RE: Spotted Special: JDM heroes
Wednesday 21st December 2011
The fact many of the coolest Japanese cars have never officially made it out of the so-called domestic market isn't necessarily a barrier to enjoying them. Specialist importers have long catered to this taste in Oriental exotica and, suitably inspired by the excitement around the Toyobaru GT 86/BRZ and our recent PH Heroes outing in a fantastic AE 86Corolla GT, we thought we'd have a quick browse around to see what other JDM specials are available.
No BBS wheels but otherwise goodThe inevitable Eunos...
First of all, you don't need anything like 12 grand to get into a true JDM classic. Just £1,575 is all the vendor is asking for this 1994 Mazda EunosS-Specialon eBay and it doesn't look like a borderline shed either despite the price tag. Being the S-Special you get the more pokey 130hp motor and limited-slip diff. On top of that it is taxed, MOT'd, is wearing a recent mohair hood and, best of all, the vendor is open to offers! Later wheels and clear indicator lenses aside there really isn't much to not like. Winter weather always depresses the prices of roadsters too so pounce now.
Unmolested Glanzas a rare findJDM hot hatch special
But, if you're in the market for a JDM car of relatively modest horsepower (at least, before you start with the re-mapping and winding the boost up and so on) but need a tad more practicality, then something like this Toyota Starlet Glanza from our classifieds might do the trick. This one is a fresh import, has covered just 45,000 miles, and has the benefit of not being modified that much. OK, it has aftermarket wheels and suspension, but most '98 cars have had a lot more than that done to them by now (just see some of the other 200+bhp examples on offer). Five grand may seem like a lot for a 13-year-old hatchback, but that goes to show how sought after a relatively unmolested Glanza is.
Serious money for a serious carOne for the brave
Of course, this being PH there are probably those who hanker after something with a bit more grunt than the Eunos and the Glanza, in which case you could do a lot worse than consider something like this RX-7. It appears to have hardly been messed about with at all, which is remarkable given that this is not only a 1994 car, but it's the range-topping twin-turbo RZ model as well. Welcome news - and what you'd hope for with just 24,000 miles - comes with report from a recent compression test that shows the tips on both rotors are in fine fettle. £7,495 might be a bit strong for some people for a 17-year-old RX-7 but, as with the Glanza, relatively unmolested examples are becoming increasingly rare.
Always the poster boy for JDM fanatics'A few choice mods'
Not quite so rare, but with the potential to deliver hypercar all-round performance is this NissanSkyline R32 GT-R. It's been in the country for three years and features a list of modifications, which can be bad news when the previous owner has become obsessed with horsepower at all costs. But in this case most of the mods seem to have been made more with durability and control in mind. Also of benefit is the fact that the engine has undergone a precautionary rebuild and the registered mileage is an encouraging 48,000. 11 grand is the asking price for this rather mint-looking R32 for which again there isn't much to not like. Except the steering wheel perhaps...
Hardcore Spec C Impreza suits puristsSpec C
If the Skyline's age is an issue then you might be better off with something like this SubaruImpreza STi Spec C. In terms of point-to-point performance these things are perfectly comfortable in the company of GT3s and M3 CSLs, and this one looks like a beauty. Despite being in the UK for most of its life it shows just 24,000 recorded miles, and has had zero non-standard parts fitted to it. There are more affordable Imprezas out there, but if you understand the significance of the Spec C bit then the unusual asking price of £11,749 will start to make sense.
Spotted Special: JDM heroes
How much fast'n'furious fun can you get for up to 12 grand?
At this time of year and with the current exchange rates being what they are, there's not a lot of importing going on though. One prominent JDM importer has even run its stocks down to zero and is effectively in hibernation until the New Year when demand usually picks up and, hopefully, exchange rates are more favourable. A buyer's market for what stock there is available then?
There's lots of choice too whether you prefer hatches, coupes, saloons, ragtops, flat-fours, straight-sixes, rotary engines, V8s, four- or two-wheel drive, turbo or atmospheric induction, and so on... It's a broad subject, so to try and narrow things down a bit we set a 12-grand upper limit and identified a few steps along the way to this theoretical JDM price point.
No BBS wheels but otherwise good
First of all, you don't need anything like 12 grand to get into a true JDM classic. Just £1,575 is all the vendor is asking for this 1994 Mazda EunosS-Specialon eBay and it doesn't look like a borderline shed either despite the price tag. Being the S-Special you get the more pokey 130hp motor and limited-slip diff. On top of that it is taxed, MOT'd, is wearing a recent mohair hood and, best of all, the vendor is open to offers! Later wheels and clear indicator lenses aside there really isn't much to not like. Winter weather always depresses the prices of roadsters too so pounce now.
Unmolested Glanzas a rare find
But, if you're in the market for a JDM car of relatively modest horsepower (at least, before you start with the re-mapping and winding the boost up and so on) but need a tad more practicality, then something like this Toyota Starlet Glanza from our classifieds might do the trick. This one is a fresh import, has covered just 45,000 miles, and has the benefit of not being modified that much. OK, it has aftermarket wheels and suspension, but most '98 cars have had a lot more than that done to them by now (just see some of the other 200+bhp examples on offer). Five grand may seem like a lot for a 13-year-old hatchback, but that goes to show how sought after a relatively unmolested Glanza is.
Serious money for a serious car
Of course, this being PH there are probably those who hanker after something with a bit more grunt than the Eunos and the Glanza, in which case you could do a lot worse than consider something like this RX-7. It appears to have hardly been messed about with at all, which is remarkable given that this is not only a 1994 car, but it's the range-topping twin-turbo RZ model as well. Welcome news - and what you'd hope for with just 24,000 miles - comes with report from a recent compression test that shows the tips on both rotors are in fine fettle. £7,495 might be a bit strong for some people for a 17-year-old RX-7 but, as with the Glanza, relatively unmolested examples are becoming increasingly rare.
Always the poster boy for JDM fanatics
Not quite so rare, but with the potential to deliver hypercar all-round performance is this NissanSkyline R32 GT-R. It's been in the country for three years and features a list of modifications, which can be bad news when the previous owner has become obsessed with horsepower at all costs. But in this case most of the mods seem to have been made more with durability and control in mind. Also of benefit is the fact that the engine has undergone a precautionary rebuild and the registered mileage is an encouraging 48,000. 11 grand is the asking price for this rather mint-looking R32 for which again there isn't much to not like. Except the steering wheel perhaps...
Hardcore Spec C Impreza suits purists
If the Skyline's age is an issue then you might be better off with something like this SubaruImpreza STi Spec C. In terms of point-to-point performance these things are perfectly comfortable in the company of GT3s and M3 CSLs, and this one looks like a beauty. Despite being in the UK for most of its life it shows just 24,000 recorded miles, and has had zero non-standard parts fitted to it. There are more affordable Imprezas out there, but if you understand the significance of the Spec C bit then the unusual asking price of £11,749 will start to make sense.
Discussion
Always the issue with these Japanese designed motors, the interiors are poor. Very rarely have I seen one which I've thought "that's nice...". The Mrs' Celica GT is a prime example. Good looking car, enough fun to be had, terrible interior.
Out of those I'd be torn between the R32 and the Spec C. I know it would be "modding" it but I think Imprezas look better with the full sized wing on the back.
Out of those I'd be torn between the R32 and the Spec C. I know it would be "modding" it but I think Imprezas look better with the full sized wing on the back.
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