Best looking Japanese cars over the years

[FA57REN]

WonkeyDonkey said:

Unpopular to say, but to me the Japanese have made much more beautiful cars than the Germans ever have.

I agree, but Japanese cars are somehow more susceptible to being abused with unseemly modifications.

A couple more stock, third-gen Prelude:



Accord Type R, nailed the unfussy sporting saloon look that the Germans once had but lost:

Edited by FA57REN on Saturday 6th March 09:12

[CABC]

E63eeeeee... said:

is that Connery's car?
i thought production were FHC

[anonymous-user]

Living in Japan in the mid-90s, I always had a soft spot for the Soarer;



And the first thing I did when we came back to the UK is buy a 200SX, such a pretty car;

[The spinner of plates]

Aluxo said:

Your first 3, definitely.

[85Carrera]

seabod91 said:

I’m a massive JDM lover, but having owned one, “ albeit not for long “ the z32 in my eyes is such an iconic lovely looking thing.

That probably looked quite good before it was all Barried up

[AW111]

PomBstard said:

In addition to many already mentioned...

NA MX5
ND MX5
Mk1 MR2
Mk2 MR2
4th Gen (03-09) Liberty wagon
Any version RX7
Datsun Roadster
Mazda Cosmo

+1 for the Cosmo.

I actually prefer the very early mk1 MR2, with no rear spoiler or side skirts - it's quite a dainty thing. In fact I removed the rear spoiler from my mk1a - it looks better without IMO.


Honda made some pretty cars last century - I like the 90's integra.

[half.pipe]

AW111 said:

Honda made some pretty cars last century - I like the 90's integra.

Me too, the Integra looks great.

[coppice]

underwhelmist said:

More mundane than previous suggestions but I think the 5th gen Civic had great proportions.

Not at all - anybody can make a flash supercar but a making a cleanly styled and wonderfully proportioned hatchback is much harder . The current iteration of Civic shows just how hard it is ...

I love the Beat ---



And I like the look of the MX5 ND; here's mine

[Noah EV]

The RX7 is a good looking car, and the NSX too.

[vikingaero]

Perfect proportions, wheel at each corner, and even has an Evo style intercooler in the front grille (probably for the a/c).

[psi310398]

I still remember the wow feeling I had seeing the 240z in the flesh for the first time as a very young lad (on one of the stages of the East African Safari Rally) in the early to mid seventies.

Out in Kenya then, most of the non 4x4 Japanese stuff was highly unimaginative and derivative poverty spec three box design.

The 240z was a breath of fresh air. I’d still love to get one.

[Spanglepants]

Toyota Corona

[Haltamer]

I am massively biased of course; but for recent years the FK2 / FK8 do a fantastic job of going all-out Japanese styling (To the horror of most )

Looks like the design was inspired by Gundam (Definitely where the transformer comparisons come from) - And all the better for it

[glazbagun]

underwhelmist said:

More mundane than previous suggestions but I think the 5th gen Civic had great proportions.

I love the look of those, but they seem really rare compared to the 6th gen. Do they rust? Likewise I see plenty of the last Prelude, but very few of the beautiful 4th gen.

[NorthernSky]

And...



Things of beauty - and ability

[Om]

At the risk of this becoming a 'list of the Japanese cars I have owned' (busted), I would add:

Mk2 Honda CRX 1.6 (one of my favourite small coupe shapes):


Toyota Supra Mk3 (I really like the Mk2 as well, but never fell for the Mk4):


Toyota MR2 Mk1 (there is just something about the angular simplicity of the shape - and very obviously mid engined and of its time):


I have always loved the shape (and the relative attainabilty of the Nissan 240Z, however I would like to put forward the Nissan 370Z (biased here). I know there are quite a few who for whatever reason do not get along with its looks, but for me it is perfect. I particularly like the long bonnet short cabin look, but the one area that seals it for me is its width compared to length (weird I know). Unlike many sports cars it is relatively short, squat and wide giving it a look that you rarely see in its class. With the widened arches, its waisted look with short overhangs it is for me a great looking car:


Finally a few cars I haven't owned:

Mazda RX-7 (3rd Gen):


Subaru SVX (the forgotten car from that early 90s Japanese coupe golden age - which was so futuristic):


Honourable mention also to the Honda NSX:

[Sensibleboy]

[tinyboytim]

[quote=Om]At the risk of this becoming a 'list of the Japanese cars I have owned' (busted), I would add:

Wonderful selection :-)

[Japveesix]

FA57REN said:

RX-8

I honestly think these looks a bit ungainly and awkward nowadays. Like it couldn't decide whether it was a sportscar or not, a bit half arsed.

[Sensibleboy]

This generation of Accord looked great...