’t your sort of thing, just move along.[/SIZE]

I’m not entirely certain this is in the right thread, but I suppose it’s as good a place as any. This is how a car saved my life, thought I’d finally share the back story.

There are cars that transport you, cars that are practical, and some are built for pure driving pleasure. Suki was the best of all worlds. Except she didn’t come to me that way. She came to me in beautiful shape, but with bad tires, a bad water pump, a failing head gasket (which I didn’t know until 6 months after I bought her), and a sorta ruined interior.

[SIZE=3]The day I bought her: a 145,000 mile piece of glorious machinery. [/SIZE]

So I replaced the timing belt, water pump, and a lot of other stuff. If you want to see more, see my build thread. That’s not what this is about. I fixed her. I drove her, including a couple days at High Plains Raceway (No pics.) Then, the head gasket blew, she overheated, and threw a rod, all in about a month. The engine was dead (very dead), so I bought myself a JDM B20 locally for around $500, and set to work on my 6-month long swap. I should have sprung for rebuilding the B20, but that will come later.


[SIZE=3]Bad engine, in all its glory.


Installing the B20, I got in there right after this pic, I had to get the moment on camera. [/SIZE]

After the swap, My life got… Interesting. My fiance and I split, my job was in trouble, my life ran downhill so quickly, I had vertigo. My swap hadn’t turned out the way I wanted: the B20 smoked, and I was in debt for all the extra parts I bought while I was at it. I was suicidal. I attempted suicide in that time of my life. I’m actually ashamed to admit it, and here is the only place I’ve publicly come out and said it. I know this isn’t a confessional, but I just feel like this story has to be told.
I set to work, and finished out the winter, earned money, and tinkered. I pulled the carpet and interior to clean and re-do them. I made sure I had good gas, and then set out to make the most of life. My car was my therapy. I got better, slowly. Turning wrenches was fixing me.


[SIZE=3] Me working on Suki, 2012[/SIZE]

I finally got the car mostly where I wanted, and started driving. Sometimes, I’d hit the canyons, sometimes, I’d just drive around in circles for a long time, struggling with the hard questions about life, and searching for bigger answers that never came. I’d call up old friends with my fancy stereo, and I’d sometimes just open the sunroof, and stare at the stars, or the clouds. I’d drive for hours and hours, putting the world behind me, and having no real destination.

After a while, I started heading to specific places. I lived in Colorado, which was awesome for the scenery. I’d take drives along Peak to Peak highway, or to Grand Junction. I went to to visit my mom in Utah, I went with my family to Rocky Mountain National Park, and faced the place where my ex-fiance and I had proposed in Estes Park. I faced my demons, and Suki drove me there.


[SIZE=3] One of the many places Suki and I went to: Up Fall River Road in Rocky Mountain National Park.


Rainbow Curve, same trip.


With my family, in Utah. Average speed: 110MPH, outrunning a snowstorm (and yes, I got caught by State Police @100 MPH).


Random drive around Colorado in the A.M.


Buckle up![/SIZE]

I met someone new, and drove less, saw a few places I hadn’t gone to, and then the B20 gave up the ghost in spectacular fashion, and one day in July, 8 months ago, Suki burned at the side of the road, destroying the work I had put into her over the previous 2 years. Sorting through the ashes was almost more than I could take. I had lost a friend, and the love of my life. If it sounds weird, I’m sorry. Suki helped me through some rough spots, and in turn, I treated her right, and then, one day, she was just gone.

I’m in the market for another g2 or g3 integra. But I wanted everyone to know what sort of cars these DA’s are, if you don’t already. They’re our fun, our transport, our hobby, and hopefully, a lot more. To me, this car was the best thing I had in a time where good things were hard to come by. It was a reminder to me of the things I really love in life.

I know one car that I’ll be telling my kids or grandkids about one day.

[SIZE=5]RIP Suki. 8 months, and I’ll never forget.[/SIZE]

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The engine caught fire?

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Yeah. Not sure if it was engine or electrical, but the fire spread to the whole car.

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I appreciate your story. I myself can understand where you are coming from. The DA just resonates with me. My second car was a 92 GS in white. It was everything I wanted. I have so many fond memories with that car. Regrettably I had to sell her in college so I could get a truck for work. I regretted selling it from day 1. For the longest time I tried to convince myself that there was always going to be another car that I would want. Cars came and went but they were nothing like the DA. For years I knew that I wanted to get another DA but I wanting nothing less than a nice GS. Oddly enough I found my old GS for sale about 3 hours away in another state with the guy I sold it to. Unfortunately, it was not in the same condition it was in when I sold it. Additionally it had about 300k mi on it and he wanted nearly $3k for it. More than what I sold it to him for. I was severely discouraged. Not long after that I came across an opportunity to own a nearly mint all stock db2. I scooped it up without hesitation. I love it. I’ve owned it just over a year and have plans to finely restore it to show room if possible. I only wish that it was white instead of agp. The DA represents a time in my youth where I experienced the good and the bad times but it was the one thing that kept me from going off the deep end in the bad times. It’s nice to hear that there is someone else out there who has the same appreciation for these cars as I do.

I’m envious of the scenery where you live and the proximity to the ski resorts. I love to ski and board. The closest place on the east coast that may have fresh powder is about a 10 hour drive.

I’m sorry to see your DA burned up and gone. I definitely recommend getting another DA. Ive owned a DC and by far in my opinion the DA is a better chassis.

Thanks for sharing your story.

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Good story man, I dont necessarily mean all the contents but I’m sure you know what I mean. I have a somewhat similar relationship with my car haha. Glad you came here and shared it with the g2 community.

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That’s a good read, man… and what better community to share it than here on G2IC?

Cars indeed mean a lot more to us than simple transportation… as you said, they can be very therapeutic.

We all go through ups and downs… but it’s the people (and things) that keep us grounded in these times that are truly life-savers.

Sorry to hear about the fire, that’s sad. But, don’t let that steer you away from the G2 community brotha!

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A very moving story. Definitely something worth sharing many years down the road.

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Wow nice story. I didn’t expect it to end like that. I had one of my cars catch on fire when I was in high school, it’s really not very common for mostly stock cars. It’s great that a car helped you through some tough times and you found the strength to evolve and grow. I definitely have a connection with my car, I think many car people/motor heads think like this…or maybe I’m just crazy.

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Great story. Thx for sharing :slight_smile:

I’ve only owned my DA for about a year, and of all the cars I have ever owned this is my favorite. One I’ll keep till I can no longer drive it.

I truly appreciate this red tho. Hope you are able to find a Suki Jr. :slight_smile:

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This is a moment that all car enthusists could understand and sometimes can possibly relate to. A lot of us pour our hearts out on such subjects, and they in turn take our soul. We embrace it, spend on it, care for it, protect it and show pride when the moment is right. It is our baby (damn near first born if you consider that), our girlfriend while we end up neglecting our real girlfriend, and in some cases, our best friend. In the end, when the road is at a cross road in our life, it is soo hard to part or walk away, like letting a loving family pet come to rest. In all, the experience is something you can cherish and no one can ever take that away from you…ever.
The memories will be found and if you can converse with one that can understand because they share the same, it is a good feeling. With the money invested and time spent on a vehicle, one might say the age old question, “was it worth it?” You can look them dead in the eye and choose what ever answer you want to give them, if not give them an answer at all, but you only know the truth and they can never feel like you feel about such a project.
Great story and thank you for sharing that with all of us DevonDangers.

-Big Ben Slay, four DAs, three failed, one still in the balance until the day that I must write an ending chapter to my love for the Second gen Integra.

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Thanks guys. If I had to do it all over again, I’d have rebuilt the B20, but sometimes accidents happen. I’ll be back into another G2 as soon as I can. If I’m lucky, I’ll get another one in black, with a sunroof, and relatively good condition. I might just resurrect another one.

I’ll be moving back to Colorado very soon, to take back my old job, and I’ll be looking for another DA, or maybe a 92-93 GSR. I’m already thinking about the work I could do to it, including a k24/k20 swap, but most likely, I’ll either swap a B20 or a B18C and call it good. I like a quick little runabout, but unfortunately, these cars are getting harder and harder to find in decent shape for a decent price. I picked up Suki for $1950.00, and she was a fully loaded GS model with only 145,000 miles and… well look at her when I first got her.

Most people want at least $2,500, and the chassis has high miles, or the engine is sketchy, or the interior/exterior is ruined. I did see one 95,000 mile example about 6 months ago sell for only $3,500, it was a black GS, and it sold in about 3 hours. I’m not picky, I can restore an Integra, but I really want a 92-93. I think they look better, and they’re OBD-1.

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Great story. I completely understand, all my 2nd gens have helped me through some really rough times.

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congratz the car turn around your life. i will never sell my DB1,maybe give it to my sons.its my pride and joy for sure.

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An amazing story dude! Thank you for sharing with us all! G2IC is a great community! I hope your able to find another black GS down the road someday. I’ve had my RS since 07 and I plan to hold onto this thing forever lol . I can definitely say that it has kept me out of drugs, ya know. Why spend money on drugs or even try them when I can just put all of my money into my car :slight_smile:

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Amazing story how God used the car to rehabilitate you.
I believe everything happens for a reason, I have experienced the same feelings you have.
I actually wanted to die also, but found life again.
If it wasn’t for Hondas I would be dead.
I live for everything automotive but Honda’s and Acura’s are my thing.

To me there is nothing quite like working on your car when your down and solving an issue(s).
I also love to just drive and enjoy them. Early morning and late evening or night when it’s quite is what I enjoy personally.
For me it’s the sound of a nicely tuned engine drowning out what ever issues I may be facing and just being free during that drive.
I love my wife and family. But my DA completes my life.
I have built several different chassis, but the DA is the one I always wanted at the time I got really into cars it was the fastest Honda running the quarter mile at that time. LoL
Sounds crazy but it makes me feel like all the bad crap that I’ve been through in my life never happened and breathing new life into my car makes me feel like I have had a second chance at life.
I didn’t have a good start at life up till I was about 26, but ima have a strong finish!!!
Go for it!

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Matt, Thats an amazing story. Glad you shared it. its been way to long, well kick it soon…