I see I'm not the only one to make this association...

Honda Crossroad is one of the funkiest JDM Hondas I think. Surprised nobody has started importing them to the UK, though when they reach 25 years, I could see the US going mad for them www.carsensor.net/usedcar/deta...

Not played it in years, but Final Fantasy VIII is one of my all-time favourite games. Only thing better than the game though is Nobuo Uematsu's music, and someone on a Discord group put me on to this channel covering several tracks on the harp, which is fantastic www.youtube.com/watch?v=FTSq...

New purchase for the MX-5. Do have a full cover for it but the roof-only job takes up a lot less space and covers the important bits - given it's spending three weeks in airport parking soon it should mitigate the risk of leaks. Useful in summer too as the silver should keep heat out.

Japan next week. Have reached the point where I'm fairly sure I've organised everything I needed to organised, but still stressed just in case I've forgotten anything. Also just general stress of big busy expensive solo trip in a country whose language I have only a very low-level grasp of.

Slowly been collecting the unhinged AI slop thumbnails for "The Most Relaxing Farm Game of 2025" (or 2024, depending on the ad). As well as being hilarious, none suggest to me an *especially* relaxing game.

Given the way people are driving tonight I'm not convinced they don't actively want to end their lives.

Rallye continues to show up every other car I've owned by sailing through another MOT. Windscreen has slowly been collecting stone chips and the tester has finally noticed, but none have turned into cracks. Car's still for sale, if you know anyone interested...

Discovered Final Sentence after @yahtzeecroshaw.bsky.social mentioned it in a recent vid. Bit of a busman's holiday but a "typing battle royale" is quite an interesting concept. Good feeling when you win one too (even if avoiding four roulette spins is quite lucky).

Another small photo dump. Model shop from last year's Japan trip. Seemingly every car ever invented offered in kit form.

Have probably posted these before but having a bit of a phone clear out, so here are some cool motorsport Peugeots from visiting the museum earlier this year.

Youtube's suggesting me Quentin Willson videos after his passing, and I landed on an absolute classic. Some great comments in this one, but dear god the rust on that three-year old example too... www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qc2k...

Good lord, a tidy Neon. These are basically extinct in the UK. Not asking much money for it either. Definitely don't have the space (or mental capacity) for another car, but if the Rallye found a home I'd be tempted by this in the short term... www.ebay.co.uk/itm/25717777...

Existence of the AE111 Corolla Levin/Sprinter Trueno popped back into my head today. Remember seeing one in a car mag decades ago and thinking they were very cool. Most have had their engines harvested for the RWD Corollas, but bet a nice one is great fun www.racenotrice.com/ae111-with-a...

Not into Volvos, nor anything Doug-related, but this C70 is just about spot-on. Definite case of #GetItInTheGoodColor too carsandbids.com/auctions/98w...

This is pretty fascinating.

In an MR2 kind of mood, so have one of each generation. This AW11 has been on sale for quite a while (often the case with that dealer in 'Boro) but the yellow lamps and no spoiler look is interesting www.ebay.co.uk/itm/35760778...

I think Father Ted's been at this Saab 9-5 I've just found on eBay.

Back from the NEC classic motor show. This Innocenti 950 was an easy favourite.

I'm sure *bits* of the A2 are made from steel, but I'm not sure rust is one of the main things you need to keep an eye out for with these... Reminds me of an MX-5 buyer's guide I once read which advised checking for rust on the [notably non-ferrous] bonnet.

Crikey, the exterior sound generator of the latest Yaris Hybrid is a noisy bugger. Neighbour swapped her 2-3yr old one for a brand new one the other week. Reversing sound is like an electric locomotive pulling out of a station. Some of my neighbours' petrol cars are quieter.

I am very much an Alpine A110 enjoyer but one of these could easily tempt me away (especially in this white over gold wheels/chestnut leather combo) www.ebay.co.uk/itm/12738582...

£6.5k in the end. Not as much as some, but probably realistic given it looked fairly rough. Hopefully it gets the restoration it deserves.

Bought this over lunch, which has strong "the Nat Geo team have been taken hostage by cats" vibes to it.

I dig this. I also dig that rear window, which reminds me of the Honda Z600 (especially in this colour).

The Amazing World Of Tomorrow

Hoooo boy I'd forgotten how much worse the bright headlights thing is when I'm in the MX-5 and sitting a foot or two lower than in the average new car.

80s and 90s Japan feels like the time and place where manufacturers added technology that was genuinely useful but *also* could be relied upon not to break.

New Paul Smith Mini is a bit disappointing, innit? Some muddy green details over standard body colours? Doesn't exactly pop like the blue and lime green combo on the classic Mini (pic via collectingcars.com/for-sale/199...)

Reminding me how amusingly ridiculous the Fuji looks with a lens from my Pentax 110. Actually pretty good sensor coverage.

Spotted a bolt from my computer chair on the floor. Not quite loose wheelnuts levels of danger, but the rest were loose enough that I was probably only a few weeks away from an embarrassing office-related calamity.

The George Clooney/Prelude combo mentioned in the latest @smithandsniff.bsky.social twigged a memory that he'd actually done a few car ads in Japan. Turns out it was the Toyota Mark II (and as usual, Google AI doesn't know shit as the link is right below it saying he didn't do any)

Small, subtle, and deeply irritating change from Bluesky recently seems to be that when you click on the reply bubble on a post on your feed it no longer brings up the input window, but just takes you to the post. Keep clicking reply and starting typing to realise nothing's happening.

Today turning out to be one of those days. RX-7 failed its MOT (broken spring, proving a nightmare to get hold of), PC running like shit as it's still updating, and tonight's takeaway is 20 mins late so far and nowhere to be seen.

This is not a new observation but nothing makes a computer run like shit like the updates designed to make it run well.

Suckering you in with another only tangentially related photo, but any action cam recommendations? Considering something to strap to my head for some in-car vids and stills when I'm out in Japan this year. Will be buying used, because new prices are yikes. Good low-light performance advantageous.

Know people dislike the movie for various reasons, but I still think it's great. I'm not a super picky movie buff admittedly, I either like stuff or I don't (and I'm bad at spotting plot holes etc so such things don't bother me), but the entire Daniel Craig era was pretty strong for me.

Watching No Time To Die. Always enjoy how much money JLR must've spent to fill the movie with various Land Rover projects only to get one-upped by an old beige Land Cruiser.

What is it with Cambridge services and people parking in the walkways? Literally every time I'm at this place there's at least one.

Photo mainly to get attention, but for the folks on my timeline who regularly visit, or live in Japan, any recommendations on good places to buy car mags, brochures etc? 🗾 Aware of Book Garage in Nakano City as I went there last year (also pictured), but otherwise drew a blank.

Potential #QOTD material here: What would be your Mini-based kit car/conversion of choice? Always liked the Domino Pimlico, which kept the basic Mini shape but turned it into a kind of beach car, but I think it has to be the Midas Gold for me - up there with CRXs etc in contemporary reviews.

Good lord

Be interesting seeing what this RS-Ltd goes for. Underside suggests it's probably due a proper restoration, but still has its Recaros, which are a non-negotiable part of these (I'd go as far as saying the RS isn't worth buying without, given the seats' value) www.carandclassic.com/auctions/199...

Remarkably good nick for 210k miles. Bodywork looks tidy, Sensatec (artificial leather) trim seems to have the longevity of MB Tex, steering wheel hasn't gone shiny, and the MOT history is relatively clean too - certainly nothing scary www.ebay.co.uk/itm/11681286...

The ad says pistachio and terracotta but I'm thinking more lime and peach gelato www.carandclassic.com/auctions/196...

Posting that Fulvia Sport again earlier made me realise that small fastback coupes are definitely my automotive "type". Insight is the only one I've owned but love the format - compact, practical (because hatchback), nimble, decent aerodynamics, relatively cheap to run etc.

My story about Mazda's Roadster restoration programme in Japan is also online - I *think* I'm the only western journo to cover this one in detail www.hagerty.com/media/automo...

Didn't notice that Hagerty put my Microlino review online a couple of weeks back. Likeable little thing: www.hagerty.com/media/new-ca...

Quick snap of the two GT3s from the latest issue of @evo-magazine.bsky.social. Fun one to help with. 996 GT3 only *slightly* ruined the current gen for me...