Tag Archives: QotW
QotW: What have you sacrificed for your car?
Today, August 25, is Instant Ramen Day, honoring the day in 1958 when the flash-fried noodles first hit the shelves. The original instant ramen was developed by Nissin Foods, but soon after NissAn also released a ramen. In this 1963 … Continue reading
QotW: Which beloved nameplate will be revived next?
The reborn Acura RSX gave Honda heads a collective “ick” when it was announced last week. Automakers must perform a difficult balancing act when they resuscitate a cherished model name. One wrong move and legions of loyal fans who loved … Continue reading
QotW: What’s the most scenic place you’ve driven to?
Today, July 21, marks two important days of commemoration in Japan. The first is Natural Parks Day, remembering the day in 1957 when the Natural Parks Act was passed in order to protect and promote Japan’s national parks. The second … Continue reading
QotW: What’s your favorite JNC for open air driving?
It’s summer and time for open top cruising. Japanese mrques haven’t traditionally been known for convertibles, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t good options for being at one with the elements. Let’s include T-tops, targas, canvas tops, and other assorted … Continue reading
QotW: What’s your craziest car parking story?
Parking is one of those unfortunate tasks that accompanies the fun of driving. Whether it’s circling for open spaces, dealing with ornery/incompetent drivers, paying exorbitant prices, of fending off door dings, parking is fraught with peril. Yet we have no … Continue reading
QotW: What’s the greatest Japanese luxury sedan?
If you’ve ever flown on a Japanese airline or shopped at a Japanese department store you know that Japan does luxury better than almost any country on Earth. That’s why it’s a bit odd that Japanese luxury cars faced such … Continue reading
QotW: What’s the most Gen X car?
Today, June 16, is National Gen X Day, celebrating those born between 1965 and 1980. I was born in the inaugural year of the Celica Liftback but I don’t think I’m biased when I say it’s the best generation. Our … Continue reading
QotW: What’s the best rig for a novice off-roader?
Carefully plotting every tire placement through a rock-strewn trail at tortoise-like speeds can be just as exhilarating as perfectly connecting apex after apex to shave a tenth of a second off your lap time. And as it happens, today, June … Continue reading
QotW: What’s your most memorable road trip?
The Friday before Memorial Day is National Road Trip Day in the US. In Japan today, May 26, also happens to be the anniversary of the opening of the Tomei Expressway, a famed route heading from Tokyo to points west. … Continue reading
QotW: What’s the craziest odometer reading you’ve ever seen?
Today, May 12, is National Odometer Day. The modern odometer is credited to William Clayton, a Mormon pioneer who attached a mileage counting device to his horse-drawn wagon in 1847. The device tracked wagon wheel’s number of revolutions as his … Continue reading
QotW: Why do you like driving?
It’s hard to believe that in all the years we’ve done QotW we’ve never asked the most basic question about why we’re all here in the first place. If we like cars it should stand to reason that we like … Continue reading
QotW: What’s your favorite car care product?
Today, April 28, is Car Wash Day in Japan. The date comes from a play on words for 4 (yo), 2 (itsu), and 8 (ya), or yoitsya, which means “a good gloss” in Japanese. Washing your car can be a … Continue reading
QotW: What movie or TV wreck makes you cringe?
Carspotting in movies and TV shows is a great pastime, especially when watching older forms of visual arts. Unfortunately, we all know that whenever a car appears on screen there’s always the chance that it’ll meet a grisly end. Even … Continue reading
QotW: What car has been absolutely ruined by pop culture?
Pop culture can make cars into stars, but also destroy them. If it wasn’t for Back to the Future the DeLorean would be a historical footnote. If it wasn’t for 007, the Aston Martin DB4 would not even be uttered … Continue reading
QotW: What’s your craziest tire-related story?
Today, April 7, is Tire Gauge Day in Japan. It was established by Asahi Sangyo, a tire gauge manufacturer established in 1946, to remind people of the importance of keeping your car tires properly inflated. My craziest story doesn’t involve … Continue reading
QotW: Gun to your head, which crossover would you drive for the rest of your life?
The body style wars were bloody, but a clear victor has emerged. Sedans are dead; the crossover reigns supreme. Future generations will sing the praises of Mazda CX-5s and Acura MDXes the way we applaud ‘Speed 6s and Integras. Resistance … Continue reading
QotW: When a marque dies, do its classics lose their luster or become more legendary?
What happens when a marque dies? Not that we have anything particular on the mind; it’s just a random topic that came up around the JNC water cooler the other day. Some of us believe that the lack of connection … Continue reading
QotW: What’s your favorite automotive manga or comic?
Today, March 17, is the anniversary of Japan’s first weekly manga, Shukan Shonen Magazine. Launched in 1959 and published each Wednesday, the book kicked off the trend of serialized comics for boys, and spawned stories such as Shuichi Shigeno’s Bari … Continue reading
QotW: What’s a car-related thing that you should really get rid of?
Today, March 3, is National “Simplify Your Life” Day. As fans of old cars we tend to accumulate a lot of stuff. It starts with the actual car(s). Then comes the spare parts, aftermarket parts, tools, entire donor cars, diecast … Continue reading
QotW: How can we save my friend from buying a 12-year-old EV?
A friend recently called to ask for car buying advice. He commutes 60 miles each way to work and the fuel bill’s adding up. He is a car guy and owns a stable of fun cars, but they’re all either … Continue reading