JDM sports cars were always a thing, but ever since F&F burst on the scene with the curly-haired Paul Walker and his 10-second Toyota Supra, their popularity exploded. Paul Walker’s untimely death and his genuine love for JDM sports cars also added more fuel to the fire and the JDM market is now a bona fide thing in the U.S.
A JDM sports car may not make for a good daily driver, considering they are classic cars, each many years old. However, there are plenty of fans who do keep a JDM sports car around in their garage for some weekend fun or racing thrills, and most JDM sports car owners love the eyeballs the cars get them.
But there are some niggling issues and things that most JDM sports car owners don’t talk about, mostly because it takes away from the glam factor of a Japanese sports car. Here’s what you may want to know before you put down for one.
8 Importing A JDM Sports Car Yourself Is A Pain
It’s not easy to import a JDM sports car yourself, considering the paperwork in itself is a huge issue. Even if you decide on a model, remember that you would not have seen it, and what may arrive could be a lot different from the pictures.
It’s better to go for a JDM already imported into the U.S. by the various firms that specialize in this because they can help you with registration and have tested cars brought in to make sure you don’t end up with a lemon. Plus, they would know which states the JDM cannot be registered in, like California, and they could help you find the one you can actually own and drive in your state.
7 JDM Sports Cars Are Not For Entry-Level Drivers
If you are new to driving or have always driven the cars of today that run on autopilot by now, not needing much in the way of driver input other than steering and braking, a JDM sports car may not be the best choice for you.
These cars are 25 years old or even older sometimes, and are often manual transmission or run on a very basic automatic transmission that may make you long for manual in the first place. Plus, in case they are tuned, they can be a handful to drive, raring to go at the touch of the pedal. Handling them may need some experience.
6 They Have To Drive On The “Wrong Side”
Unlike American cars where we follow a left-hand-side drive system and accordingly have cars made to reflect the same with the steering and pedals on the left, JDM cars are built for right-hand-side driving. So, the pedals and steering are on the right while you still have to drive on the left side of the road.
To be honest, it can be a little unnerving, although many imported cars, even from Europe, have the same issue. Most JDM sports car owners do say that they get used to it pretty quickly, for others it can be a process—and not necessarily a pleasant one.
5 JDM Car Owners Should Always Inspect The Vehicle In Person
It’s easy to look at a picture and look at a JDM sports car in the movies and be blown away by it, but not all pictures are worth a thousand words, or your thousands of dollars. Rust is the enemy of any old car and JDM cars are no different.
You have to inspect a classic car to ensure there is no rust underneath because that could mean a damaged chassis. Make sure to inspect underneath the hood as well and if you can, get a JDM sports car owner or someone with knowhow to look at the car for you before you make your decision.
4 No JDM Sports Car Is Exempt From The 25-Year-Rule
There is no JDM that can be imported into the U.S., legally, that is less than 25 years old. For example, for 2020, only the cars that were made in Japan in or before 1995 can be brought into the US as legal JDM imports. Sometimes, you'll see newer JDM cars driven in movies, but they are either props or non-road legal examples imported for the sake of the movie. There's also an exception for museums, but other than that, there is hardly any way you can own a JDM in the U.S. unless you adhere to the 25-year rule.
Anyone who tells you otherwise is lying. Canada, on the other hand, is luckier because they have a 10-year lead on the U.S., having a 15-year-old import law. So in 2020, they can get JDMs from 2005 and before.
3 Not All JDM Sports Cars Are Easy To Modify
We all hear of most JDM sports cars, like the Toyota Supra, as being very “modular.” Most people, those who do not have a JDM, have movie knowledge and feel that all JDM sports cars can be easily modified and tuned into their version of a dream car.
This is not true. While some Japanese cars are made simple and can be tuned up with little effort, some need specialized care. So even if you buy a JDM car for cheap, taking it to the tuners and having it jet the kind of horsepower you want can be an expensive affair. Most JDM sports car owners recommend that you get to know the car before you buy one.
2 Do Not Expect Too Much From Kei Cars
One of the cutest JDM sports car categories is Kei cars. These tiny JDM sports cars are cheap, fun, and can be quite the time-saver in traffic and constricted parking spaces. Only, you have to remember that along with being tiny and small, Kei cars also have tiny engines, usually restricted to 660cc, if not smaller.
They were introduced in Japan because of their affordability and tax savings and can be brought into the U.S. as well. While they can be tuned a bit, don’t expect them to be able to race a Supra or a Porsche. They are meant to be fun cruisers, not drag racers.
1 Finding Parts Can Be A Challenge
Imported JDM sports cars are old, classic cars. Japan taxes any resident who keeps older cars, so getting them out of their country works to their advantage and the U.S. is only too happy to get them. But as is with any old car, finding parts becomes an odyssey in itself.
Sometimes, the Japanese car manufacturers do decide to make old parts again, as part of heritage parts projects. But otherwise, it’s often the aftermarket to the rescue when cars become a bit too outdated and parts become way too rare. JDM sports car owners may not talk about it, but the struggle for parts is very real.