QotW: Why do you like cars?

Today, May 25, is Car Day in Japan. It was established by Yanase, one of the largest importers and dealer chains in Japan, in 2015 to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the company’s founding on May 25, 1915. One of its special edition exclusives was the Isuzu Piazza Nero, an all-black version of what we know as the Impulse (in case you were wondering how we chose the lead image). Car Day was created to get people to “cherish their cars” and reflect on the “richness of life with cars”. In honor of this day we came up with a very simple question. It’s somewhat surprising that, in all these years of doing QotW, we haven’t asked the one very basic question of why we are all here.

Why do you like cars?

The most entertaining comment by next week will receive a prize. Scroll down to see the winner of last week’s QotW, “What’s your favorite car museum?“.

It’s no surprise that several comments mentioned the Toyota Automobile Museum in Aichi, Japan, a favorite of Alan and Land Ark. Other must-see museums owned by Japanese carmakers include the Honda Collection Hall in Tochigi and, as picked by Daniel, the Mazda Museum in Hiroshima as well as the Frey Mazda Museum in Germany.

For institutions that house a diverse collection of cars from all over the world, Jim Klein‘s choice of the Lane Museum in Nashville is hard to top. We’ve never been, but we hope to visit StreetSpirit‘s pick of the Louwman Museum in the Netherlands someday.

For decidedly non-Japanese collections there’s Taylor C.‘s recommendation of the Mercedes-Benz Museum Stuttgart, and while you’re there you might as well see the incredible Porsche Museum as well. KMMinLaPlata‘s suggestion of the Pierce Arrow Museum in Buffalo is quite intriguing too. And Kyuusha Corner‘s testimonial for the Blackhawk Museum has convinced us to visit.

A decent list of vacation spots emerged from the comments, so we might as well include these honorable mentions: In the UK, the National Motor Museum in Beaulieu and Coventry Museum. In Germany, the Audi Forum, VW Autostadt Museum, and Technik Museum Sinsheim. In Belgium, Autoworld Brussels. And in the US, the Aubuurn Cord Duesenberg Museum in Indiana, Petersen Museum in Los Angeles, Brumos Collection in Florida, and Palace Collection in Las Vegas.

Unfortunately there can be only one champion, and the winner this week was Toyotageek:

I’ve only been to a handful of automotive museums. Some of those I’ve visited include our local fixture, the Petersen Automotive Museum which is world-class, and then there was the eclectic collection of the Malamut Automotive Museum in Thousand Oaks. In Japan I enjoyed the Honda Collection Hall in Tochigi, the small private collection of some friends at the Maehara 20th Collection in Kiryu, and of course I was ‘Wowed” by the Toyota Automobile Museum in Aichi, which would have to be my favorite if it wasn’t for another eclectic collection, the funky and odd Yokota Collection at the Ikaho Toy, Doll and Car Museum in Gunma. This place is a Showa lovers paradise. There are close to 100 Showa era vehicles on display, from Kei cars and “family” cars to the “coveted” sports cars of Japan. There’s even a recreation of the Fujiwara Tofu Shop from Initial D, as well as the various other Showa themed exhibits make this place my all time favorite car museum to date. Can’t wait to go visit again.

Omedetou, your comment has earned you a set of decals from the JNC Shop!