Japanese Nostalgic Car

If you’ve ever flown on a Japanese airline or shopped at a Japanese department store you know that Japan does luxury better than almost any country on Earth. That’s why it’s a bit odd that Japanese luxury cars faced such an uphill battle in brand perception. There are so many good ones, and we don’t just mean those wearing Lexus, Infiniti, or Acura badges. And we know the Toyota Century is the obvious answer, and no hate if you must choose it, but let’s try some deeper cuts as well. And no matter which one you choose, please show your work (explain why).

What’s the greatest luxury sedan?

The most entertaining comment by next week will receive a prize. Scroll down to see the winner of last week’s QotW, “What’s the most Gen X car?“. Continue reading →

Today, June 16, is National Gen X Day, celebrating those born between 1965 and 1980. I was born in the inaugural year of the Celica Liftback but I don’t think I’m biased when I say it’s the best generation. Our parents weren’t helicopters, we had just the right amount of technology, grew up with the best music, and got our driver’s licenses just in time for the golden age of cars.

Any vehicle from the 80s and 90s could probably be a Gen X car. All you need is a Pearl Jam or Public Enemy cassette in the tape deck and a Douglas Coupland book on back seat. For me it’s the first front-drive Corollas, but the GM versions of them. My two best friends from high school both drove NUMMI Novas, and my sorta girlfriend had a Geo Prizm. Aside from the west coast most of America wasn’t quite ready to embrace Japanese cars with open arms, but liked the idea of a fuel-efficient 4-cylinder that was screwed together right. When we got our licenses in the 90s, these GM-badged Toyotas made the perfect hand-me-downs. But everyone probably has a different idea based personal experience.

What’s the most Gen X car?

The most entertaining comment by next week will receive a prize. Scroll down to see the winner of last week’s QotW, “What’s your favorite radio control car?“. Continue reading →

Carefully plotting every tire placement through a rock-strewn trail at tortoise-like speeds can be just as exhilarating as perfectly connecting apex after apex to shave a tenth of a second off your lap time. And as it happens, today, June 2, is National Rocky Road Day. While the calendar authorities probably meant the ice cream flavor, it still got us thinking about what a good starter off-roader would be — something that’s affordable, plentiful (for parts scavenging), easy to operate and fix, and guilt-free when banging against rocks.

The affordability criterion likely eliminates any Land Cruiser and anything with the Toyota tax. The parts availability requirement will limit the JDM options. We almost think something like a beat-up Subaru or Honda CR-V might work better than an actual 4×4 if we’re just talking practice vehicles.

What’s the best rig for a novice off-roader?

The most entertaining comment by next week will receive a prize. Scroll down to see the winner of last week’s QotW, “What’s your most memorable road trip?“. Continue reading →