It’s all about quality of a sound ride
James Bull likes the sound of his car, and he hopes other people coming along to the Aroha Cruise In will love it too.
The Te Aroha man is showing his 1994 Honda Accord as a feature attraction at this year’s Cruise In event, held in Te Aroha on October 1.
What’s so special about the car? Well it looks pretty cool but most impressive is the $30,000 worth of sound system incorporated into the vehicle.
‘‘I hope people who see the car will appreciate how it’s [sound system] been built, it’s been built properly, it’s not just something the boys have tried to hook up in the garage.
‘‘You don’t get that big rattle noise you get with some car sound systems because it’s been installed professionally.’’
Bull bought the car this year, from a friend, who had purchased it in 2015. It has won multiple awards and appeared in car magazines.
‘‘My friend knew the owner who actually rebuilt the car back in 2004. It stayed in his garage parked up for quite a while, when the owner started his own business.
‘‘But then my mate bought it last year, and I got my hands on it this year.’’
Bull said he paid around $6500 for the Honda Accord, which has only clocked about 90,000kms.
He hasn’t made any modifications to the car himself. He reckons it’s perfect the way it is.
‘‘I think when the first owner had it, it was white and he repainted it blue. It doesn’t really need any modifications, there’s nothing more you can do with it.’’
A turbo was added offering 380HP ‘‘at the wheel’’ as part of the original modifications, not to increase speed, but to handle the extra weight of the sound system.
‘‘People ask me how fast does it go? But I tell them it’s not a racing car, it’s a show car.’’
Bull said it’s all about the sound and he hopes people will take the chance to sit in the Honda and listen to a few tunes.
‘‘I think it’ll show that you’re better off getting something like this done professionally. You can buy cheaper stuff but it doesn’t last that long and in the end you spend more money trying to fix it up.’’
Bull said he often takes the car for day trips. It performs well on the road and is in fact more economical than his Holden.
‘‘We drive over to Tauranga, that’s where we got the car tuned.’’
Bull plans to keep the car long term. He admits there’s no room in the boot for long trips because that room’s taken up by the sound system. But there is plenty of room in the back of the four-door vehicle.
He also doesn’t blast the sound system when he’s taking friends for a spin around Te Aroha though because it’s all about the quality of the sound, not the volume.
It will be the first time a car of its kind will be part of the Cruise In event, as a feature piece. The event annually attracts classic car, bike and hot-rod owners to show off their pride and joy. There will also be vintage tractors and fire engines, along with some fantastic car and caravans.
For more information visit the Aroha Cruise In website www.cruisein.co.nz.