Japanese Nostalgic Car

Today, October 6, is Oil Day in Japan, marking an occasion for average citizens to think about the many petroleum-based products used in every day life. The date was chosen because the numbers 1, 0, and 6 can be rearranged to form O (0), I (1), and L/R (6). It also happens to be the anniversary of the first global oil crisis, which led to long lines a fuel pumps around the world and began on October 6, 1973.

Some owners have an almost religious dedication to their brand of service station.  Personally I prefer Costco since it usually has the best price for a Top Tier fuel — though that’s hovering around $4.30 a gallon in southern California — but if the lines are long I’ll go elsewhere. I’m not brand loyal but only Top Tier juice goes into my JNCs. Other than that, I don’t have any hard rules except for a healthy dose of ethanol stabilizer and a full tank in cars that are sitting.

What are your gasoline filling routines?

The most entertaining comment by next week will receive a prize. Scroll down to see the winner of last week’s QotW, “Which JNC looks most proper in red?“. Continue reading →

The color red is most closely associated with Ferraris, Alfas, and other Italian cars. Former head of GM Performance John Heinricy once said, “All Corvettes are red, the rest are mistakes,” and they even titled a book based on that quote. There’s the old joke whenever someone has a red sports car that the color is “arrest-me red”. While many JNCs look good in red, in all honesty we think very few look their best in red. For example, the Honda S600 often comes in red, but is it the best color for the S600? Well, that would probably be white, albeit with a red interior. Are there any cases in which red is best possible color for the car?

Which JNC looks most proper in red?

The most entertaining comment by next week will receive a prize. Scroll down to see the winner of last week’s QotW, “What would you do without a car?“. Continue reading →

Today, Septemeber 22, is Car Free Day in many cities around the world, including nine in Japan. It asks citizens to refrain from driving in urban centers to consider what life might be like without the traffic and environmental impacts associated with cars. We recently moved to a place that’s extremely walkable, a rarity in Los Angeles. There’s a supermarket, dry cleaner, ramen restaurant, and (because California) dispensary all within minute’s stroll. I must say that on a day-to-day basis it’s convenient and enjoyable. Could I do without a car? Sometimes I fantasize about focusing my entire car obsession into Hot Wheels and Tamiya kits, but ultimately and I think I’d miss the real thing too much.

What would you do without a 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 the best Japanese car for a midlife crisis?“. Continue reading →

Years ago you gave up the sport compact with the cold air intake and blue HIDs. There was a kid on the way and you needed the cash for a minivan. In a blink decades passed. You no longer need to slurp instant ramen every meal to save up for a set of rims, but even if you had new wheels there’s nothing cool to put them on. The kids think family trips are “cringe” and would rather be on social media than utter a single syllable to mom and dad. They Uber everywhere anyway, so why are you commuting in a 7-seater? “That’s it,” you think, “I’m going down to the automall and regaining my youth!”

What’s the best Japanese car for a midlife crisis?

The most entertaining comment by next week will receive a prize. Scroll down to see the winner of last week’s QotW, “What automotive scenario would you conjure up on the holodeck?“. Continue reading →