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It's been quite sometime since a vehicle got me excited. I recall the very day I purchased my '99 Eclipse RS. I was giddy driving off the lot. It was a beautiful red, tan interior, manual, and as stock as stock gets.
If you're familiar with west Michigan, especially the GR and Wyoming area, you knew Friday and Saturday nights (usually at Rogers Plaza) you'd see 150-200 cars easily, and from there you'd just cruise 28th street.
I took my bone stock Eclipse to those meets, and that's where I met Matt (Duncan I believe?), an active member of this forum before I even knew about this forum. He showed me his turbo setup, gauges, etc., and when I asked for a ride he obliged without hesitation.
I remember him rolling onto the on-ramp, hearing the spool and feeling a pull I had never experienced in my life. I asked if my car could do that and he said yes, later introducing me to Hahn Racecraft.
Not too long after that I ordered the Stage 2 kit with a supra side mount and Matt knocked out the install and tuning in a weekend. I can definitively say that was a pivotal moment in my car enthusiast life, and for the next 10 years I loved ever mile I put on that vehicle.
I was eventually t-boned on a casual drive, ultimately rendering her totaled. It felt like I lost a part of me, but I never felt like I could step away from this forum. I felt connected.
I never knew if and/or when I would get the bug again, or if there would be another vehicle that would get me as excited a the eclipse, but I think that day has come, nearly 16 years later.
I walked past the new BMW M2 on the showroom floor and fell in love, especially considering it is a manual. I sat on it for 2-3 weeks, talked to sales, went to see it again and knew she was it. I could feel it.
I am now the proud and excited owner of said M2. She's tucked in the garage, only seeing a few miles since taking delivery. I do have winter tires, but I am waiting for some warmer weather. In the meantime, I will stare at her, sit in her, and get a bit more acquainted.
I am looking forward to being excited again, maybe joining a Car & Coffee and other opportunities to be more than the spectator that I've been for the last 16 years.
Anyway, I know this is a long post, and people don't really do these anymore (at least on this forum), but it only felt write to share this with those of you who still visit first. I would post more pictures, but didn't feel like using an image host site and this is only allowing me to upload one.
Anyway, hope everyone is doing well!
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