Japanese Nostalgic Car

Nissan harshed our mellow last week when it was reported there’s a good chance the next Skyline will become an electric crossover, and not a sedan like it’s been since 1957. It seemed like a sad fate for one of the longest lived and most beloved nameplates in Japanese automotive history, but a realistic one considering the state of the industry. Let’s say you’re suddenly the president of Nissan.

What should the next-gen Nissan Skyline really be?

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

Today, July 17, is World Emoji Day. The digital pictograms that have proliferated ants were invented in 1999 in Japan. However, the date of July 17 originated from the day Apple launched iCal application in 2002. When emoji were added to iPhones in 2014 they continued to use July 17, and variations of the image even spread to competitors like Google and Samsung. Who would’ve thought that some 1,600 years after hieroglyphics stopped being used we’d be back at it again. In any case, it can be fun to try and write out your favorite cars. Some of the ones we’ve seen include 2️⃣3️⃣🎡💃 for Nissan Fairlady, ♦️♦️♦️🌘 for Mitsubishi Eclipse, 🍙🍙🍙✨ for Mazda Eunos Cosmo, and 🐐🐃🐪🦏🐘🇯🇵 for Land Cruiser.

What are your favorite cars as emoji?

The most entertaining comment by next Monday will receive a prize. Scroll down to see the winner of last week’s QotW, “What’s your oil change routine for your car(s)?“. Continue reading →

There’s the old joke about a wrenching noob that goes into an auto parts store to ask for a 710 cap. Well, in Japan they’ve gone and made an entire day out of it. Today, July 10, is officially Lubrication Oil Day as registered by Japan’s  National Petroleum Industry Cooperative Association. Specifically, it’s because the word “OIL” printed on the cap looks like “710” when turned upside down.

Oil an important part of engine maintenance, but there are as many ways to go about it as there are types of cars. Do you religiously stick to a premium brand or just pull whatever is cheapest off the Walmart shelf? Do you keep on a strict 3,000-mile schedule or go with the manufacturer’s recommendation? Do you always use an OEM filter or just hand the keys over to a JiffyLube mechanic?

What’s your oil change routine for your car(s)?

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

These days if you look at a Japanese car company’s US lineup and the hometown Japanese lineup, there isn’t much overlap. Almost all the US models have been engineered for the US market, built in the US, and sold here with no counterpart in the motherland. The myth of Japan always getting the best version isn’t true either. During the Gentleman’s Agreement Era, for instance, our versions of Japan’s top sports cars were all rated (on paper at least) with higher horsepower numbers than their domestic counterparts. But answers for this week’s question don’t necessarily have to fall into these categories. Some cars, like an S130 or 4Runner, just feel more American. All is fair game for this week’s Independence Day-themed QotW:

What’s the most “American” JNC?

The most entertaining comment by next Monday will receive a prize. Scroll down to see the winner of last week’s QotW, “What JNC is not being preserved, but should be?“. Continue reading →