Car Ram-Rod

The one thing I appreciate, and always will- are car owners that modify a car that isn't commonly modified. Take the Honda Fit, for example. Swap a K20 in that, DUMP it, put some ridiculously wide wheels with super stretched tires, and you have tons of potential. My friend Rodrigo Garrido took the more conservative route, and turned his daily driven Acura TL into a head turner- but only to those who appreciate the tastefully modified. 

Now, when you see Acura TL you probably think- 'Oh, my dad has that car...that's cool. *rolls eyes*'. Rod set out to change that, to something that will make you do a double take, and put a slight smirk on your face. Mixing the early model TL with the later model TL type S front end/lip and rear tails, he maintained a clean OEM look that only appeals to those who know something about cars. He added an SSM decklid spoiler, painted to match, and fogs with an HID kit. No crazy air ride, no crazy fitment, no bs. Enough to make the car look good, sit pretty, and drive well.



Speaking of driving, i'm sure a TL isn't the first thing that comes to mind when you think sport. Maybe a Porsche, maybe a type R something or other- or if your mind thinks in dollar signs, an AMG or ///M series car. Rod made it very clear to me- and showed me, that this thing handles like a champ. He'll take the ocassional Touge run in the middle of the night on some nice windy back roads and really push this thing to the limit. He's caught air and been on two wheels on some of said runs. He heel-toes his way to work every day in this puppy as well. He's managed to balance proper daily driver for the morning commute, and a sleeper coming out of the apex on some twisties on the way home thanks to BC racing BR type coilovers, Progress rear sway bar, and CarSport shifter bushings.



Rod also added some random bits under the hood, to make those touge runs a little more exciting. Courtesy of Greddy, an EVO2 catback exhaust was dropped in alongside an ATLP V1 J Pipe, and an ATLP 3rd Cat delete- and of course, a cold air intake, specifically from fujita. Riding in it, and following it to the location we shot I can say it pulls pretty hard and is definitely a fun car. Rod states: 'I got fed up with the lack of reliability and build quality from past turbo cars i had owned so i wanted something fun, comfortable, roomy, with some nut- so i wnet back to what i knew would do the job well....Honda.'



Now arguably the cherry on the sundae are the wheels and the bang on fitment Rod pulled off. This is not dumped by any means, but it isn't 4x4- it's an acceptable ride height for a fun, good looking daily driver- but also maintains functionality for handling. Sporting 18x9.5" 5zigen ZR+520's all the way around, wrapped in 245/40 Dunlop SP600's, bolted on with 35mm blue RAYS engineering lug nuts- this silver fox is sittin' pretty. The bronze/brown color sets off the silver quite nicely as you can see, and contrasts the car well. It's not something that pops to the eye, but it's definitely a unique color that should be rocked more often than not. These wheels give Rod a nice wide wheel base and coupled with his 28/16 damper settings- makes this car even more fun to throw around in the corners.



Now- why a Honda? Why not, would be my retort. They build cheap, reliable, well built cars. Honda has an awesome motorsport heritage even stemming over to Formula 1 from the early 90's, building the multiple grand prix winning motor in Ayrton Senna's (RIP) McLaren MP4/4. Rod's dream car is an NSX- a car Ayrton Senna helped perfect the suspension on due to his close relationship with Honda during his 1988-1993 McLaren career. Not only are Honda's light and decently quick, but we all know they can take more abuse than a mexican prostitute on cinco de mayo.



If your father or mother does own a TL, show them this. See what they think. Their reliable, comfortable, daily driver with a mildly aggressive wheel set up and some engine mods to give it some cojones. Some might be against it, but I bet some dad's will like it. Look out kids, daddy might be stealing your wheels.



Rod is also selling the car, if interested, contact him via facebook. He's chasing after his dreams, and saving for a completely mint NSX. This is a good example folks. Dreams don't come true by sitting on facebook, or your favorite automotive blog (obviously Klutch) all day. Now go make your dreams happen...whatever that may be.
On that note, until next time- I bid you adieu.

Exterior:
-07-08 TL Type S conversion w/ Type S lip
-07-08 Fogs with 3000k 55w hid kit
-5000k low beam bulbs
-ZKW-R lenses
-Blacked out and partial diffuser shave
-04-06 A-Spec sides and rear
-07-08 Base tails
-Painted decklid spoiler
-18x9.5 5zigen ZR+520
--245/40-18 Dunlop SP600 w/
-Rays Eng. 35mm blue lug nuts


Interior:
-iSimple
-S2000 CR shift knob
-Strut King Type S pedal covers

Engine:
-Greddy Evo2 catback
-ATLP V1 J pipe
-ATLP 3rd cat delete
-Rhinolined Fujita CAI

Suspension:
-BC Racing BR Type coilovers 28/16 (damper settings)
-Progress rear sway bar
-CorSport shifter bushings
-07-08 Type S Steering rack + Power steering pump