Why do Japanese cars get watered down for the uk?

[Tim34]

And what exactly is the profile for a 'UK' driver?

I've driven a few different JDM cars and their UK equivalents and also read and talked a lot to people who drive these things and it is quite clear the JDM cars are watered right down for the uk market....

I mean if you look at hondas and subaru the JDM equivalents are so much better than the uk cars. They are sharper, lighter, more aggressively 'diffed', slightly lower gear ratios (ok I get this one with the 112 limit), faster.... The list honestly goes on and on.

Got me thinking - what is the profile of a UK driver - they obviously think we prefer understeer to oversteer, that much is apparent from the dif differences and roll bars. We need to do 170 so they are long geared, we don't like tin foil for body work so all the lightweight panels go for steel etc etc what else do we like?

What are other countries profiles? Who likes torque and who likes to have the ashtray just in the right place?

Well all I can say is grey imports rock and the Japanese have always got it right IMO, bikes too they know what they are doing, apart from they ain't got us Sussed right!!!!

[LukeSi]

Less safety regulations in Japan I believe, and emissions aren't as strict either.

[Sam1990]

LukeSi said:

Less safety regulations in Japan I believe, and emissions aren't as strict either.

Not only that, you often find that JDM cars are better specced in terms of features and trim options. Seems the Japanese like to keep the goodies for themselves. My next car will probably be from the JDM market purely for the fact that the bodywork is often in better condition i.e no rust.

[Mastodon2]

Sam1990 said:

Not only that, you often find that JDM cars are better specced in terms of features and trim options. Seems the Japanese like to keep the goodies for themselves. My next car will probably be from the JDM market purely for the fact that the bodywork is often in better condition i.e no rust.

The bodywork is in better condition because of the mild climate over most of Japan. If you happen to get a car from that has been owned by someone living in a coastal village there will still be a salty atmosphere that can wreck bodywork. Also, as they don't underseal their cars there, you will need to underseal it when it comes to the UK or it will quickly rot. This is the big clincher, getting a good seal on and maintaining it. Cheaping out or skimping here will rust the car like any other.

As for the JDM cars being better, probably a case of sending the cheaper models with higher profit margins overseas. It's the same with a lot of things, another example involving Japan is guitars. You look at the new catalogues from the Japanese guitar manufacturers and think "wow", then you see their home market catalogue and just think "Well, this makes the exports look a bit less exciting!".

[Porkie]

Sam1990 said:

Not only that, you often find that JDM cars are better specced in terms of features and trim options. Seems the Japanese like to keep the goodies for themselves. My next car will probably be from the JDM market purely for the fact that the bodywork is often in better condition i.e no rust.

On the outside maybe... but the lack of undersealing means they are LOADS of imported JDM cars that are beautiful on the outside and absolutely rotten underneath. Evos and Skylines in particular

[Herman Toothrot]

Mastodon2 said:

Also, as they don't underseal their cars there, you will need to underseal it when it comes to the UK

That, 'may' possibly be true for some but its certainly Internet repeated crap when it comes to Mazdas and Toyotas. The cars are undersealled just the same regardless of Market. You can guantee Mazdas in particular will be in far better condition than Uk cars. Go to any Mx5 meet and you'll see recently imported mk1's at 20+ years old rust free looking mint when the uk cars are rusty sheds.

[fareaster]

Not true for bikes though, in Japan there is quite a market for re-imported Japanese export spec. superbikes. Something to do with a 100 bhp "gentlemans" agreement" power limit for the domestic market. If I remember correctly there also is (was) a similar "agreement" for cars of 300bhp or similar.

[marcosgt]

Herman Toothrot said:

Mastodon2 said:

Also, as they don't underseal their cars there, you will need to underseal it when it comes to the UK

That, 'may' possibly be true for some but its certainly Internet repeated crap when it comes to Mazdas and Toyotas. The cars are undersealled just the same regardless of Market. You can guantee Mazdas in particular will be in far better condition than Uk cars. Go to any Mx5 meet and you'll see recently imported mk1's at 20+ years old rust free looking mint when the uk cars are rusty sheds.

But surely all that proves is that the climate (and possibly lack of salting of roads) in Japan is kinder to the cars than the UK...?

M

[fareaster]

marcosgt said:

But surely all that proves is that the climate in Japan is kinder to the cars...

M

It´s not the climate, not that much different to the UK ( hotter summers) but the lack of salt used on the roads.
When I lived there I used a strech of elevated motorway to and from work everyday. When it snowed it was closed immediately (& caused chaos..). Reason being that, being elevated, it iced up very quickly and they would not use salt for fear of damaging the steel structure.
I know, I´m way off topic....

[vrooom]

You get lucky coin taped behind dashboard too, or under the seat.

[bigdods]

vrooom said:

You get lucky coin taped behind dashboard too, or under the seat.

Indeed you do. I got in touch with the owner of my old MX5 through PH ( I had it when it was new in 95) and he posted a pic of a coin he found behind the dash when he took it out.

Oh and old MX5's are a perfect example of UK spec. Japan I believe they all had electric windows, aircon and PAS. My UK spec 95 model had none of these.

[marcosgt]

bigdods said:

Oh and old MX5's are a perfect example of UK spec. Japan I believe they all had electric windows, aircon and PAS. My UK spec 95 model had none of these.

But why would you need any of those on an MX5?

M

[LocoCoco]

marcosgt said:

But why would you need any of those on an MX5?

M

Why would you need them in any car? I don't remember him saying he needed them.

[marcosgt]

LocoCoco said:

marcosgt said:

But why would you need any of those on an MX5?

M

Why would you need them in any car? I don't remember him saying he needed them.

"Watered Down" isn't usually used as praise...

M

[kambites]

LukeSi said:

Less safety regulations in Japan I believe, and emissions aren't as strict either.

I thought their emissions regulations were stricter?

[excel monkey]

bigdods said:

Indeed you do. I got in touch with the owner of my old MX5 through PH ( I had it when it was new in 95) and he posted a pic of a coin he found behind the dash when he took it out.

Oh and old MX5's are a perfect example of UK spec. Japan I believe they all had electric windows, aircon and PAS. My UK spec 95 model had none of these.

But at least you got proper underbody rust protection, no ghey speed limiter, and a rear foglight

[bicycleshorts]

Both my current cars are notorious for this.

My personal theory. Firstly, I don't know much of Japanese culture, so someone may be able to input there. What I know of British car culture is we are badge obsessed. The MX5 in Japan was called 'Eunos Roadster' regardless of what spec it had. I imagine the UK dealers knew this, knew they could charge more, and that's why we have the likes of Mazda MX5 1.8iS, Subaru Impreza Turbo 2000, Vauxhall Astra Life, Ford KA Style etc.

Most UK buyers wouldn't care if a MX5 had a LSD, most probably wouldn't tick the option box even if it was offered (unless it was part of a 'top spec' e.g. performance pack).

marcosgt said:

But surely all that proves is that the climate (and possibly lack of salting of roads) in Japan is kinder to the cars than the UK...?

I have been told (happy to be corrected) that Japan don't salt their roads. Something we love doing in the UK 4 months of the year.


ETA: I've also noticed a lot of chat about the 112mph limiter, has anyone ever had a car with this on? I've been in 4 different import cars and they either didn't have it, or it has been disabled: 2xMX5, Impreza WRX and a RX7.

[Risotto]

bicycleshorts said:

ETA: I've also noticed a lot of chat about the 112mph limiter, has anyone ever had a car with this on? I've been in 4 different import cars and they either didn't have it, or it has been disabled: 2xMX5, Impreza WRX and a RX7.

On the MX-5 it was just a screw on the rear of the instrument binnacle. Remove it and you remove the limiter.

[Herman Toothrot]

marcosgt said:

But surely all that proves is that the climate (and possibly lack of salting of roads) in Japan is kinder to the cars than the UK...?

M

I have owned imported MX5's and MR2's they are factory undersealled. Japan is just as wet as the uk and probably more humid with warmer temps than the uk so even better for rust, however they don't salt the roads and that makes all the difference.

[Daston]

UK Mkiv Supra's had stronger Turbo's than their Jap counterparts and could make more boost without the risk of going pop.