JDM prices - WTF?
Discussion
I've been away from JDM cars for a little while and was thinking about buying another DC5. I bought and sold mine for about £7k, now for a similar car it's about £20k!
Nissan Silvias have more than doubled in price as well.
Is this an investment bubble, or are people paying these prices for a car to drive around in? It seems a bit niche as an investment.
My DC5 was a nice car, but £20k
Nissan Silvias have more than doubled in price as well.
Is this an investment bubble, or are people paying these prices for a car to drive around in? It seems a bit niche as an investment.
My DC5 was a nice car, but £20k
Wow you've definitely been away... £100k Skyline's, £80k Supra's and £25k Chaser's, yes prices are insane and investors are pushing up - also alot of them are hitting the 25 year rule for the USA and that's a massive market.
No one knows what prices will do in the future, could continue to go up as people buy them as ornaments when all the petrol is gone, or they could crash back down as people realise that paying £25k for a 4-door saloon is stupid as they're great, just not £25k great
No one knows what prices will do in the future, could continue to go up as people buy them as ornaments when all the petrol is gone, or they could crash back down as people realise that paying £25k for a 4-door saloon is stupid as they're great, just not £25k great
I don't think it's solely an investment bubble yet.
There's an expanding market of 'genuine' buyers, with people who grew up seeing JDM cars in videogames, TF&TF etc now in a position to achieve their dream, as well as US buyers joining the market (25 year rule so up to 1996 currently).
There are also some people with a small collection of JDM cars - maybe they'll have a Supra and a Skyline and an RX-7, for instance.
Daily use is probably decreasing as the cars age, but they still come out for shows, meetups, trackdays etc, encouraged by the generally increased interest / fashionability.
So I do see a genuine interest/demand behind the rises. There is also an element of bubble, with the way prices have risen it tends to encourage people to believe they'll go on rising, so buyers are keen to buy now for fear of 'missing the boat', and sellers keen to promote the idea they're selling an investment.
I wouldn't bet on prices falling substantially, as many of the prime target market are some way off peak disposable income still, and in some ways the cars become more special as the gap to the new cars of today increases. A lot of great cars were underpriced a decade ago, I can't see a return to the £10k BNR32 or JZA80, for example.
At the same time, I agree prices are getting to the point that a nice Porsche or Ferrari looks like a cheap alternative. I'm not betting they'll keep rising, and some of the less exciting cars could drop back if the JDM fashion cools.
But bottom line, if you want a DC5 then I wouldn't expect they'll be back to £7k anytime soon, so maybe look at something else at this point if you don't find them worth the current asking prices.
Buying a DC5 is not exactly a massive gamble, average seems to be about £14k, I paid that in 2007.
Demand for 'JDM' cars has been steadily increasing for a long time, supply has been going the other way.
IMO they are still relatively cheap compared to fast fords and the like. My Evo 5 is probably half the price of a Cossie.
With the switch to electric the next decade could be the last time we get to enjoy these kinds of cars.
Right now could be the best time to buy one.
Demand for 'JDM' cars has been steadily increasing for a long time, supply has been going the other way.
IMO they are still relatively cheap compared to fast fords and the like. My Evo 5 is probably half the price of a Cossie.
With the switch to electric the next decade could be the last time we get to enjoy these kinds of cars.
Right now could be the best time to buy one.
I bought a DC5 earlier in the year through an imported for around £12k. £20k is just dealers inflating prices; while they have increased in the last year they're generally around £14k now. Prices for other JDM cars have exploded, mainly because of US interest and reduced numbers of good examples left in Japan.
I can't see prices coming down any time soon unfortunately.
I can't see prices coming down any time soon unfortunately.
Basically what has happened is all those old todgers with money who lusted after Ford Escort Mexico's have now been replaced by the Gran Turismo Generation. Most are getting to their 40's and want to relive those years.
I am no where near the top end but I paid 3K for my GT-Four in 2012. Ones in my condition are going for 20K.
I am no where near the top end but I paid 3K for my GT-Four in 2012. Ones in my condition are going for 20K.
I'm very wary of advertised prices for JDM cars.
A few years back I had an R33 GTR, a completely standard example in decent condition - advertised prices at the time were £20-25k but I could hardly give the thing away! Sold it for £15k
Recently had a RX7 FD 99, near perfect condition, advertised prices were £25-£30k, I really struggled to get £21k after listing for a very long time.
So although prices look quite mad at the moment I do wonder what the actual sale prices are.
A few years back I had an R33 GTR, a completely standard example in decent condition - advertised prices at the time were £20-25k but I could hardly give the thing away! Sold it for £15k
Recently had a RX7 FD 99, near perfect condition, advertised prices were £25-£30k, I really struggled to get £21k after listing for a very long time.
So although prices look quite mad at the moment I do wonder what the actual sale prices are.
Prices will continue to increase cars are almost seen as an investment similar to a house currently. Most classic have continually increased in price over the last 7/8 years. Cheap interesting cars are a thing of the past, a good thing to as it keeps the chavs out of them and increases values.
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