Int3graz

I chose the grocery store one, looks book worthy to me!

Kuroneko

^ Thanks! I like the normalness of that one too.



Out for a drive with two friends yesterday...





Heck! The GT-R is a big car...



I swear though, I could have had him on a couple of tight second-gear corners...









We liked the idea of being out in what must be close to Japan's first mainstream sports car, and compare to one of the latest world-killing efforts... Neko.

Bobs600

I like the photo in the gas station -- it has a great background. I see the gas pumps could be another problem for the linguistically challenged visitor. Do you have self-service pumps, or do they all have attendants?

Kuroneko

Last shot on the roll of film, just to waste it as I was topping off on the way home. I like it too!

Most gas-stand in Japan have attendants, with few being self-service ('serufu' in Japanese). Attendants here wipe windows & mirrors, give you a clean moist towel to wipe interior surfaces, do not spill the fuel, then direct you nicely into traffic as needed. You get zip at a serufu.

With no attendants in a cage, or Western style pre-pay (just the pump), serufu is complicated too, with the need to get out of the car to select cash, card, member, fuel type, invoice scanning, change dispensing...

StreetsideStig

It used to be similar here in the States, but I think it chanced when gas station chains discovered they could sell snacks and drinks inside. And since we're so addicted to snacks, gas station managers didn't want to give us any excuses to stay in the car. The average gas station in America makes much more on the stuff it sells inside the store than on fuel.

Kuroneko

Gas stands in Japan would have a hard time beating our convenience stores and general vending machine presence...

1991civiclx13

generator next to the machines?

Edit: beautiful coupe!

StreetsideStig

^That's beautiful. Vending machines and all.

Kuroneko

Thanks all! And, that's the dust-box for used cans & bottles next to the vending machines. Which, even on mountain tops, are hard-wired to the mains - got to have the coldest Calpis, and hottest Boss wherever, and whenever... Neko.

Kuroneko

Single greatest step forward - Pertronix Ignitor & matching 3 Ohm coil. Brilliant change in performance from starting to across the whole rev range. Thoroughly recommended. Gave me a good excuse to take a nice long test drive.





Curiously, I discovered a car that sounds almost as good an an S800. It was a bit faster though...



And another with matching wheels... Neko.

Int3graz

What's that contraption under his car? Theft prevention or something?

Kuroneko

That is the standard public parking place in Japan. Two minutes after you park, the bar raises slowly to kiss your underneath, and then only lowers after you've paid the required per hour fee. This Kombi - parked next to the pay machine - does not touch, but the exhaust would be sure to take a hit if they drove off without paying:



This Landy could probably drive off, but this being Japan, like the motorcyclists who use them, would not:



Neko.

Bobs600

I'm learning a lot from this thread

Kuroneko

Not sure we're learning much about S800s, but it's certainly fun, fun, fun... Red-line in top, snapped by a friend, who said it sounded like a plane on a low-pass:





Neko.

Int3graz

Ahhh very cool parking system! The rates must be quite high!

StreetsideStig

I love this thread! So much cool stuff about such a cool culture. That parking system is brilliant. I also love those "sharp corner" mirrors that let you see when traffic is coming. Keep them coming, Neko!

Kuroneko

City parking is perhaps 100 ~ 300 yen per 30 minutes or hour. Recently, a maximum charge of 1200 or 1500 has been set by a lot of operators. At least in my area. SA & PA on expressway though are free, Daikokufuto last night:



Neko.

Bobs600

You should be proud of the use that car gets. The one here hasn't turned a wheel in a month and is now put away for the rainy season. Just love these infrastructure photos, like a sci-fi dream of the future at the time these cars were made.

vertexpimpinit

Looks incredible! Jealous!

Kuroneko

800km since June I think...

So do I! That's why I enjoy placing me, the Coupe, and Tokio from that time together. I've been trying to take a trip past the Nakagin Building, but always seem to run out of time...



Check out the thing bottom left here too, its only a Z, but it looks like its landed from another planet:

Int3graz

bump for more

Kuroneko

^ If you insist... Any excuse! Before the front torsion bars were lowered last weekend, grabbing some bread for lunch:





... and I need to reshoot this one day, without a fat red bus in frame:



Hopefully, I can find some time to shoot with the lowered front a bit too. Though, I am sourcing some adjustable rears too. So much stuff to tweak! Neko.

StreetsideStig

And it's not just a beautiful car. These shots are all very well composed!

Kuroneko

Thanks on both counts. A camera in the glove box all the time helps to grab a good opportunity. I am out tomorrow with the GT-R above for a blast down to Yokohama and back, so I'll see what else I can snap. Neko.

Kuroneko

Pity the R35 or Kenmeri could not make it, a Hako made up for it though...









Maybe I should have shot that last frame the other way around - blurring the Hako - but it was such a nice example... See ya! Neko.