4cruizn

Figured I would share this post here - it's something I posted on the "Garage Journal" forums awhile back. After nearly 8 years of having a home with a meager 2-car garage, I found my dream home this year and bought it. It’s a simple, brick-construction, 1,500-square-foot home that was built in 1949 in the "Colter Commons" part of central Phoenix, Arizona. But what makes it special to me is the fact that it offers garage parking for up to 7 vehicles (I have 6 cars). I closed on the home August 26th of this year.



House front, before (zero garages!):



House front, after:



House back, after:



The prior owner, Charlie, went to great lengths to make the home perfect for a car lover. He added on a huge 20 x 52 workshop on the east end of the home.



Charlie’s intent at the time was not to utilize the space for parking, but rather for his woodworking and welding. For this reason, he split the workshop into two separate areas: A north-facing space with parking for his and his wife’s two cars, and a south-facing space with larger area for his tools and welding equipment. Separating them was a (non-load-bearing) wall.

The first week of October, that wall came down, thanks to my dad & brother who visited from Utah. Finally I could see what the overall space looked like. We spent two full days getting the garage ready for move in, by rewiring some of the electrical, patching drywall, and then spraying 2 coats of paint on the ceiling and walls. We installed new 3 ceiling fans to move the air around (this is Phoenix, after all). The finishing touches were some posters and other wall hangings, as well as two banks of cabinets for my detailing supplies. The southwest corner of the garage has a sink in it which I also love.

My daily driver, along with other typical ‘garage’ stuff (mower, yard tools, paint cans) resides on the west side of the home in a separate, 1-car unit. This was formerly just a carport that Charlie enclosed. It works perfectly for in-and-out without having to constantly be getting into the larger garage.

I have a few more plans for the space but they are not of any urgency. I’d like to get an audio system out there, coat the floor in something fancy (maybe after I fix leaks on a couple of the cars), and incorporate some sort of glass showcase for some automotive brochures and memorabilia. Maybe even a leather couch? Hope you enjoy following some of the progress below.

By the way, these are the cars:

• 1992 Acura NSX 5-speed (106,000 miles)
• 1992 Acura Integra GS-R 5-speed (238,000 miles)
• 1994 Acura Vigor GS 5-speed (106,000 miles)
• 1994 Acura Legend LS coupe 6-speed (548,000 miles)
• 1994 Acura Legend GS sedan 6-speed (150,000 miles)
• 2013 Acura ILX 6-speed (daily) (184,000 miles)

My goal was to make the space something like what you’d see in an early 1990s dealership.



Garage being constructed.



Framed interior of the garage.



Garage view during construction from the backyard.



Overhead view (thanks Google Maps) during construction – you can see just the concrete pad where the garage now sits.



The cars parked in the backyard, waiting for their space to be ready.



Prior view of south garage, prior owner’s stuff.



Wall still waiting to come down.



Wall removal



Wiring relocate







Paint prep







Final clean-up



My 5-year-old nephew helping clean cars before moving them in.



Vigor wash



Backyard view



NSX sign that my brother made from aluminum



Posters



The “Newest Legend” poster comes from this event 5 years ago:


All the cars moved in.





















Here’s a link to a blog post where I shared more detail:

https://drivetofive.com/2016/10/12/e...cura-showroom/

Thank you for reading!!

teh CL

iTrader: (1)

What a line up. I wish i could find a 6 spd Legend coupe..

thoiboi

fricking fantastic!!!!!!! Thanks for sharing, awesome read too..!

kurtatx

This is truly incredible.

quanaman

iTrader: (4)

HOLY CRAP.



That is a dreammmmm garage right there. Any plans for a lift for when you pickup another car?!

juniorbean

iTrader: (5)

Amazing. Glad you posted here instead of H&G b/c I probably would not have seen it there.

Great setup and pics

00TL-P3.2

Amazing.
Also, impressive you've already got that kind of mileage on the ILX.

SuperTrooper169

iTrader: (2)

Amazing!!! Now that's priorities, 1500 sq ft with a 7 car garage lol! Great work man, you've done well and the cars look great in their new home. I wish I still lived in the PHX area, I'd totally ask for the personal tour. Keep up the great work and enjoy the new headquarters.

TacoBello

You, sir, own my dream car collection. WOW.

A friend of mine had a mint '92 Aztec Green GS-R much like yours, years ago, until it was hit by a drunk driver and written off many years later, he then had a '93, much the same, though that one is still alive (but no longer in his possession). The rarest production engine ever is in that car!!! D

4cruizn

They are getting tougher to find! This one was my daily for the first 9 years I had it, but hasn't been driven as much since I got the ILX in 2012. I do still get the Legend out once a year for the National Acura Legend Meet (NALM). This year it was in Atlanta. The car made the trip flawlessly from Phoenix and back. It is burning a little oil now, though. Probably because it gets parked too much. I got it out for a local Legend meet a few weeks ago and took it to Canyon Lake.



Haha, thank you!

Haha, thanks. I'm really loving it.

The ceiling probably isn't high enough for a lift. It would be nice, though. I really don't have plans to add anything to the collection for a little while yet. I'm thinking maybe someday a 2007-08 TL-S in Kinetic Blue Pearl (manual of course) and the oddball 1996-98 Acura SLX (Trooper) just because I think they're funky and I like obscure vehicles.

Thanks a bunch!

Haha, I know, I've driven the hell out of that car. I got it in June 2012 with 16 miles on the odometer. Really it's been pretty bulletproof. 4 sets of tires. 3rd battery. 2nd set of rear brakes. Otherwise just oil changes every 7-9k miles with 0W20 synthetic. I drove the car to Alaska and back earlier this year. 8,000 miles round trip from Phoenix in 16 days.



Haha, I know, right. I basically bought a garage with a couple bedrooms attached to it. The neighbors think I'm nuts but this sure beats renting storage units to keep all the cars in like I was doing before. If you ever make it back to AZ hit me up so I can have you over for a BBQ!

Yeah the GS-R was my most recent acquisition (June of this year) and one of the toughest. They are damn near impossible to find in stock configuration and in decent shape. I recently had the timing belt & water pump done so it should be good to go mechanically for a bit. I drove it out to Los Angeles & back last month for the 80s/90s Japanese Classic Car Show. Super fun car to drive with the 8k RPM redline.

Costco

It does indeed look like a '90s Acura showroom! But what's up with that weird futuristic looking Acura in the corner you have in there?

Ken1997TL

Yep, looks just about how I'd do it if I had such a space. My garage was built in 1930, so it's a deep one car area and workbenches. The S2000 stays there

ggesq

iTrader: (1)

This. Is. Awesome

Rick_TL-S

Petrolicious needs to film a video on your garage. Absolutely amazing collection.

Curious3GTL

I can't even put into words how awesome this is. Congratulations, and job well done!

gnuts

iTrader: (1)

Amazing garage! You should look for a white CLS6 with black interior and nav!

CCColtsicehockey

That is an awesome garage and a beautiful collection of Acura's you got there.

JT4

That is awesome....Would love to have that much room..

myron

iTrader: (4)

so freaking cool

00TL-P3.2

Someone start a petition!

UlsterBoy13

Great Job Tyler!

4cruizn

Haha, yes, the ILX is definitely out of place with the rest of my collection. But it makes a great daily (amazing reliability, low maintenance cost, 33+ mpg, fun to drive and easy to park). Even though it doesn't have the same sense of "soul" that my 90's cars do.
Yeah this garage was only added on within the last couple of years but luckily there was plenty of space for it. I'm on a 10,000-square-foot corner lot. For the first time in my life, I have a yard to maintain!
Haha, thanks!
I actually submitted an inquiry to their website a few weeks ago under the "My Garage" section. I never heard anything back. If anyone has contacts in there, let me know. It would be cool to have them do a feature story if they have any interest.

Submit Your Story • Petrolicious

Thank you! It's been a lot of work but totally worth it! Kind of fun to have all the cars at home now. Last week I drove a different Acura to the office each workday. Coworkers think I'm absolutely nuts. And I guess they are right.
Been thinking about what other rare and desirable Hondas & Acuras might fit in here. Technically I'm still missing a 1990-1993 Integra sedan. I would like to get one that looks exactly like the first car that got me into Acuras in the first place. It was my mom's 1990 Integra GS. She owned this car from 1996-97. Then she moved up to a 1993 Legend L sedan.



Thanks very much!
It's pretty handy. Plus I like how the home has a 2nd smaller 1-car garage on the west end with enough room for my daily driver, the lawn mower, yard care equipment, and other stuff that "normal" people expect to see in a garage. It's not finished off nearly as nicely.



Thanks!!

SuperTrooper169

iTrader: (2)

I have a new goal for you. Each time someone on AZine dumps their Acura for a RWD V8 car, you have to add a rare Acura/Honda to your collection to help balance it out. What do ya think?

quanaman

iTrader: (4)

Too bad, that would've been awesome. I guess maybe you could try to get the NSX up on a lift and fit something under it

KBP TL-S 6MT you say? I would've sent mine your way if I hadn't sold it!! thats definitely a beast you need in your stable of Acuras....Best Acura since your Legend IMO. (I would know. I've had 3 legends and 4 TL's! )

Always nice to see your posts, Tyson. Even back from A-L . Com. Glad to see you're living the dream!! If I'm ever in the Phoenix area, I'll be sure to reach out if you don't mind!

Jdrum1

Wow......just wow.


I have a two car, but would love some more space. This may be the motivation I need to get some estimates!

oonowindoo

wow nice... Congrats.

It does not even matter what the actual house looks like. any house with 6 car garage is fuking awesome!!!

TLDude876

iTrader: (7)

I'm inspired. Very cool stuff man

princelybug

iTrader: (16)

Wow! Awesome. I'd love to have that garage.

CLtotheTL32

iTrader: (3)

This is AWESOME! Well done

gatrhumpy

iTrader: (1)

JDM96specCTR

thats awesome man. you need to add an ITR to the stable though... a 97 if you really want to up the rarity and classic level

Ossman14

Should've known you'd be on here haha
saw some pics of your Acuras on a local site (AZHT). But we didn't get to see that kick ass garage. That is super sweet

TacoBello

No love for the 3rd gen Integra?

KaMLuNg

iTrader: (5)

Tyson - glad to see the fleet is still going strong... it's so funny that on all of Car Talk you make up owning all the Acuras that we don't own anymore (especially the moderators) keep on rolling brother...

i also approve of a previous comment, find out a way to get a lift in that badboy...

Jakes_tl

you need a 98-01 Integra type R in that collection!

4cruizn

Haha, I like your line of thought! My house is like an orphanage for the obsolete Acuras that everyone has moved on from.
Mmm, yes KBP TL is a must! Someday. I still browse the classifieds casually just to see if something irresistible pops up Yes definitely hit me up if you ever make it to this area!
Do it! Yeah in this case I was lucky in that the space was pretty much there already for me, but I just customized it to create maximum parking and cleaned it up a little.
Thanks! Technically it's a 7 car garage if you count the second garage on west side of the house! Luckily the interior of the home isn't bad either. This was a shot from the for sale listing this summer. There's not much left from the original 1949 house in there. Plus I was upgrading from 2 bedrooms to 4 so there's now room for more people as well as more cars.



Thank you!
Thanks guys. Really the timing just kind of worked out on this one. Actually I wasn't even house-hunting at the time. My friend Rob sent me a text (half joking) telling me about the house in late May. I hurried up, listed the house I was currently living in, made a contingent offer on the new one, and about 3 months later, both properties (sale/purchase) closed the same exact day. Sort of a miracle.
I know, that's def on the list. They seem to be going for big $. Most of my collection is older stuff like $5k in value. Probably half that for the 548,000 mile Legend, lol. An ITR would be spendy.
Haha yep. Hit me up if you're local!
Always on the lookout for fun stuff to pick up. I wouldn't mind snagging one someday.
Haha, thank you! And yes I will consider ways to get a lift in there
If the right deal came along, it could happen. For right now I have to put any new purchases on hold. I already need rehab for my Acura addiction. Haha

4cruizn

These brochure pics were part of the inspiration for starting the collection. Long live the 90's!

juniorbean

iTrader: (5)

You should print and frame those... would look excellent hanging in your garage

juniorbean

iTrader: (5)

Come to think of it... does Acura know about any of this? No question you're a die-hard and definitely more so than the average Acura fan... I'd bet they'd give you some cool stuff to hang around the garage!

RPhilMan1

Very well done. I love your house as well. Congratulations!