New year, new beginnings. 2024 is when you’re finally going to get that back burner project finished, or perhaps started, or at least cleared out so that it’s no longer surrounded by cardboard boxes. We believe in you. Commit your dedication here, in writing, so that you can look back in January 2025 and be proud of your progress in life.
What’s your automotive resolution for 2024?
The most entertaining comment by next Monday will receive a prize. Scroll down to see the winner of last week’s QotW, “What 1999 car would you import from Japan?“.
When asked which 1999 car would be best imported from Japan we, surprisingly enough, weren’t hit with a cascade of R34 Skyline GT-R comments. That might be the hypewagon of the year, but there are plenty of other worthwhile machines.
Take the R34’s little sister, the S15 Nissan Silvia, for example. Both Jim Klein and Taylor C. opted for the final Silvia, in purple and white, respectively. Lakdasa brought up another Nissan, the Primera 2.0 Te-v, which was perhaps overlooked for its non-turbo and CVT combo, but is a fascinating sedan nonetheless. We love Jonathon P.‘s idea of a Mazda Bongo Brawny, an XL box van with one of the best model names ever.
Admittedly we weren’t specific enough with the question, which intended to ask which car newly eligible in 1999 you would import. There are of course plenty of cars that became eligible from years prior that are equally worthy, エーイダン‘s Toyota Caldina GT-T or J Wilson‘s Subaru Alcyone SVX. And why go for the R34 when you can have the rarest O.G. Skyline GT-R, MWC‘s Kenmeri?
This week’s winner is Curtis, who wisely picked the S170 Toyota Crown Athlete. Like most Crowns, it does its job dutifully without making a fuss, and as a result is underrated.
A 1999 Toyota Crown Athlete. I’ve recently been converted to the church of the performance sedan and now that I know a JZX100 Chaser is going to be out of my financial reach (I don’t wanna put myself into debt for a fun car), the Crown Athlete is now on my list. It blends in, it’s fast enough to get out of its own way, and it’s a Toyota so I know it’ll last another 25 years as long as I take care of it.
Omedetou, your comment has earned you a set of decals from the JNC Shop!
An unstable country along with financial woes and lack of spare parts made me give up on my dream of having a 4wd and went for something cheap to run and easy to sell. But I believe 2024 will bring me better luck and a new beginning, so here’s to 2024 and wonderful year of motoring and chasing dreams and that elusive 4wd (I dont know maybe one of the Jimny XL’s)!
Last year found the reliable S-Cargo unable to pass inspection due to rear brake hubs, alignment, front tie rod ends, tires and windshield washer.along with a stuck rear hatch. 2024 will be a rebuilding year with ALL of those ailments plus, the addition of finally fixing the sunroof, adding a radio and cosmetic redo of the cargo area, The van has earned 10 trophies, it’s time for him to take a break and get these needed repairs (most of which were unknown until I went to get him inspected).
I guess 2024 may force me to GET ON MY CELICA. As my note on my phone tells me to do. Its been parked for 7 years. I remember getting excited for antique plates, now the car is 40 years old in 2024. What started out as a complete engine rebuild with performance, and mild bodywork, turned into bit of a nightmare. In storage, mice made a home of the driver’s rocker panel and rear quarter. I only discovered this long after the damage was done. Fiberglass insulation and mouse urine will cause severe rust and hemmorhaging on an old Toyota. Its one of those things that I’ve spent the thousands of dollars on parts over the years, found the hard to find things, hoarded, lost track of what I’ve accumulated, and got distracted with other projects. And now I have no job and all the time…. Guess I should be out in the cold shop instead of in front of the computer. But shop heat costs too much and its FREEZING out there. And then there’s that 7MGTE that’s been sitting with a blown head gasket for going on 3 years…
I need to learn not to buy spontaneously, especially on cars that have a slightly questionable history. Last year I bought our family car replacement, the Mazda 6. I had some friends back in CA (bought in CA, shipped to MA) comb through it and drive it around, and all was good. Transaction was quick and car has been solid so far.
However, I had also bought an old 1991 Honda Accord EX with an H22A swap. Now that just sounds so hot: old skool, the big VTEC motor, rarity, burgundy interior. I thought I had done all due diligence on combing the car, but I ultimately bought it completely sight unseen. As it was another CA car, I did not have access to it unless I flew out there, and my friends had also advised me not to move forward on this acquisition. I therefore checked out the seller’s Youtube build videos, did a few FaceTime sessions, and unfortunately fell for his seller’s tactics.
I bought it for asking price and shipped it over for another $1250. Fresh off the auto transporter, I started up the car and immediately had buyer’s remorse. The competition engine mounts were so stiff that the entire car rattled. The clutch engagement point varied during that first drive. The power steering leaked, and the throttle body was sticky, which made for fluctuating idle. The driver’s seat spring was worn out, and so i sat ergonomically uncomfortable, and the antenna was not hooked up with the radio.
All these nuances seem minute, and so I gritted my teeth and tried addressing each issue. The big one was the 2nd gear grind, something the seller had lightly mentioned. I brushed it off, thinking it was a simple case of transmission fluid. While trying to get the car moving, the whole fluctuating clutch pedal engagement gradually became worse, to the point I bought new master / slave, bled multiple times, and just ultimately couldn’t get the car into gear. I was essentially coming to realize that this car would not be something I’d enjoy.
I posted it up for sale, and eventually offloaded it for a lot less than I bought it for. What’s worse is that I had only put on about 40 miles, and none of those miles were really that fulfilling. I had hit VTEC a few times on the inaugural drive home, and this car was only meant to do that, nothing else. I was becoming desperate to offload the car as I just did not want to deal with it anymore, and stressed over just the sight of it. The buyer knew how to hustle me and scored a good deal. He handed over the cash and brought a flatbed over to take it home.
Used cars are always sold for a reason; I thought I was pretty good with buying second-hand, I definitely learned my lesson on this. The silver lining in all of this was the new owner ping’d me a few months later, telling me he had to replace the entire clutch and clutch hydraulics; apparently the seller back in CA had performed a sloppy install with subpar components. Glad I wasn’t the one dealing with that. My resolution is to definitely have some actual eyes on the car, some more hands-on to the car to gain more familiarity before cutting the check. Been eyeing something over in Portland, Oregon, and trying to be patient rather than repeat my mistake.
Mod the xB some more (I haven’t really started) and see if I can hit up some more meets. How much of either of these that will happen remains to be seen.
Sadly my goal for 2024 is to sell my Celsior on to the next JNC fan. After months in the shop trying to diagnose a non-functioning HVAC fan and replacing the ecm capacitors it’s had just about every common issue addressed and should be at fully 90s Toyota glory. While in the shop last year I bought my Miata RF and I just don’t have the mental capacity to maintain and drive 5 cars (plus the wife’s 2). I love the Celsior, it’s endlessly cool, but I have to make tough decisions and it’ll have to have the first to go.
On the positive side my 2024 plan is also to drive the snot out of the Miata with the top open and enjoy it.
Resolutions for 2024: staying healthy, beating the inflation, and getting fit!
All these things will (should? could? might?) walk hanhdin-hand toward convincing my significant other we need a Honda S800 in our live. Or kids. Or both?
Since you didn’t specify Nostalgic, I’m committed to modding my new Prius; Springs, wheels, tires. Needs lower CG, more rubber, stiffer springs.
In the nostalgic category, a little more love for our really hard working ‘86 Samurai TinTop.
Get all of the modifications on my 1994 Toyota Mark II certified. Here in Australia, all modifications need to certified by an engineer before they’re legal. A lot of people put off doing that, myself included. That was the plan so I could put it on classic registration this year (for cars +30 years old, only have 60 days to drive it every year but the registration costs become almost non-existent), but now I have to as the car was inspected and grounded by our local highway patrol a couple of days ago. Hard to get away with when the car has a great big high-mount turbo!
Same one I’ve had for the last 10 years… Although 2 years ago it was actually running or driving, albeit briefly, this year I will finish the 510 Coupe!
Maybe JNC need to bring back the forum!