ROBLOX: Rare and interesting motors!

Hello!

After a hiatus from any events, the local car scene has come back with another meet event. In previous events it has been very chaotic, but today's has been slated to be much more relaxed.

Starting off with this Singaporean-registered Isuzu Vertex! If you thought it was a Honda Civic, I'd forgive you. The Vertex is a very strange model.

The Vertex, more identifiable as a Honda Civic, is a rebadge of the Honda Civic. But it in itself is a Honda-rebadged version of the Honda Civic. Weird, right? In Japan, this variant of the Civic body was named the Honda Integra SJ, the SJ standing for "Sedan Joyful". What it features is different badging and more importantly the front design. But overall, with a D-series powertrain, it is just a Civic Ferio sedan. Honda EK fanatics would also be quick to mention that this particular model is a pre-facelift, as denoted by the rear trunk lights.

So what is the Isuzu link in this? The Isuzu nameplate for the "Integra Civic" was sold under Isuzu in the Thai-market, which also happens to be their last sedan offered for that market. This rebadge fiasco was not the first time between Isuzu and Honda, with other models like the fourth and fifth generation Isuzu Gemini being rebadged Honda Domani's of their respective generations.

This Singaporean-registered Vertex is an extremely oddball item, likely a one-of-one grey import. It is a bit of a way far from Singapore, and this car has been spotted a few times over the past few weeks. Now it being here in a meet, it fits right in.

This modified Lexus LC500 with stance and neons to say the least is quite an attention grabber. The Porsche 911 GT3 next to it can be said the same, too.

Or two. Both of these units possess very different specifications, with the "555" car having matching options, from the door stickers to the nicely-optioned floormats. I don't quite have a photo of it, but its a really nice example, same as the one next to it.

It is an ecletric meet to say the least. Made more engaging with a trio of hypercars that I don't think even the organizer of this session was expecting.

"Blu" Pagani Zonda R being the rowdy bunch of the meet. Thankfully being a more remote location means nobody will be greatly affected by any noise pollution that comes out of this meet. 😃

A very extraordinary trio.

Speaking of trios, here is another trio, but less pricey. A genuine Toyota Crown Comfort GTZ parallel-import, one of only a handful brought into Celestar.

Cobalt Green Pearl, an extremely rare color accounting for about 2% of total Z32 generation production. Next to it an extremely beautiful Porsche 924 Carrera GT

One very pretty and rare original Toyota Corolla GT. The GT variant does come with dual exit tailpipes from the factory, and is powered by a factory-installed Silvertop 4AGE.

A compact that is just as rare! Subaru Vivio Bistro, a retro-styled Subaru Vivio. It can be considered a miracle that these humdrum and often-disposable cars are still appreciated and kept alive by enthusiasts.

Afterward in the day, the meet was moved to another location. Most left for the day but some new cars returned.

The Isuzu followed, followed by another Singaporean-registered motor; a Subaru Impreza 1.6! Most 1.6 Impreza (GC3 chassis code) these days tend to be modified up to a WRX or STi in other countries, but not this! You could say its because of Singapore laws, but I see this as the owner's will to keep it original. Its a beautiful example.

Tikes; the original (front) and the drivable (rear)

Supercharged HSV Maloo! Sky high displacement of 6.2 litres courtesy of the LSA supercharged V8 means in other countries, the road tax could surpass any reason to own one! Because of Celestar's road tax structure, companies and individuals are still incentivised to own a vehicle of bigger capacity, allowing both the market and these existing cars to still continue offering such cars like these.

With the conclusion of the meet, there are conversations of another one and more slated to happen in the coming days, and I hope to update you on those!

In the meantime, check out the last entry I did, where I was in Japan for a photoshoot! ROBLOX: Zaibatsu break

Once again, I'll be updating on more meets as they come, so check in for those! See you!

~Emiri

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Read More: ROBLOX: Kuala Lumper Show & Display

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Feriko EG9 updates while abroad

 Whilst I haven't had the time to go overseas and won't be for some time, a close relative of mine has assisted me with getting my car to do some repairs.

 When he got to my car, the battery was flat. Worse is when I took ownership of the Honda, the bonnet latch had broke. Cue extra services needed to move the car and remove the bumper to access the battery because the latch was dead. :(

Thankfully Feriko was able to be brought over to the workshop. What was supposed to be done first was replacement of the windshield. The previous owner had spoke to me that the windshield was the original piece, and because of that opted not to replace the windshield. I find it odd.

 

But, it is good that the windshield is now being replaced.

 

 Of course, for a car that from what I would have gathered has been sitting outside for a long time, there is, again, more rust issues.

 

 But with this repair, the rust has been patched, since there was concerns about leakage during the rain because the rust holes were that bad. Yikes.

 

 On a similar note, I had previously ordered a better condition steering wheel and a more original (To my assumption) Honda shifter and shift boot. They apparently may not be the correct one, I have no idea either, but I feel the materials used for these seem to supersede what the original ones would have used. 

Strong suspicion that both of these are for the USDM market cars, but since I already bought them, I don't know. All in all, for these two items I paid a total of 84.29USD.

 

The steering wheel is also a leather item like the wheel that was on the car. It looks to be in far better condition than what mine currently is, and it came from a Facebook Marketplace deal for RM200, and 60 for shipping. Quite a worthwhile purchase I feel.

 

Unfortunately I don't have the photos of all of these installed in the car, but these fixes plus servicing has been the first steps to restoring Feriko.

 

Cost wise, excluding the purchase price of the parts, the total cost of the repairs up until this point is 1260RM. I'll be compiling a dedicated post somewhere eventually that will tally up all of my expenses with the car, Elanmi included. For now, I hope that the next update with the cars will be positive. See you on the next update!

 

~Linus

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Read More: Penang: Jan 2025 Summary (+ a new Honda!)

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Elanmi update / breakdown (Literally!)

It has been some time since I have updated on the Lotus, some ups and downs as a classic would.

Since taking the car back from my workshop, the seals which at the time I hadn't had done, came to bite me once again. Actually, not the seals fault but more our mistake when we were trying to seal up the opening between the seals and the window. That piece we used stuck the window and this time took the seal out with it.

Being said, my workshop had also tried to change out one of the headlight motors with a used unit (which doesn't work either). Just for a while had my car have an incorrectly positioned headlight.

 

 

No mind for it for the time being.

 

Afterwards in a later date was getting a rough estimate from Classic Motorworks in Carros to start getting the work done to have the car more watertight.

 

 

Spotted by a fellow Lotus owner

 

 

 

 Collection before CNY; the waterproofing work done and ready for collection. Work done included:

1) Additional canvas lip sewn onto the existing softop

2) Modified aluminium angle bar to act as rain guard

3) Wrap canvas material to aluminium angle bar, plus leak testing

4) Water repellant coating to softtop

 

Lots Of Trouble, Usually Serious. Just a Lotus being a Lotus

Whilst returning from Carros, had a bizzare issue whereby it would suddenly just shut off. Clutch in, revs drop to idle, and it would just turn off. It happened twice or thrice, and there was little sputter, so not like a stall; seemingly the car would just turn itself off.

 

A troublesome girlfriend, one might put it. More still on the day itself to drive out again, the issue presented itself again but without stalling, then it never came back. It never did, even until now at the time of publiciation. An ex-owner suggested I clean the MAF sensor and clean the throttle body. I assume it was because the car may have sat for a while, but I find it very odd. Elanmi may have been unhappy I left her in a new environment. Hah.

Eventually would have the headlight remounted and the throttle body cleaned. The car does not have the MAF sensor, otherwise Throttle Position Sensor (TPS) for the Elan. That may have been why the car had died so easily, as my mechanic showed that a simple tug would just kill the ignition.

 

The intake of the Isuzu motor sounds super chio.

 

As I'd come to find out on a different drive, the waterproofing work is not 100%. Under very heavy rain, it still leaks at a specific location at the seals. But, light / medium rain, its vastly different. Again, it isn't a 100% fix, but it is 90%. Only a few droplets.

 

 Small photoshoot with a friend and his Honda Civic Type R. Interesting location I would like to put.

 

 

And yesterday.

The first time since installing the new radiator have I seen the temps return back to the 3/4 mark. I'd believe I may have pushed the car too hard on this day.

 

Coolant pipe burst :(

The art (Left) and the artist (Right)

This is the first breakdown I've experienced, within my 2 years of ownership. Admittedly in spite of my newbie ownership, bad decisions, youngster shenanigans, Elanmi was able to put up all of that for that amount. I sometimes do doubt the ownership experience and its ability to perform as a car or daily, but I'd rather backtrack on those. Its a great little car.

 Next update with Elanmi will come as my workshop lets me know about what needs do be done. Best case scenario will be to one-shot replace all hoses as preventative maintainence, though there are other issues already in the way, namely potential steering pump issues or steering-related issues.

 Lots of vibration when turning at low speeds / carparks, doesn't occur at normal driving speeds unless cornering at faster rates.

 Additionally a hissing sound at the dashboard area.

Timeline is a bit inaccurate but I did destroy the lip going over a bump. I'll include it here so I myself can laugh at the event some few years in the future.

 So that's all for this update. Hopefully things get better in the coming future. 

 ~Linus

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Read More: Dropping off Elanmi + Seal lookover

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