Japanese manufacturer Honda is renowned for its excellent motorcycles and reliable cars, but in the minds of gearheads, it's also a synonym for some of the coolest JDM performance cars and tuners. Indeed, the high build quality and the fantastic handling have been the staple of Honda since its first sports car (the S500) debuted back in 1963. As such, many Honda cars have become quite desirable among JDM fans and old-school enthusiasts.

Related: 9 Greatest Honda Cars Ever Made (1 That Sucked)

However, not all of the Honda vehicles of the past have become collector's items yet. Even more, some of them have remained under the radar for quite some time and they may not come across as that exciting, but most enthusiasts know what they're capable of. That being the case, while the interest in these cars is already on the rise, there is still time to buy them before they become priceless classics.

10 Honda S2000

Honda S2000
Via superstreetonline.com

Many JDM enthusiasts love the Honda S2000, with there being two generations, the AP1 and AP2. Indeed, both are fantastic. The updated AP2 model finished production in 2009 and came with a 2.2-liter engine that produced 237 hp. Indeed, the car could rev to around 8000 rpm, a crazy number for such a cool sports car. With its nice power and performance, the Honda S2000 has already been branded as a future classic.

Honda S2000
Via Carscoops

Not only was the car powerful, but the handling on the S2000 was outstanding. It was brilliant to drive and was easy to control as it was a small car. The car is a cult classic for a reason, and its handling only exemplifies this further. Increasing in price because of the added interest of the car in recent times, the S2000 is one of the best handling Honda cars ever and it is perfect for both the road and the track.

9 Honda Prelude 4WS

Honda Prelude 4WS Third Generation
Via commons.wikimedia.org

In its third generation, the Honda Prelude 4WS launched in 1987 was declared to be one of the finest cars ever made by motoring journalist L.J.K. Setright. Indeed, it is easy to see why as it had a lot of success and it was capable of outperforming cars like the Chevrolet Corvette C4. It was fantastic in terms of handling as it came with passive rear steering.

Honda Prelude 4WS Third Generation
Via commons.wikimedia.org

As of now, the car is a bargain, which is ridiculous considering its success and advanced setup. The pop-up headlights only add to the appeal of the car too. It fits right in terms of '80s appeal and it is definitely a car that enthusiasts should get their hands on while they still can.

8 Honda Beat

HONDA Beat front
Via: autoevolution

The Honda Beat was launched in 1991 and it wasn't the most powerful car on the market with just 63 hp being produced. However, as a Kei car, it worked perfectly. Despite being able to go only 83 mph at top speed, the Honda Beat was a fantastic little motor as it handled so well, as many Honda's do.

A red Honda Beat
importavehicle.com

It also looked fantastic, with its compactness often being liked by many enthusiasts. It might be small and impractical but it is a lot of fun. As such, its cheap price isn't going to last forever as many enthusiasts come round to owning a Beat, so if someone is looking to get their hands on one they should get to doing it now before prices increase.

7 Honda CRX

Honda-CRX
via Hagerty

The Honda CRX is a very famous car, known for its handling and sportiness. Released in 1984, the CRX was fitted with a tiny 1.3-liter engine that produced 58 hp, or a 1.5-liter engine producing 76 hp in the sport version of the car. Yet, power isn't everything in the car, like many other Honda vehicles. The dynamics of the driving experience were where the car excels, and the handling was a key area in which the car was successful.

White Honda CRX
Via: Carsandbids

The light curb weight of 1,800 lb meant that the vehicle was brilliant to throw around. The vehicle was actually a brilliant competitor against the Volkswagen Golf GTI. Improvements to the car brought a fuel injection model that came with 91 hp in the Honda CRX Si. The Si model brought even nimbler handling too. As such, the CRX is a great little compact sports car and while it stills remains to be cheap on the markets, it is bound to go up in price as many enthusiasts are realizing how precious it is.

6 Honda Civic Type R EP3

The EP3 Civic Type R in white
Via FavCars

Another model from the Civic Type R collection is the EP3 generation released in 2001. A nice hot hatch, the car comes with a 2.0-liter engine that produces 212 hp. The Japanese model was more oriented to racing and performance-based driving than the European models, especially with the higher-lift camshafts and higher-compression pistons. Going 141 mph at top speed was fantastic too.

Related: These Are The Best-Handling FWD Cars Ever Made

wsupercars.com

In terms of handling, the EP3 is fantastic. Many Honda purists love the EP3, and it is so easy to see why. Definitely fitting in with the racing community, the EP3 is easy to drive fast and handle well, with the car being incredibly agile. It really is one great JDM hot hatch, and despite issues with oversteer, Honda fixed these in 2003 helping to boost its performance credentials. As such, the EP3 is a great car to invest in as now many enthusiasts want to purchase one, driving up prices.

5 Honda Integra DC2 Type R

 Honda Integra DC2 Type R
Via Capital Seating

Introduced in 1995, Honda produced their first sporty Integra. Coming with a 1.8-liter DOHC VTEC engine that produces 197 hp and could rev to 8000 rpm it was something special from the off. This car brought enhanced power over the Type R engine used in other cars as there was increased compression and larger throttle body thus making the car sportier.

 Honda Integra DC2 Type R
Via Superstreet online

Also featuring weight-saving features like larger strut bars and body reinforcements, the Integra DC2 Type R was suited for fast driving and high-performance levels. Indeed, the car is a favorite among enthusiasts and JDM lovers, so don't be surprised if the price of these goes up over the next few years as interest continues to increase.

4 Honda Civic Type R FN2

Honda Civic Type R FN2
via: Flickr

The FN2 Type R was launched in 2007. The third generation of the Civic Type R was based on the eighth-generation Civic and it brought with it two models - one for Japan, and one for the European market. The FN2 model was the one produced for the European and international markets and it came with a 2.0-liter K20Z4 engine that produced 198 hp. There were many similarities to the Japanese model and while the car has less power than the JDM car, it is fantastic in terms of performance and handling.

Related: 8 Things Everyone Forgot About The Honda Civic Type R

The FN2 Civic Type R in black
Via Honda

It brought a refinement of the VTEC formula and brought improvements over the EP3 model release previously. Also remaining low in price, the FN2 model is becoming a favorite among European enthusiasts who want a refined version of the EP3, driving up interest among those who want a great car that is fun and sporty.

3 Honda Accord Type R

Honda Accord Type R

Via Honest John Classics

The Honda Accord Type R was released in 1998 and there were less than 2000 available to buy. It came with a naturally aspirated 2.2-liter four-cylinder DOHC engine that produces 217 hp in the JDM models. Coming with stiffer suspension and sporty styling, the car was definitely suited towards drivers who loved performance cars.

2002 Honda Accord Type R parked
Via Honest John Classics

It is very lightweight and the handling is easy to exploit, as is the car's power. It is a fantastic sports car, but isn't high in price at the minute, despite its low availability. Many are coming around to the cool performance of this sporty sedan, and the JDM models certainly offer a great amount of fun. As such, the car is worth buying before prices increase incredibly high as they start to become collector models.

2 Honda CRZ

Via: wsupercars.com

The Honda CRZ is already becoming a collector's model. It is a hybrid sports coupe (indeed, it was the world's first hybrid sports coupe), already making it stand out quite a bit in terms of uniqueness, albeit not very popular among enthusiasts. Some consider it being a little bit ahead of its time, being an early hybrid sports car. Despite this, it was a very engaging and dynamic car to drive, even while it wasn't the most performance-based vehicle.

2011 CRZ
Via: wsupercars.com

It is a very cool vehicle, but it has been a vehicle that many haven't been interested in for some time. Yet as the market for hybrid sports cars has grown, so has the interest in the CRZ. Indeed, the bad practicality of the car is a problem for some, it is fine for those who want an environmental sports coupe that comes with the build quality and reliability of a Honda.

1 Honda S800

Honda S800
Via wikimedia.org

The Honda S800 was Honda's first-ever car to go 100 mph. Honda's attempt at making a British sports car wasn't easy, but it was miles better in terms of reliability and build quality than the British Triumph Spitfire, with the car outperforming it in many ways. Despite only coming with 70 hp, this was decent in such a small car and the S800 was a reflection of how good Honda was at making cars with impeccable handling.

Honda S800
Via wikipedia.org

The car was never sold in the US officially, and this is a shame considering how cool the car was when it was first launched. Indeed, it still is a great car that performs very well. The rear suspension was a great option for Honda and it meant for nice driving dynamics. As such, S800 is a great classic car that is still fairly cheap, often costing under $30,000 - making it a fantastic choice for a collector's car before the prices increase.