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The rise in popularity of Japanese culture has seen JDM cars hit new appreciation heights in the last few years. Unfortunately for enthusiasts looking to own a car like that for themselves, this has caused the prices of these cars to skyrocket.
Some JDM cars now sit in price ranges outside what anyone but collectors can afford, a sad state of affairs when many could be bought so cheaply 10 to 15 years ago. There are some, however, that seem to have avoided this trend so far, making them perfect for any JDM enthusiast working on a smaller budget or someone who wants to dip their toes into the expensive Japanese automotive world.
This article outlines some of the great JDM cars still available in 2023 for reasonably cheap prices. Some cars mentioned here, however, are on the rise, so be sure to act fast before it’s too late.
10 Autozam AZ-1 – $27,000
The Autozam AZ-1 has to be one of the coolest Japanese Kei cars ever made. From the photo above, the car itself may not seem that small looking: just the size of your average sports car, but the actual height of the AZ-1 stands at just 45.3 inches tall, you start to realize how small we’re talking about.
The AZ-1 is a very small sports car designed and built by Mazda, despite the earliest concepts actually being made by Suzuki, who would go on to make the Cappuccino instead. The car houses a 657 cc turbocharged engine used by the Suzuki Alto which puts out a monstrous 63 hp. But the AZ-1 is much cooler than it is fast, with gullwing doors, hood scoop, and a tiny rear spoiler. The AZ-1’s price is on the up, but you can find one needing importing for around $27,000, a lot for something so little, but the Autozam is the definition of small but mighty.
9 Subaru Impreza WRX STI (First Generation) – $22,000
It may surprise you to learn that despite being one of the best generations of Imprezas, the first-generation Subaru Impreza WRX STI still usually sits at a pretty reasonable price. So although Subaru doesn’t have the best reputation for reliability among its Japanese counterparts, if you can find a well-looked-after one you’re bound to strike gold.
In Subaru language, WRX stands for “World Rally eXperimental” and STI for “Subaru Tecnica International”, what this translates to is a rally-tuned, all-wheel-drive, 4-cylinder turbocharged, high-performance machine. Although power outputs changed throughout the first generation, the ideology of bringing the feistiness of a rally car to the streets of Japan was the same. The first STI also kick-started a battle with the Mitsubishi Lancer Evo that would last two decades, making it an incredibly iconic JDM car. Somehow, you can still pick one of them up for around $22,000, the STI is one of the coolest on the list, so if you buy any, please let it be this one.
8 Toyota MR2 GT-S (SW20) – $20,000
The SW20 is one of the sleekest designs of any JDM car ever made, it is pretty much exactly what you’d picture when thinking of a sports car. Surprisingly, the Toyota MR2 GT-S still sits at a pretty reasonable price despite this, making now the perfect time to pounce.
Because the MR2 was also made for the US, less attention has been given to the JDM variants over the years, which is a shame, because the GT-S is one of the best MR2s ever made. Powered by the turbocharged 2.0-liter 3S-GTE, the GT-S was good for making 218 hp, which makes it pretty rapid for such a small car. Prices of the GT-S actually sometimes sit under those of its US counterparts, with many hovering around the $20,000 mark.
7 Mazda Eunos Roadster (First Generation) – $15,000
The first generation Eunos roadster is the epitome of small JDM sports cars: pop-up headlights, small but powerful engine, and a great handling setup. Despite this, the Roadster is one of the cheapest JDM sports cars you can buy today, probably due like the MR2 to having a US counterpart.
Originally containing a nippy 120-hp 1.6-liter engine and being capable of 60 mph in about 9 seconds, the Roadster was a well-balanced machine, and one capable of some fairly impressive track and autocross times. The Eunos Roadster was massively popular in Japan upon release and was and built and sold in pretty high numbers, meaning that prices haven’t skyrocketed like some other JDM classics, and still sit around the $15,000 mark.
6 Nissan Stagea RSFour – $22,000
The Stagea RSFour is exactly what happens when you cross a Nissan Skyline R34 with a Volvo estate, chaos, but good chaos. Although styled very similarly to that of the R34, underneath the car was equipped mainly with goodies from the previous R33.
The RSFour is one of the higher-end performance models and is capable of going toe to toe with other estates. Powered by the legendary 2.5-liter RB25DET turbo I6, the RSFour puts out 232 hp, there is a more powerful model, the Stagea RSFour V, but they are much rarer and more expensive. The Stagea RSFour sits at around the $22,000 mark, making a perfect base for a cheaper Skyline-inspired build.
5 Nissan Skyline GTS R33 – $22,500
On the topic of cheaper alternatives to GTRs, there are not many currently better prices than the Nissan Skyline GTS R33. While it may not have the power of some of the others on this list, the looks cannot be ignored, making it a perfect starting point for any JDM tuner builds.
The GTS is actually the lowest model out of all the GTS specs, but with the price of any R33 hurtling towards the stratosphere in recent years, the GTS is your best cheap bet at owning that JDM goodness. Powered by the 2.0-liter RB20E SOHC I6, the GTS doesn’t have the most power, with only 128 hp being sent to the rear wheels. Its power deficit is reflected in the price, however, as the GTS currently costs around $22,500, making it a great base for a mighty build project.
4 Nissan Fairlady Z Twin Turbo – $20,000
Known as just the 300ZX in North America, the Fairlady was one of the best-selling and most-loved sports cars of the early 90s, and things were no different in Japan. The Fairlady Z Twin Turbo is still a fantastic sports car despite its creeping age, and with one of the lowest prices on the list, it’s worth every penny.
Featuring its remarkable 3.0-liter VG30DETT twin-turbo V6, the Fairlady Z was good for pushing out 279 hp and capable of 0-60 in just 5.9 seconds. Being sold so widely in both the West and East, the Fairlady Z has seen a drop in price over the years unlike most of its competitors, and currently sits around the $20,000 mark. So if looking for something performance focussed but still with that 90s JDM edge, the Fairlady Z is your best bet.
3 Honda Integra Type R – $25,000
It seems, with all the great JDM cars of the 90s, the Honda Integra Type R is sometimes undersold as a great alternative to people who don’t want to fork out nearly 6 figures for a Supra or Skyline, and with how much you get for a much smaller price, it’s an easy decision for many.
Apart from looking much cooler compared to the USDM version, the JDM Integra R boasted superior performance, generating 197 hp from its naturally-aspirated Inline 4-cylinder engine. The Integra R also had its block made from aluminum, making it almost entirely rust-free, and an incredibly reliable JDM car compared to some. The Type R model currently sits at prices around $25,000, making it one of the cheaper Type Rs on the market today, and one of the best.
2 Toyota Altezza RS200 – $10,000
While at first glance, the RS200 might look a lot like the IS200 of the west, but the RS200 has a lot more to it than that, besides the obvious badging difference. One is one of the things we love about the JDM RS200: it’s gorgeous-looking aero kit.
The Altezza RS200’s engine, a naturally aspirated 207-hp Inline 4-cylinder, is also completely different from its US counterpart, which when combined with the car’s looks, makes it perfect for a tuner JDM build. This does mean that finding a stock one can sometimes be hard, but prices for them still sit around the $10,000 mark, making it easily the cheapest on this list.
1 Toyota Celsior Type C – $17,000
The Toyota Celsior Type C often gets overlooked in favor of its twin brother, the Lexus LS 400, which is a shame because the Celsior is nearly identical to its American counterpart in terms of being a reliable classic car.
The car features the same 4.0-liter, 280 horsepower, 1UZ-FE V8 engine, along with a perfectly smooth ride and stunning interior. The only notable differences between the two models are the obvious badging, which makes the prices of the Celsior Type C so strange, for around just $17,000 you can get nearly as much luxury and reliability as a Mercedes-Benz or Cadillac, all rolled up into one JDM package.
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