Japanese Nostalgic Car

If car companies had their way, every buyer would be a return customer. Start your automotive life with a Tercel, move up to a nicer Corolla at your first job, get a Camry when your family expands, and arrive in a Cressida when you’ve really made it. Thankfully, we have choices in life, but what if you were forced to stick with one brand for your whole existence?

For the purposes of this exercise this means you’ll have to use cars from the same marque for all your motoring needs, but you won’t be limited to a certain year or continent. You could commute with a Minica, have a weekend FTO fun car, and haul your lumber with a Mighty Max if you so desire.

If you could only drive cars from one marque, what would it be?

 
The most entertaining comment by next Monday will receive a prize. Scroll down to see the winner of last week’s QotW, “Daily, Garage, Sell — Mazda Miata, Toyota MR2 Spyder, and Honda S2000.” Continue reading →

Welcome to another edition of Daily, Garage, Sell, JNC‘s version of Bang, Marry, Kill. You are presented with three cars. One is going to be your daily beater no matter what the weather, distance, or cost. Another will be parked in your climate-controlled single-car garage and driven only sparingly and only for the act of driving (no errands). The last one will be sold and you will never be able to own one again. This time we’re faced with three iconic roadsters: Mazda’s genre-defining sports car, Toyota’s underrated mid-engine masterpiece, and Honda’s technological tour de force. What do you choose, and why?

Daily, Garage, Sell — Mazda Miata, Toyota MR2 Spyder, and Honda S2000.

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

I’ve been in Monterey since 10:30 Sunday morning preparing for Car Week festivities. So far this 1991 Honda Accord Coupe has been the coolest thing I’ve seen, and it’s unlikely to be surpassed. It’s got a 5-speed manual, Pebble Beach residential parking pass, and 30,771 miles on the odometer [Patrick sent this photo to me with the words, “Get ready to nut.” -Ed.]. What feels like not that long ago these Accords were everywhere, a feeling backed up by the fact that these were America’s best-selling car from 1990-91. Back then we rarely gave them a second glance; now we positively drool over a fine example.

What formerly unremarkable JNC now sparks joy?

The best comment by next Monday will receive a prize. Scroll down to see the winner of last week’s QotW, “What is the most ‘Japanese’ car?” Continue reading →

On this day 45 years ago, August 8, 1977, the fifth-generation Nissan Skyline debuted. We know the car today by its nickname, the Skyline Japan. It originated from the car’s ad campaign slogan, which claimed (by way of translation), “A famous car born from the Japanese climate.” Of course, back in 1977 the Skyline name was barely known outside of Japan and without the name, there wasn’t much about the mid-size sedan that signified it as uniquely Japanese. Hindsight offers us a different perspective but perhaps readers can identify a car that best represents Japan.

What is the most “Japanese” car?

The best comment by next Monday will receive a prize. Scroll down to see the winner of last week’s QotW, “What is the best engineered Toyota?” Continue reading →