The more you know, the more you spend...

Another case for of "the more you know, the more you spend" is when you're able to afford the more advanced things that you would rather get stuff that are a bit rare that there than the ones that are for normal consumption, someone would rather get Hawkeyes rather than the GVF which is sold widely by Motor image, reason is any rich kid can get hold of that probably asking it from his parents but the Hawkeye is not. Add to the fact that it's has a huge cult following and people deem it as the best looking Impreza. The Mitsubishi Evos are another case wherein real enthusiast go for it because it's harder to find or the build is more rewarding. It's not released by Casa and the parts are harder to find, that is of course in reference once again to the Subaru's and Motorimge. 

How about friends who keep at least 1 CRX for its iconic reputation, that is after a few EGs and an EK9. This reminds me of the younger days when you had a routine of buying all the newest EGM magazines and  clearly you know all the best games and hardware. And automatically that makes you more advanced and you tend to look for things which aren't released here or available here locally. Through that you spend more, because you know more. This applies to the guys who are into stuff like guns, shoes, gaming PCs, expensive bags, toys and the like. Each individual through the information fed by magazines and now, the internet, is now more updated and relevant that ever before. Gone are the times when us in the 3rd world would get left behind by our fellow enthusiasts from the States or Europe, nowadays the internet levels everything, that there is an equal playing field and any item, I mean any, can be purchased online.

Mga bagay na di naman dapat bilhin, binibili, mga piyesa na purong kaartehan lamang, dinadagdag para humaba ang pinagpipitagang "Spec Sheet". Recalling moments when your mom or dad would talk about such things over breakfast or dinner, of taking studies seriously, and preparing for that long test or exam rather than daydreaming of parts, or looking forward to that trackday you and your barkada are joining over the weekend or as simple as browsing over countless SS magazines, relating, laughing, keeping at heart on how Roel Concepcion has perfectly written one's devotion over the 180sx. 

Truly there is an evolution to one's being an enthusiast. Starting simple, gaining knowledge, spending years and coming to a point of pure "kaartehan", or being to picky and paying too much attention on how people thing of what you have or what you built. I guess that's it really if you break it down.

Such an expensive hobby, add to the fact that it develops into something even more expensive as one yearns for exclusivity. Buhay! 

Department Store

There are a lot things I learn out of getting stuff for my staff say for example their work clothes, minor equipment, cleaning materials and especially shoes. In the wet market in Marikina or let's just mention the SM department store para naman hindi shocking sa ating mga sosyal na magbabasa and since prices are almost similar testament to how SM is that competitive, I get to buy rubber work shoes as long as 199 pesos, the better designed ones are at 375 from World Balance. I therefore reflect on how that is similar to enthusiasts who have been through the EF EG EK days and being able to walk the streets of Banawe and scour the side streets for cheap useable parts and the like. I've always thought that it makes an enthusiast more complete, and that he values his build more than individuals who didn't do or experience such and just simply had it in one click of a finger courtesy of loving mommy and daddy. 

Maybe another way to complete an enthusiast is to be involved in a form of motor sport such as slalom, circuit or drag. Formal though, sanctioned and safe of course. I am completely humbled by my client who drives a PH16 EG as his daily and his regular competition car for slalom races. Though he may not have the B16, B18, K20, The original Recaros and Bride seats, STIs or the BRZ or the TEs or high priced turbo kits but way deeper and farther than that, he is actually the complete guy. He's probably all greased up works on his car on Saturday nights, details on a Sunday. Second looks on his humble garage before he sleeps and looks forward to a day of surplus shopping on a boring Wednesday. As I stared at them via the CCTV camera, so happy and joyous of the simple original MOMO Prototipo he bought for his EG. He was so drawn unto the whole install process that its almost as if he could have installed it himself without our help. At the back of my mind, is it possible that such breed would become rarer in the coming years? Has the gap created by new, modern and high tech cars continually grow and give way, only naturally to a different breed of enthusiasts. I'm always impressed by guys who take the effort to build older cars. 

Words like fix, repair, frustrate, depressed, finally, fixed, fast, thank you and finish seen in their Facebook posts. I wonder what joy and appreciation shall our future sons and daughters will have if they bring the tune cars of the past and parade them in school, in front of the 2025, 2030 model Civics, STIs, Corollas and the like.