Japanese Nostalgic Car

There are automotive terms that are so often misused that they’ve become widely accepted. That doesn’t mean they don’t grate the senses when you encounter them. The classic example when it comes to Japanese cars is using “JDM” when not specifically referencing cars sold in the Japanese market (An Acura NSX is not a JDM car). Another one that drives me nuts personally is the use of Mk.IV (or Mk4 or MkIII and so on) for various generations of the Toyota Supra. Any other Japanese car would be referred to by their chassis code, but for some reason the British convention of “Mark” was applied to the Supra in the early days of tuning and just stuck. Please, for the love of Kiichiro Toyoda, use A80 or A70.

What misused automotive term drives you crazy?

The most entertaining comment by next week will receive a prize. Scroll down to see the winner of last week’s QotW, “How do you stay awake on long drives?” Continue reading →

This week is National Drowsy Driving Prevention Week. We’ve all felt the agony of driving when your eyelids suddenly turn into lead. Maybe it’s because you’re trying to make it to an event after pulling an all-nighter wrenching on the car you’re supposed to show or race. Perhaps you’re just going home after working the late shift. Or it’s just a warm day and you’ve had a heavy meal. Caffeine is the obvious choice (like that Nissan latte in the photo above), but too much can cause problems on the other end, if you know what I’m saying. Gnawing on beef jerky is a technique that some long-haul truckers claim. And of course there’s the classic pulling over and napping strategy.

How do you stay awake on long drives?

The most entertaining comment by next week will receive a prize. Scroll down to see the winner of last week’s QotW, “What’s the most basic car you’re willing to accept?” Continue reading →

Today, October 26, is Horseless Carriage Day, marking the date in 1769 when Samuel Johnson, creator of the first complete English dictionary, supposedly learned of a self-propelled coach. Many presume that it was the Cugnot steam-powered buggy, a three-wheeled chassis with a bench and boiler. As automobiles go, you can’t get much simpler than that. These days we expect a bit more from our cars, but Japan is great at delivering minimalist machines that are still fulfilling to drive.

What’s the most basic car you’re willing to accept?

The most entertaining comment by next week will receive a prize. Scroll down to see the winner of last week’s QotW, “How has the landscape for Japanese cars changed in the last 20 years?” Continue reading →

Japanese Nostalgic Car was launched 20 years ago in what felt like a vastly different world. In October 2006 you could walk into a dealership and buy a brand new Honda S2000 or Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX off the lot, cars like the Toyota AE86 and Z31 Nissan 300ZX had not yet hit the 25-year threshold to become historic vehicles, builds like the one above were common, and names like Hakosuka and Kenmeri were still largely unknown in the US. JNC was built to champion the overlooked Japanese classics and celebrate the rich heritage of Japan’s automotive golden eras. It’s been an uphill battle at times, but things have evolved considerably.

How has the landscape for Japanese cars changed in the last 20 years?

The most entertaining comment by next week will receive a prize. Scroll down to see the winner of last week’s QotW, “Which JNC is most emblematic of the 1960s?” Continue reading →