There’s Nothing Wrong With a Little Jazz

I’m always astounded by how much easier it is for my friends abroad to buy and customize cars. It seems every other month, I read about a friend in the US who is buying a new project car for a price that, to me, is astoundingly cheap. Things are a lot different here in Indonesia.

You’ve watched Larry or Dino’s videos, right? “It’s pretty much impossible to import cars and aftermarket parts into Indonesia”, they say – and they’re right. When it comes to buying a car, this results in a ludicrously small number of makes and models to choose from. Even though you see high-quality builds coming out of Indonesia, those cars are actually few and far between.

That said, back in 2021, I felt very privileged to buy my own car: a 1995 Honda Civic.

As Civic hatchbacks cost much more than sedans here, I went for the latter. Unfortunately, though, after four years of ownership, I conceded that it was a massive failure. To keep it short, a mini-me VTEC swap was done, but after extensive tuning and three rebuilds later, it couldn’t make power. Eventually, I learned that the head was never activating VTEC. After returning the car to stock, the car finally died after one single track day; gutted was an understatement. Friends abroad were baffled at how such a simple project failed, while locals told me that I shouldn’t have modified the car at all. Ultimately, I cut my losses and sold it.

A few months later, I purchased something much more familiar on Indonesia’s roads – a 2013 Honda Jazz RS (GE8). I only planned to keep it for a year or two, and therefore dubbed it the ‘Egg Whisk’ as it was just a tool to get from A to B.

However, after a few months of driving the Jazz, I’ve come to really enjoy its point-n-shoot nature. The L15A7 1.5L VTEC engine doesn’t make a lot of power, but it is responsive. It’s just nice to have a car where you don’t have to necessarily think about anything. The car will always start; it’s quiet, soothing, and keeps my mind at ease. Because it’s an RS, it even has paddles as a way to enjoy ‘manual shifting’ through the CVT gearbox.

Outside, a set of pre-loved 16-inch 5Zigen Fireball wheels creates a subtle look, and for good measure, Genki Co. stickers signal my love for Tokyo Xtreme Racer and the Japanese car culture that surrounds it. Inside, I’ve upgraded the speakers and added tweeters, which has made a big difference to the driving experience.

Slowly, I’ve been going to more car meets and just enjoying whatever comes my way. Don’t get me wrong, I still yearn for the day when I get to drive a faster, more purpose-built car – and I’m still jealous of friends abroad with their accessibility for cars, customization, and driving roads – but I guess there’s nothing wrong with a car suited for your life and location. My ‘Egg Whisk’ might just be a tool for everyday driving, but it really is a decent one.