Sexymoto: January 2008 – June 2010

Sexymoto: In happier times (Jasper National Park, May 2009).

SEXYMOTO IS no mo.

My first-ever new car was involved in a pretty brutal accident a couple of weeks ago. Don’t feel like getting into too much detail here. Suffice it to say it was pretty rough, it wasn’t my fault (100 per cent not my fault, according to my insurance company) and no one was hurt too badly.

But if you must know, some dumb chick in a Volkswagen Tiguan was attempting to turn left across three lanes of traffic on Yonge Street, one of Toronto’s busiest drags. She cleared the first two lanes, but either didn’t see me coming in the third, or thought she could make it.

Regardless, I didn’t spot her until she darted in front of me at the last second and I plowed into her pretty much at full speed – a quintessential T-bone.

Fortunately, no one was seriously injured – except for poor Sexymoto, my beloved 2008 Honda Civic. I was informed a few days ago that she is a write off.

So I visited her for one last time to collect my belongings. It didn’t look good. In the light of day, the extent of the damage done was painfully clear: bent frame, messed-up engine and a pretty mashed front end.

The fact it didn’t turn out much worse – for me and for her — is in large part a testament to Honda quality (too bad I’d just spent a fair chunk of change to repair some minor damage that seemed major at the time… sigh).

My “galaxy grey” baby will now no doubt be stripped for parts and sent to the wrecker – or fixed by a sketchy shop and sold to some poor unsuspecting sucker.

I took photos for posterity, grabbed the all-season floor mats — hey, I bargained hard for those — and said my final goodbyes to the first car I ever loved.

As I drove away in my rental Ford Focus (argh) I had myself a little cry. Sexymoto deserved better than this, I thought in between sniffles. But hey, she had a good run, including an awesome trip across Canada last spring, and served me well for two and a half years.

There is a silver – or galaxy grey – lining. Though I’ll be a regular visitor to the chiropractor for the next few months, I did get a pretty fat write-off cheque from my insurance company. So this week I’m taking delivery of a brand new Honda Civic, which I’ll be christening Sexymoto II.

But I’ll never forget my first.

ryan@roadtostarrdom.com