- Why buy a large popcorn and a medium soda
when you can get the combo number one
at the AMC for just like 50 cents more
than if you bought them separately?
I would call that a value add, okay?
And what about with the shoe companies
that give you like a buy one get one 50% off
or like those pants companies, dummies.
Because they just actually raised the initial shoe prices
which is you actually save about like negative 6 cents
which is not a value add.
Okay in the car community, that exists too.
Car parts are platforms that are a great value,
whereas others aren't really so much, okay?
And the biggest segment where people seem to find themselves
in like a Tony stark versus captain America style turmoil,
is none other than the 1990s JDM car arena
and every car that came out of that era.
I'm Alex, AlexFi on Instagram
and today we're going to be talking
about if the cars from the nineties,
specifically JDM cars that couldn't be
picked up here in the states, are worth the price tag.
(upbeat urban music playing)
Welcome to Fitment Industries
where we specialize in wheels, tires, and suspension
for your newly acquired JDM car or otherwise.
And if we hurt your feelings, we are very, very sorry.
We did this because it was actually a massive pain
in the ass to figure out what wheels fit your car.
I remember because I made some bunk ass fitment
on my 2000 GT SL that I had when I was like 17 years old.
So if you are looking,
be sure to hit us up over at fitmentindustries.com.
And if you've got a cool car,
add it to our old big old gallery,
big old donka donk gallery,
which has like a bajillion cars
with after market modifications.
So you actually see what others things fit your car
and what they look like.
Plus you get a shout out on Instagram.
And don't forget before we even get started,
drop a comment on what your favorite JDM legend is below
and why it's your favorite.
Okay, if you say R34
I'm gonna needs reason why, okay?
I'm gonna be reading them to see if you're out of your mind,
or if there's one out there
that I haven't even heard of yet.
It's the morning and English is hard.
Looking at the basics,
when we're talking about JDM cars in this video,
we mean cars that for any purpose was produced
for the Japanese domestic market, okay?
Not just any Japanese produced vehicles.
Now see there's lots of Japanese cars
that were produced across the world
that technically wouldn't qualify for the JDM tag.
And this is where things have a tendency
to get a little bit confusing, okay?
Nor would a Japanese vehicle being manufactured in Japan,
make it just a JDM vehicle.
Just because it was produced there,
doesn't make it a JDM vehicle either.
Even famous vehicles like the Mark 4 Super
produced for the Japanese domestic market
with their version being different than the USDM version,
that would count where you have to be careful
on which Super you call JDM and which one is actually USDM
because that matters.
When the vehicle is designed to be sold in the U.S market,
it's not JDM.
It's USDM or other.
Now a lot of times they will just say JDM
because it makes it easier for us,
but I'm just laying the ground rules.
All right, like monopoly,
before you get mad at me for papillon hotels.
So for this, we're looking at cars
that were never sold new outside of Japan.
All JDM cars are Japanese
but having a Japanese car doesn't automatically make it JDM.
As long as that's clear as mud,
we should be good to go
and we can roll into the next segment.
You can say goodbye to a lot of the cars
that we're thinking as JDM,
because that's just usually what we do.
(Alex hums)
I'm not singing Fast and Furious 9.
JDM cars will span from compact cars,
key cars, midsize sports cars, or even luxury cars.
There's really nothing specific when we start looking at
JDM focused cars.
So whether you're looking at a Nissan R32
or A Toyota Century,
you're looking at a JDM car.
And they have quite a bit of love.
Go out on Tiktok and you'll see that BMWs and Audis
barely get the viral love.
Whereas a Sylvia makes people
that don't know what a Sylvia is
swoon and punch a bunch of emoji's, emoji's,
that make me feel a little bit uncomfortable.
I just don't like the one
that's the water, it's like the squirt.
It's just really weird, okay?
And I don't know what to do with that emoji like ever.
Are they actually worth the price, okay?
And that's the biggest thing because holy (beep) son,
these things are not cheap.
From a price perspective,
Most JDM exclusive cars
that are now getting imported are getting pretty expensive.
Okay, for instance, when the R32 GTR
was originally available for import,
you can actually pick one up typical silver or gray,
typical mileage, typical everything,
clean title for right around $23,000.
Nowadays those cars are cresting $35,000
for probably a worst car.
And that's a chunk of change.
And sure you get a twin turbo all wheel drive.
JDM legend, okay?
But it's used, it probably has some rusts
in the inner fender liners and below the rear window.
Not to mention the jack points that are just twisted
and causing additional rust issues
because that's just a typical thing that happen on R32s.
It is a 2.6 liter with the strength
to handle as much power as an R8
if you throw a wallet at the engine.
But, it does beg the question on
if that car is actually worth that price?
Or if the perceived value of the car
is actually worth that price?
Price on commonly known JDM cars continue to rise
and will likely follow the same appreciation
that our favorite German air cooled cars,
AKA Porsche have gone through.
And people still argue that 996, or 993s and 964s
aren't worth it.
However, there are still some diamonds out there
that don't cost the same as a brand new Subaru WRX.
Nissan Glorias from top rank importers is like $10,000.
You can get a Suzuki Cappuccino for right around $12,000.
Even if you go funky and want to buy a Honda Beat,
that's gonna be around $7,000.
Not everything is a $50,000 twin turbo Godzilla.
So for price, are they worth it?
I guess we'd say yes.
As long as you know that the $50,000 cars
will still need about $20,000 in modifications,
and the $10,000 cars will make you smile like a Mazda Miata
except make you feel just a little bit more special
because nobody else has them out there.
A '90s JDM car may not be for you though
if you're just looking at like base horsepower.
Which kind of goes into the second thing.
From a horsepower perspective,
or just a power plant perspective,
there's some pretty impressive things out there
that came from the '90s JDM wave
mostly because of the Japanese economic bubble
that fueled a lot of the cars
that we now come to know and love.
But, the power will come from an onslaught of modifications,
not necessarily from the standard power plant.
I don't want to make RB owners mad
and that's not what I'm trying to do.
But you don't keep them stocked.
Brands like HKS, GReddy, Tein, Enkei and more,
will become names that you become accustomed to
because you have to.
Along with with the occasional swear word
as you swap turbos, inter coolers,
and add gauges for every possible pillar
to monitor your AFR and everything else under the sun.
Because as you go to modify,
you quickly learn that it is actually
a little bit more tough than just slapping
a couple of gauges on there and (indistinct) are good.
Typically, the more you'll pay
for a JDM car from the nineties,
the more common that this will happen.
If you go period correct, ballsy.
Buying a noosh?
Proud of you. Expensive.
And while certain motors can take the power,
no one should assume that they won't break
because when they do,
it will be a little bit more expensive than a US comparable.
And that's just a heads up.
Sure, can you buy it from overseas?
Yes.
Can you go through E-bay from Japan?
Yes.
Can you do all that?
Yeah, but it is going to be a little bit more.
It's gonna take a little bit longer.
It's a little bit more impatient.
The next question is
are you looking for turbo power or just power?
There's lots of power plants state side
that can provide similar or higher numbers
if you do have a budget.
LSs do rule the world in this regard
and it might be worth taking a look into.
I know, people don't like comparing.
But if you don't actually care
about the platform, go LS.
But the RB 26 is an icon.
And why so many people still pick up this car
at 35 to $40,000 versus like the 20 to 23.
So is a JDM car worth it for base power needs?
I would probably say no.
Okay, their success lies in modifications
especially with their age.
Which this sounds pretty simple,
but we do have people that will believe
a stock R33 will destroy all things on the streets of Texas,
and we just want to say that that's not really possible
and I'm sorry to break the news to you.
But no, box body Mustang though?
She'll rip your heart out.
What about looks?
Outside of a few JDM cars,
some true JDM cars are a little bit funky looking, okay?
The Honda Beat looks like the wish app version
of the Plymouth Prowler
which is actually I think pretty cool.
The Autozam AZ-1 was a perfect Kei car,
but it was still looking like
just a really big hot wheels
with a lot of fancy angry edges.
What about the Nissan Pao?
The Nissan Pao, Pao.
Such a good, just like a good name.
Pao, that thing actually slaps.
When we take a look at the '90s cars,
we often think of the super sleek modified cars.
Once again, it's stick to the badge that has
the name of Nissan on it or Mazda.
But there's so many others out there
that may hit a special place in your heart.
And this is where I think JDM cars truly,
specifically JDM cars, really begin to shine
and why a lot of people really should pick one up
if they are interested specifically in the kei market.
Okay? Kei segment.
These are some incredibly cool looking cars
that definitely beat out some of the USDM cars
from those same years.
Fancy tech, lots of protruding body fenders,
pop-up headlights, okay?
And efficiencies building small cars that have
maximum potential is something that JDM manufacturers
really were getting locked down in the '90s.
And I think this was one of the primary reasons,
truly one of the primary reasons
that if you're looking for looks,
being the reason that you'd want to pick up a JDM car,
it would 100% be worth it.
And it's okay to pick up a car because it looks good
and absolutely has no other means to it.
Because guess what?
Some people like that.
There is something about a certain generation
of a clean seven on Enkei wheels,
clean paint, Toyo tires,
and some Tein coil overs rolling under the city lights
on a quiet Friday night.
And it's just special.
It's like just great.
Wheels, tires, suspension, fitmentindustries.com.
And those looks are pretty heavily built
into why people love JDM cars so much.
They just are something that we aren't
or weren't allowed to have here in the states.
And usually when it comes down to us
not getting things that we want,
us as Americans have a tendency to want it anyway
and even more.
And we'll do anything it takes to get it back.
It's just kind of how it works, okay?
But us wanting it is what makes it so much fun.
And that perceived value is worth whoever is buying the car,
what it wants to be, okay?
There's a pretty large group of people
that question the value of these cars.
The capabilities and the hype of JDM cars
specifically from the '90s.
And after all, they do have a little bit of a point.
They weren't perfect by any means.
Most were very heavy.
They were over technologically fied, which is not a word.
They have typical crummy interiors.
They're really not that great
and spend more time on jack stands than you think.
But there's a reason why JDM cars
will almost always be worth it.
And that's if you value the legacy
of what some of these cars did or stood for at the time.
And for some of us,
they were the cars that were on our walls
as a poster as a kid.
For others, it was the cars in the first
Fast and Furious film that got us hooked to the idea
that there was more than just
a domestic car culture out there in the world.
For others, it was the racing legacy
that they left behind in group rally racing
or old VHS underground racing videos from Option magazine.
The same reason you get nostalgic on the hours
grinding on rune scape or tower power in Halo 2,
is the reason that people will spend $50,000
on a 30 year old JDM car.
Because of what it stood for when the car was made
or what it meant to them at the time.
And for that, it's pretty sick.
And I think that that's a pretty good reason to pick one up.
But what do you guys think?
Let us know in the comment section below.
And if you're looking for aftermarket
wheels, tires or suspension,
be sure to hit us up over at fitmentindustries.com.
And of course, if you have a JDM car or otherwise,
don't forget to add it to our gallery
at fitmentindustries.com/add.
I'm Alex, from Fitment Industries.
And we will see you later.
Peace.
(upbeat modern urban music playing)