JDM cars are no longer the inexpensive and accessible projects they once were, with several beloved models shattering auction records year after year. The market for anything JDM is sizzling right now, and prices are obviously reflecting that.
Fans of Gran Turismo and Fast & Furious will be disappointed by this revelation, as they won’t be able to tune up and drive away in their dream automobile unless they have a large sum of money stashed away.
That is until they look into these ten people who are currently flying under the radar. With costs like they are, we don’t expect them to be inexpensive for long, so act fast if you want to add one to your garage.
$20,000 Mitsubishi GTO
The GTO is a super-sleek and beautiful 1990s sports vehicle from Japanese automaker Mitsubishi; sold in the United States as the 3000GT, the GTO is merely the JDM variety, and we adore it.
The GTO may appear to be a simple sports coupe, but it is far more sophisticated than you may expect. Flagship models boasted a supercharged V6 engine with 300 horsepower; other technical features included all-wheel drive, four-wheel steering, and even active aero; hardly what you’d expect to find on a sports vehicle that’s almost 30 years old!
With so many fascinating and unique features, we believe the GTO and 3000GT models have plenty of room to grow in their current $15,000 – $20,000 price range, which is exactly why you should add one to your garage today.
WRX STI Subaru Impreza – $22,500
The Subaru Impreza is a universally adored and admired sports performance car. Previously reserved primarily for rally heroes and neighborhood hooligans, early models are gradually gaining traction among collectors, and prices are rising to reflect this.
The JDM vehicles included cool adjustments and variances from other market models, such as various suspension setups and slightly tweaked ECU tunes – they’re also highly sought as imports in colder locations like the UK, thanks to their immaculate, rust-free bodywork.
A truly beautiful one will set you back over $20,000, but given the price increases for P1 and 22B models, we think that’s a reasonable value for one of Japan’s most successful sports vehicles.
$8,000 Honda Beat
Let’s get back to fundamentals and think of this Kei as an entry-level JDM sports car. The mighty Honda Beat conceals a punchy little 660cc engine that generates a modest 65 horsepower, so while you won’t be setting any lap records on the track, you can be assured of many smiles on winding back roads, thanks to the nimble Honda Beat’s superb handling characteristics and feather-light weight.
These Kei-sports cars are also exceedingly cheap to run, ideal for city driving, and, most crucially, inexpensive to buy. This makes them the ideal tiny sports vehicles to enjoy in congested settings or simply for some cheap JDM fun.
Sera Toyota – $10,000
There are two compelling reasons to consider purchasing a Toyota Sera today – one on each side, and they both open upwards; or do you still need convincing?
Aside from the obvious ‘butterfly’ doors, the Toyota Sera deserves to be recognized for many other reasons, such as the massive expanse of glass that makes a beautifully open cabin, or the fact that it shares underpinnings with the incredibly fun-to-drive Starlet.
Regardless of how you persuade yourself, you’ll be relieved to hear that $10,000 is a sufficient amount to add a well-maintained and ready-to-drive example to your driveway this summer.
MR2 GT-S Toyota – $20,000
Toyota’s MR2 has been a popular and profitable sports car for decades; the first-generation is an excellent ’80s sports car, and this SW20 second-generation is just as coveted, especially in JDM GT-S form.
Because the MR2 was offered in the United States as well, less attention has been devoted to these JDM variants, which is perhaps why they manage to fly under the radar so successfully. The GT-S is a stylish JDM sports vehicle with a 2.0-liter turbocharged engine in the middle that generates a delectable 218 horsepower – more than enough to make this one particularly capable MR2.
$15,000 Nissan Skyline GTS R33
If seeing Paul Walker’s R34 GTR sell for $1.357 million recently has made you want a Skyline, you won’t be surprised to learn that a similar model costs a small fortune these days – but don’t worry, JDM cars like the R33 GTS are still very inexpensive.
You’ll need at least $15,000 to get started with a great usable model, and from there you can customize upwards to construct your fantasy JDM tuner vehicle; the possibilities with the powerhouse sports coupes are truly limitless.
Top-condition specimens will always command a premium, driving up prices for the others, so you’ll need to act quickly if you want to get one of these excellent R33 Skylines for a reasonable price.
$20,000 Nissan Fairlady Z Twin Turbo
This was an extremely popular sports vehicle in the 1990s, known simply as the 300ZX twin-turbo in North America, and the Fairlady Z Twin Turbo in Japan. Today, these sleek sports coupes are still selling for extremely moderate prices, and despite their age, they still make superb throwback sports cars.
The twin-turbo variants featured here are no slouches either, producing nearly 280 horsepower and propelling drivers to 60 mph from a standstill in under 6 seconds – and thanks to the model’s popularity, if you have $20,000 to spare, you can almost certainly find a great example that’s ready to enjoy. What exactly are you waiting for?
Toyota Supra MKIII – $15,000
The name ‘Supra’ has become an evocative word in the automotive industry, as the MKIV has quickly become one of the most sought, famous, and loved automobiles ever manufactured – quite probably the most popular Japanese car ever built and for good reason.
Many car fans just do not have the funds to add an MKIV to their collection, but thankfully for them, the MKIII is an excellent option at a very reasonable price. They aren’t rocket ships, but with smooth six-cylinder engines, they are a joy to cruise in – plus they have a great throwback aesthetic that is oh-so-admirable today, standing out amid a sea of boring Teslas and throw-away commuter cars.
If you’re looking for a smart, stylish retro sports coupe with a legendary namesake, you can’t go wrong with one of them.
$8,000 Suzuki Cappuccino
As seen with the Honda Beat, Japanese sports cars aren’t all about big power and outrageous performance figures – while we have nothing against JDM cars that are, we also have a soft spot for the diminutive Kei cars that provide pure driving pleasure, such as this Suzuki Cappuccino.
Then there’s another 660cc, 65 horsepower two-seater drop-top from automotive giants Suzuki – not normally associated with sports vehicles, but we’re delighted they tried with this one. The Cappuccino is a lot of fun right out of the box, but we’re even more pleased to discover that the modifying scene for these is quite large – owners love to alter and personalize them with creative body modifications, spectacular spoilers, and, of course, outrageous alloy wheels. You only need $8,000 to begin your JDM sports car project with a Cappuccino, which is why we adore them.
$12,000 Mazda Eunos Roadster
There can only be one monarch, and Mazda’s recipe for the original Miata was too brilliant to be beaten – it’s the same scenario with the JDM Eunos roadster, which has a few minor variations from the vehicles sold in other regions.
Aside from thinner windscreens, air conditioning, and, of course, different number plate surrounds, the main distinction is slightly altered ECU tunes. There isn’t much of a difference between a Eunos roadster and a conventional Miata, but in a community with so many examples, any little change to help your sports vehicle stand out from the crowd is beneficial.
If you know where to look, you can find both MK1 and MK2 JDM versions for sale rather frequently, and for the money, we don’t think there’s a better sports vehicle you could be buying today.
