Japanese Future Classics?
Discussion
For some reason, Japanese cars don't turn into classics. I have no idea why but I suspect that it's a numbers thing. It's counter intuitive because they have made some great cars. The MX5 Miata is now 30 years old, probably could consider it a classic from the day it was made, but even today, it's not an 'appreciating' classic.
WakeFlakes said:
Not sure I really agree. Mx5 sure, I get that. But NSXs, Supras, RX7s have gone up quite steeply which are already proving to be appreciating classics.
Yes the final generation of the RX7 and Supra (not the the latest) have gone up as well as the early Z cars. There will always be outliers . The Japanese made a lot of other sporty cars to compete with the XR's GTI's , Capri's etc that seem to have faded away into obscurity, They might be more highly regarded outside Europe and the USA which both had a big domestic market with lots of racing pedigree.As much as I love the 300ZX I just can't see it becoming a classic, it's not got the cache the others have so it falls into a no-mans land like for example a CRX, a cracking car but the only way the prices have gone up is lack of supply.
Only the right Type-R's will rise imo, I don't think the current Civic will but then DC2's, EK9's and FN2's are already going up.
I don't mind means there's more for those that do appreciate quality cars
Only the right Type-R's will rise imo, I don't think the current Civic will but then DC2's, EK9's and FN2's are already going up.
I don't mind means there's more for those that do appreciate quality cars
MDMA . said:
Any performance model the Americans didn't get that is coming up to 25 years old.
The Canadians perhaps more responsible because they can get cars 5 years sooner than the Americans hence a LOT of Skylines already in Canada waiting to be sold to Americans for $$$$$ as it's far less hassle for them than getting one from Japan Doofus said:
Japanese cars are like appliances to me. Some of them may be efficient and some perform well, but they have no soul at all.
And they simply cannot make a nice interior. I think the Japanese probably invented hard plastics.
Wow I came to post exactly this. The same reason that very few Audis will become classics... they're just soullessAnd they simply cannot make a nice interior. I think the Japanese probably invented hard plastics.
Jap cars go up in value without being called 'classic' - we should separate out increased value and the word classic really.
I was looking at 300ZXs back in 2012, I ended up getting a VX220! I could have picked up a very good 300ZXTT for around £4k-£5k now they would be I would say around the £8k-£10k mark for an equivalent quality one. But are they a classic yet, despite going up 100% in value?
I bought a Celica GT4 for £4800 in 2015 sold it on here for £9k earlier this year. Is it a classic? Stuff is generally going up in value I have found across many 90s Jap cars (good mk2 MR2s are going up) but doesn't make them a classic. Is an R34 Skyline even old enough to be defined a classic yet?
I was looking at 300ZXs back in 2012, I ended up getting a VX220! I could have picked up a very good 300ZXTT for around £4k-£5k now they would be I would say around the £8k-£10k mark for an equivalent quality one. But are they a classic yet, despite going up 100% in value?
I bought a Celica GT4 for £4800 in 2015 sold it on here for £9k earlier this year. Is it a classic? Stuff is generally going up in value I have found across many 90s Jap cars (good mk2 MR2s are going up) but doesn't make them a classic. Is an R34 Skyline even old enough to be defined a classic yet?
Doofus said:
Japanese cars are like appliances to me. Some of them may be efficient and some perform well, but they have no soul at all.
And they simply cannot make a nice interior. I think the Japanese probably invented hard plastics.
Il agree that some of the interiors are a bit dubious but I can accept a slightly less posh dash whilst I'm sat on a Recaro seat using a Momo steering wheel & I don't buy any of this no soul rubbish. And they simply cannot make a nice interior. I think the Japanese probably invented hard plastics.
Japanese cars don't ever seem to become 'classics' as such, but rater seem to shoot up in value astronomically.
The greats of japanese cars will likely always be the Supra, Skylines, RX7s etc. due to their following and popularity.
Other cars I can see being worth a bit of coin in the future are Evos (the Tommi Mak ones seem to be already appreciating significantly).
The greats of japanese cars will likely always be the Supra, Skylines, RX7s etc. due to their following and popularity.
Other cars I can see being worth a bit of coin in the future are Evos (the Tommi Mak ones seem to be already appreciating significantly).
TommoAE86 said:
As much as I love the 300ZX I just can't see it becoming a classic, it's not got the cache the others have so it falls into a no-mans land like for example a CRX, a cracking car but the only way the prices have gone up is lack of supply.
Only the right Type-R's will rise imo, I don't think the current Civic will but then DC2's, EK9's and FN2's are already going up.
I don't mind means there's more for those that do appreciate quality cars
No luck for the EP3 or DC5 yet, surprised the integra isnt going up. The civics will soon be on the rise, the premier editions at least. The numbers on the road are dwindling; there seems to be more people breaking EP's than ever before.Only the right Type-R's will rise imo, I don't think the current Civic will but then DC2's, EK9's and FN2's are already going up.
I don't mind means there's more for those that do appreciate quality cars
Doofus said:
Japanese cars are like appliances to me. Some of them may be efficient and some perform well, but they have no soul at all.
And they simply cannot make a nice interior. I think the Japanese probably invented hard plastics.
Here's the interior from a VW Golf mkV, it's basically the same as my 25yr old Skyline - a wheelie bin with holes cut out for the various switches and the Golf is post 2000.And they simply cannot make a nice interior. I think the Japanese probably invented hard plastics.
I'd argue that most modern car's have no soul, anything bread and butter that I've been in has had no soul from BMW's down to Skoda's, even our Fiat, which should have soul because it's Italian doesn't because it's just there to go from A-B.
Proper Japanese cars, the performance stuff and the cars they keep for themselves, have soul to me because they are quirky and dare to try out something different, that they just work means you can enjoy it more often.
alabbasi said:
For some reason, Japanese cars don't turn into classics. I have no idea why but I suspect that it's a numbers thing. It's counter intuitive because they have made some great cars. The MX5 Miata is now 30 years old, probably could consider it a classic from the day it was made, but even today, it's not an 'appreciating' classic.
I'd say early, original Mk1 MX5s are going up in value. Ones that are untouched, low mileage with little rust are starting to dry up. Some are advertised for silly money that are listed for months and months but they seem to be slowly increasing. Agreed, not silly money like Supras etc etc, but a steady increase.turbodicky said:
No luck for the EP3 or DC5 yet, surprised the integra isnt going up. The civics will soon be on the rise, the premier editions at least. The numbers on the road are dwindling; there seems to be more people breaking EP's than ever before.
I'm not so sure. About 2-3 years ago you could get a integra type r for 4-6k, there were ones in Ireland for less.You won't see any for sale for 4-6k now, 7-10k seems the right area for a good example. Low mileage mint facelifts are fetching £15k in Japan now. A mate brought one over last year, 60km on clocks grade 4 an has people offer £5k more than he paid for it.
Likewise jdm ep3, they were down to aroumd £3k in Japan, 5-7k in the UK, these are also trading at closer to 8-9k now.
A UKDM type R is hovering around the shed territory, there are some really nasty ones out there and as you say about a dozen people in the uk who are breaking only Ep3s, one guy claims he does half a dozen a week!!!!!
As you say a well looked after late Premier, 30th anniversary or pre face lift in Milan red will be the most desired (I maybe bias regarding colour)
Doofus said:
Japanese cars are like appliances to me. Some of them may be efficient and some perform well, but they have no soul at all.
And they simply cannot make a nice interior. I think the Japanese probably invented hard plastics.
You've not driven a manual NSX then - once the V-tec kicks in around 4k the induction roar is mightily addictive And they simply cannot make a nice interior. I think the Japanese probably invented hard plastics.
Almost anything with a significant role in intiial D and the early grand turismo games.
To be fair most Jap performance cars are enjoying a rise in values as they tend to last long enough to survive the bottom of the market better than many other old performance cars unless rust gets them.
To be fair most Jap performance cars are enjoying a rise in values as they tend to last long enough to survive the bottom of the market better than many other old performance cars unless rust gets them.
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