Back to Old School

I remember saying that if ever I had to buy a VW; it would have to be a 2 door mk1 rabbit or a MK5, either that or nothing else within the VW range. For me those are the two iconic VW's. However, Aashiq certainly changed my mind and put me in school with his 4 door.

   When Aashiq bought his 4 door I remember saying to myself “What is he thinking? Buying that 1984, four door mk1. Personally, if that were me I would have bought a 2 door”.
   Thing is, I am not what most would call a “Pure VW fan”. I drive a Honda and Honda’s are all I’ve ever owned. So, as an "outsider" what would I know when it comes to the VW community right? This is what most people would ask or think to themselves.
   Well, in Aashiq’s case, he owned a mk1 Golf, a Civic E.K and another mk1 Golf, respectively. So when he bought the 4 door he knew exactly what he bought and why he bought it, based on previous ownership.
   At this time, the 2 door mk1 was becoming very popular, in fact so popular that I contemplated buying one myself. Unfortunately as most of you would know, popularity comes with a price. To me, the price attached to the 2 door rabbits was ridiculous. But, it was in demand and it became more of an accessory, something like the latest cellphone and people just had to have it.
   I began seeing 2 door rabbits popping up every where like it was rabbit season and it became quite annoying, especially with the whole stance movement where everyone was trying it and only a few got it right. The heritage of the mk1 2 door was being killed with sticker-bombing, roof racks  stacked with the most random objects on them and those rear window stickers that meant nothing at all. All these trends haphazardly mixed together only created a recipe for disaster.
   Aashiq did not fall into this trap from day 1. He was not at any point phased by all the trends going on around him. He knew that just like most high school kids, every one at some point wants to be popular, noticed, remembered. No-one wants to be the kid at the front of the class taking notes, taking in all the information and asking all the questions while the "cool" kids sit at the back and by just their very being, are noticed. Who would honestly pass off the opportunity to sit back and be noticed, while someone else takes the time out, does their research and gets all the information and all you have to do is copy it?
   All this is quite relevant to the car scene if you really think about it. People see a trend; they copy it just so that they can pass in the eyes of society.
  What they don’t know is that not doing the proper research for a project, but going ahead with the project anyway will inevitably lead to them failing miserably.
   So to sum everything up, Aashiq is somewhat like that kid sitting at the front of the class. He did not follow the trend by copying the rest of his peers. He did not buy a 2 door mk1, just so that he could stickerbomb the shit out of it like a crazed Justin Bieber fan covering school books with his pictures and adding a roof rack so that he can put his text books on it (when as it can clearly fit in the boot).
  My point is, He done his research, he kept it neat and simple and he certainly passed the test.

Aashiq kept the OEM grill and chucked the original big bumpers and gave it that old school look by replacing them with OEM chrome bumpers, while adding his own touch by spraying the indicator lenses black and adding a small chin lip. He stands by the rule of less is more.

Sitting pretty on Tuning Art coilovers, -5 Degree camber and some stretch gives it some good stance.

 

 

 

 

Breaking the colour with this porno red leather and suede interior, which was matched the red tail lights. Keeping the theme to a maximum of 3 colours.

 

Love at 1st site.

 

Who can resist a Bollywood romance once they see a tree.

 

 Paint: Dakar yellow
Engine: 2.0L 8v 2E long block
 276 degree cams
 Custom branch
 50mm powerflow exhaust
Gearbox: 5 speed FFZ
Wheels: 13x8j compomotives
 175/60/13 Hero tyres infront
 185/60/13 Falken tyres at the back
Suspension: Tuning Art coilovers
     -5 degree camber in rear
Interior: Brilliant red semi leather interior with suede inners

 

 

Hondas in the Hood - Part 1

These days car clubs are usually about joining a forum, going to regular meetups and breakfast runs and other meetings, and that's about it. After joining CapeStance a few months ago, I noticed that we are much more than just that.

 I've learned in this whole scene that its not about who's car looks the best or who's car is the quickest, its all about the people you meet and the friends you make. And that's what CapeStance is, a family of different people from different areas with different cars, all uniting and bonding because a mutual love and a culture.

 Nowadays, I can expect a BBM message or a phonecall from the CS guys asking who's keen to mission somewhere and do something random and awesome. That's pretty much how this shoot came about.

Most of you have seen Achmat's super clean CRX at Streetmods and driving around, and Keagan's lovely example of an EK Civic on Airlift Performance airbag suspension, but we've never really done a proper shoot on both of these cars. So we met up and decided to take some pics.

These days you won't often see an extremely neat Honda CRX driving around. But when you do you will definitely notice it. Achmat's rex is just that, a head-tuner. Most certainly one of the neatest in Cape Town and also, in my opinion, the best looking! Full details of the CRX will be posted in Part 2!

When I first met Keagan he was the owner of one of the lowest static EK Civic's I have ever seen. Since then, he has been through a number of other EK's and even a VW,  but Keagan is a true Honda head and just could not resist another EK Civic which is the one he owns today.

This EK started out life as a silver old spec which was not in the best condition ever. But after getting stuck into it, Keags has turned it into one of the neatest old specs in Cape Town. The car was resprayed a dark grey found on Acura RSX's which has a gold tint to it in certain light. A Mugen front lip and CTR grille, rear lip, wing and rear fog light was also fitted to complete the look.

Keagan has always wanted his cars to be as low as possible, but with the condition of Cape Town roads not being fantastic, it is just not practical. So he got his hands on a Airlft air suspension kit for the front which makes things much easier when it comes to speedbumps and driveways and bad roads. The ride height at the back is sorted with adjustable BC Coilovers.

Movember in December!

Tauriq admiring the stunning EK Civic next to him.

Part two of this shoot done by the owner of the CRX, Achmat Booley, will be posted soon. So keep your eyes peeled for that, its gonna be good!

Words and photos by Jason Clifton.