On this day in 1959, Tokyo installed its first parking meter in front of the Metropolitan Government building (near what is now the Tokyo International Forum) in Yurakucho. The cost was ¥10 for 15 minutes. Around the same time, Tokyo also opened its first paid parking lot, near Tokyo Station. For those who care about their cars, parking is always a fraught exercise. Do you circle the lot for a wider spot at the end of a row, or just go for the closest? Do you avoid trees? Are you allergic to paying for a spot? If not, do you ever let a valet touch your car? We know you must have some hard and fast rules for temporarily leaving your car.
What are your rules for parking your car in public?
The most entertaining comment by next week will receive a prize. Scroll down to see the winner of last week’s QotW, “What car separates seasoned car enthusiasts from the superficial?“.
Let’s start with the responses with the most most general criteria and then get specific. What separates a seasoned car enthusiast from a superficial one, for streetspirit, is the ability to see the fun in any type of car. For Franxou, it’s the love you put into the car, and for Kyuusha Corner it’s whether you work on the car.
Valuing the speed or price of the car above all other qualities is a sure sign, of a superficial enthusiast, according to many responses. In fact, TheJWT, a true one will instead talk about all their car’s flaws but love it anyway. Alan pointed out it’s an appreciation for the cars that don’t shout, and Negishi no Keibajo pretty much excluded any car with a laundry list of carbon fiber baubles.
As KMMinLaPlata reasoned, a seasoned enthusiast can see the beauty in a car viewed by most as mundane. Now let’s get to the meat and the specific cars that only a seasoned enthusiast would like. nlpnt said it was cars with a short hood like the kei cars and Honda Fit, a car Ian G. also identified. 4non chose another Honda, the City, while Bryan Kitsune called out the Toyota Starlet and Sammy B the Toyota Previa. Jonathan P. had a list of interesting cars, including the Geo Metro and E110 Corolla. Of corse, one answer is always Miata, as nominated by Grinhell and this week’s winner, Taylor C.:
Since we’re all drinking the Hatorade, I’ll spend a quick paragraph to rip on those posers as well: the ones who get their oil changes done at the dealer, the ones who like to trash talk other cars’ technical specifics as if they have first-hand experience (but only know from their internet research), the ones who solely buy to flip (many of those on “that” auction site).
I could go on, but I believe you’ve already had a QotW focused on what separates a true enthusiast from a poser; therefore let me elaborate on how the Miata is the car that differentiates the reals from the posers. It is the most raced car around, it has one of the lowest horsepower ratings around, it is celebrated by a diverse age range (high school kids clapping them out to retired couples doing their Sunday drives, and everyone in between), it is fun out of the box or correctly modified, it’s an excellent car to learn how to wrench, it’s not a car people take pictures to maintain their social media presence, the car doesn’t get bought to be flipped (as far as I know), the Miata community (no matter what region) is definitely down to earth and meet-ups are more to share and less to show off, and the Miata humbles you.
Omedetou, your comment has earned you a set of decals from the JNC Shop!
