Category Archives: Question of the Week
QotW: What JNC tuning trend needs to stop now?
We’re headed to the SEMA show this week, and you know what that means. Insane amounts of customized cars, the latest auto fashions, and thousands of people shaking their heads muttering “money does not equal taste.” What JNC tuning trend needs … Continue reading
QotW: Which non-sports, non-luxe JNC is destined to be a classic?
Identifying cars like the GT-R or LFA as future classics is like predicting you’ll see a crash in a Russian dashcam video. It’s obvious, and you don’t get a cookie. It’s much harder to recognize a run-of-the-mill model that will achieve greatness. Therefore, we ask: Which … Continue reading
QotW: Which People’s JNC is due for a remake?
Italy had a Beetle; It was called the Fiat 500. So did Britain, the Mini. The VW Beetle was Germany’s Beetle, obviously, but it was America’s too. What all these cars had in common is that they started out as affordable, economical … Continue reading
QotW: What car is not worth preserving?
Recently the JNC wagon, our daily driven 1986 Cressida, was backed into, smashing the headlight, front bumper and fender. That’s the danger with driving your beloved classic around. Add years of rock chips and other indignities suffered during LA driving … Continue reading
QotW: What’s the best shade of JNC orange?
With fall among us (well, not all of us, as it is a balmy 100 degrees in Los Angeles in October), the leaves are changing. Therefore, it’s time we ask: What’s the best shade of JNC orange? Japanese cars have … Continue reading
QotW: Which JNC model name should be revived?
History is littered with legendary nameplates that have ended in the scrapyard. We saw many of them at JCCS this weekend (coverage coming shortly), and it made us nostalgic for times when names like Silvia, Cressida and Prelude still existed. Which JNC model … Continue reading
QotW: What’s the rarest common car?
There are some JNCs that you just don’t see, and it’s a mystery as to why. We’re not talking about kenmeri GT-Rs or Black Limited AE86s and the like. Those were never produced in large numbers or were special editions to … Continue reading
QotW: Which JNC commands the most respect?
Today is Respect for the Aged Day in Japan, so… Which JNC commands the most respect? With its racing provenance, menacing grille and the fact that its modern day successor eats supercars for breakfast, the Nissan KPGC10 GT-R seems like the obvious … Continue reading
QotW: What Japanese car did we get the better version of?
Type Rs, GT-Rs, S20s, SR20s, and so on. So often we hear about how Japan kept the best stuff for themselves, while we cackling execs foisted detuned sissy versions on our shores. But that’s wasn’t always the case, and we’d like to know: What … Continue reading
QotW: What’s the next Japanese collectible?
Over the weekend we saw what the KPGC10, Cosmo Sport and 2000GT can do at auction. However, those flagship models have been the obvious choices in terms of collectibility. What’s the next Japanese collectible? If we’ve learned anything from Monterey, … Continue reading
QotW: JNC prices are on the rise. Good or bad?
We are headed to the Monterey Historics this week. Among the festivities are the Pebble Beach Concours D’Elegance in which million-dollar cars you’ve never heard of compete to see who has the bone-stockiest restoration, the Motorsports Reunion in which priceless pieces of … Continue reading
QotW: What’s the greatest Z-Car?
As we prepare for the 2014 ZCon this week, we can’t help but reflect on how influential the Z-Car has been to the JNC scene. We don’t usually devote a QotW to a single model but the Z has earned … Continue reading
QotW: What’s the coolest JNC stereo deck?
The rise of Japanese stereo component systems parallels the popularity of Japanese cars. Since it’s already been determined that retro electronica bands love the styling of 80s Japanese cars, what about the devices used to play them? What’s the coolest JNC stereo deck? … Continue reading
QotW: What’s the best shade of JNC blue?
Happy Marine Day! Also known as Ocean Day, the third Monday of every July is a Japanese national holiday that celebrates the seas and the bounty they provide for the island nation. On St. Patrick’s Day we asked for the … Continue reading
QotW: What’s the most unlikely JNC?
Until six or seven years ago, most of the collector world openly scoffed at the idea of a Japanese classic. Today, prices are going up and the tide has shifted. However, even amongst the true believers there’s still a few cars that surprise us with their … Continue reading
QotW: What would you tell automakers to do?
Last week Dave wrote about M2, the Mazda specialty shop designed to hear feedback delivered directly from the customer’s mouth. If only more companies would do that. What would you tell automakers to do? Japanese automakers once made the most perfectly ergonomic dashboards known to … Continue reading
QotW: What’s your favorite period-correct license plate for your JNC?
Thanks to California’s Legacy License Plate program we’ve been talking a lot about the proper period-correct license plates for your JNC recently. We’ve been Cali-centric, but we’d like to open the question up to our readers worldwide. What’s your favorite period-correct license … Continue reading
QotW: Just the tip of the iceberg, or last of a dying breed?
Last week we saw several nice Hondas come out of the woodwork, including newfound appreciation for a Mugen CRX Si with customizing styles way ahead of its time. Are these just the tip of the iceberg, or last of a dying … Continue reading
QotW: What’s your greatest JNC tragedy?
This weekend’s sad news about a 2000GT being at the wrong place at the wrong time got us thinking about the heartbreak our cars cause us. What’s your greatest JNC tragedy? Sure, Mother Nature showing us who’s boss by cold … Continue reading
QotW: What would Bunta drive in an Initial D prequel?
With the Initial D series winding down those craving more tales of the touge will have to wait for the feature film reboot this August. However, some JNCers have suggested the idea of a new story instead, one focused on the background of … Continue reading