Category Archives: Question of the Week
QotW: What car separates seasoned car enthusiasts from the superficial?
One of the most annoying things about being a car enthusiast is that non-car enthusiasts automatically assume you like Bugattis and Lambos. I’d take a decades-old Toyota any day of the week. Many people who don’t know much about cars … Continue reading
QotW: Which Japanese tuning house would you most like to visit?
We’re currently in Japan for the Tokyo Auto Salon, but to maximize our visit we’re also on a tour of some Japanese tuning houses. They specialize in all sorts of cars, some a specific model, others a general make, and … Continue reading
QotW: Which car from 2001 would you import?
It’s a new year, and that means a new selection of Japanese-market cars will become eligible for import in 2026. Our 25-year import law states that cars built in 2001 can now enter the country. While the thought of a … Continue reading
QotW: What will you gift your car next?
It’s the season of giving to your loved ones, but no one said those loved ones had to be human. Cars require love and attention as well, and sometimes getting them a much-needed part or devoting some garage time will … Continue reading
QotW: What’s a telltale sign of a bad driver?
As car enthusiasts we have a fairly decent idea of how to handle our vehicles and how they function. Sadly, that isn’t the case for the majority of the car-owning public. Yet nearly everyone in America is allowed to captain … Continue reading
QotW: If you could travel to one moment in time, when would it be and what would you do?
Let’s say you got your hands on a flux capacitor and had the nuclear scientist know-how of Doc Brown to attach it to any vehicle you want. You know the rest — hit 88 mph, get instantly zapped into the … Continue reading
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QotW: Which movie scene forever seared a Japanese car into your brain?
Today, December 1, is Movie Day in Japan, marking the country’s first public screening of a film in 1896. So it’s only fitting that we ask about notable movie scenes depicting Japanese cars. We’re not talking about petrolhead movies necessarily, … Continue reading
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QotW: Which car had the best evolution between generations?
Today, November 24, is Evolution Day, marking the date on which Charles Darwin’s On the Origin of Species was published in 1859. Like in the animal kingdom, when cars go from one generation to the next, changes can occur. Sometimes … Continue reading
QotW: How do you satisfy your car addiction when you can’t access your actual car?
It’s been raining a lot in California, a rare occurrence, keeping us from tinkering with actual cars in the driveway. But like a junkie, we’re going through withdrawal. We tried hitting up the local Target for Hot Wheels but there … Continue reading
QotW: Which JNC looks most proper in orange?
Autumn, the season of turning leaves and pumpkin spice everything. Orange objects are suddenly obligatory. But in the automotive world the color of paprika isn’t particularly popular. We can think of only two eras in which orange was widespread — … Continue reading
QotW: What types of cars should be preserved?
Today, November 3, is Classic Car Day in Japan. It commemorates the founding of the Classic Car Club of Japan in 1956 by Professor Tokutaro Hama. Hama was the first prominent scholar in Japan to argue the merits of cars … Continue reading
QotW: What is your ideal Honda Civic build?
Today, October 27, it National Civics Day, an occasion to learn about how our govenrment, in theory, should work. But let’s not forget the Honda Civic. To the everyman, it’s affordable, efficient, and reliable, but to those in the know … Continue reading
QotW: What other forms of Japanese craftsmanship do you hold in high regard?
We suspect that one of the reasons you are here on a site about Japanese cars is because you appreciate how finely crafted they are. Attention to detail, thoughtful designs and innovations, and long-lasting quality are all hallmarks of Japan’s … Continue reading
QotW: What’s the best tow vehicle?
We hope your cars are always running under their own power, but once in a while you’ll need to haul it. Whether it’s trailering a race car to a track, taking a classic car to a show, or bringing home … Continue reading
QotW: What are your gasoline filling routines?
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 … Continue reading
QotW: Which JNC looks most proper in red?
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 … Continue reading
QotW: What would you do without a car?
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 … Continue reading
QotW: What’s the best Japanese car for a midlife crisis?
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 … Continue reading
QotW: What automotive scenario would you conjure up on the holodeck?
Today, September 8, is Star Trek Day, the date that the original series hit US airwaves in 1966. As much as we dig the scifi series, one thing it lacked was any automotive content whatsoever. Even when the characters entered … Continue reading
QotW: If you could buy any new JNC from 1975, what would it be?
You’ve run out of fuel on a lonely road in the middle of nowhere. It’s getting dark. There’s no cell service. In the distance, you see a dim light emanating from an old gas station. You walk toward it, hoping … Continue reading
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