Popularity of JDM cars:
JDM cars have not always been the most popular vehicle of choice for car enthusiasts, however, their popularity has greatly increased since the late 90s and early 2000s. These cars became increasingly more popular as pop culture exposed them and when they were featured in popular movies it merely increased their demand. Movies such as The Fast and Furious and games like Gran Turismo and Need for Speed can be deemed as the catalysts for the increased popularity. Car enthusiasts took the opportunity to get their hands on these vehicles. Due to the legend of these JDM vehicles, the vast majority of the cars are now unattainable by most car enthusiasts around the globe.
Some of the well-known iconic JDM vehicles have now received a new generation of vehicles, a make-over as some would call it, and while not all of them are what we as enthusiasts wanted, they have still proved that they are worthy successors. Let’s take a look at the top trending cars:
Cars that are trending:
The Lexus LFA
- This vehicle boasts high performance with raw figures
- Praised for its technology and the driving ability which it offers.
- Its highlight is its V-10 engine, it can rev from idle to the redline in 0.6 seconds.
The Nissan GT-R:
- When this vehicle debuted in 2009 (2007 in Japan) it changed the playing field for all JDM vehicles.
- This vehicle outperformed other vehicles within its price range
- With its quick-shifting automatic it has lived up to its name, where it is able to change gears in as little as 0.15 seconds.
- An added benefit is that it has the best possible traction for all weather conditions.
The Acura NSX:
- The second generation of this car is the perfect example where a classic car was too far ahead of its time.
- It is the first mid-engine sports car to feature hybrid propulsion.
- This has become the second most collectible JDM sports car from the modern era.
The Toyota GR Supra:
- The arrival of the 5th generation Supra had a bit of a difficult start and was not easily welcomed by JDM enthusiasts, it was frowned upon that it was a re-bodied BMW Z4.
- However, this vehicle provides consistent performance and manages to punch above its weight.
- It comes in both automatic and manual.
The Lexus SC430 (Toyota Soarer):
- In Japan there is no vehicle called a Lexus, all luxury model vehicles are referred to and wear the badge of the parent company, Toyota.
- This engine is one of the best of Toyotas engines overall, where it is renowned for its performance and longevity.
Japanese cars are slowly finding their way into the hearts and of course, asset portfolios of car collectors, and their price range is beginning to reflect this. Thanks to pop culture more people have become exposed to these vehicles and what they are capable of. Pop culture and Japanese engineering have been able to ensure that the popularity of these vehicles remains worthy.
The rise in popularity can also be attributed to their scarcity and not many have been sold in markets outside of Japan, and if they are sold outside of Japan they are often very hard to come by.
Japanese cars are punchier than ever before with their stellar performance cars that offer legitimate performance and unmatched reliability. It makes sense that they are highly sought after in the used car space today, as they are dependable cars that won’t disappoint you as the years go on. These sports cars are also able to offer supercar-like performance, at half the cost. JDM cars are unforgettable which can be attributed to their high level of performance and their limited numbers.
