Rad Jdm Z

[JessZ]

[RB26powered74zcar]

Very nice, but a re-post ....

[Challenger]

Just wondering whats so cool about JDM? I can see someone importing a japanese part if its better then the US equivelant but whats so great about something being JDM when it is just as good as the same domestic part?

[jeffer949]

did you not see that twin cam l-series head????

[Challenger]

Yeah I saw that and that is very very cool! I meant in general not this particular Z.

[capt_furious]

There is no advantage other than bragging rights.

 

 

A lot of it has to do more with people being obsessed with the culture more than the car. To some, it's nothing more than a machine, to others, it's a lifestyle, and others still find a happy medium.

 

I painted my car in '60s Le Mans Japanese national colors, but just because it looked good and was appropriate for the car and its heritage...others might do it because they're 'japanophiles'.

 

I suppose I'm stating the obvious, but sometimes it might actually need explanation.

 

And to answer the unspoken question, no, the Japanese domestic market didn't get higher quality stuff than overseas markets. The Japanese work ethic and sense of honor would never allow such things. Some particular models / trim levels / many aftermarket parts never made it here because of marketability, but not because of spite or simply a want to keep the good stuff in Japan. Some things just wouldn't have sold here to the extent that it would have been profitable.

[JessZ]

I guess it's not really a big deal, and a repost!!! Doh!!! But it simply has to be said that a rad Z like that in it's original environment is worth a few ohh's and ahh's; especially the way it spanked the Porsche is the video. It's just a rad show that's all.

[Austin240Z]

Yeah I saw that and that is very very cool! I meant in general not this particular Z.

I used to own an AE86, or for you non-JDM people... a 84-87 Toyota Corolla. If one of your parts is JDM, is cool, just like how neon lights were cool when the original Fast and the Furious came out. Half of the "JDM" stuff really isnt even from Japan anyway, most companies and ebay sellers wised up a while back and started labeling crap as "JDM" so they could sell it for more money.

 

For example. On my AE86, one of the center pieces under the dash holds the ashtray, a hole where the cigarette lighter is mounted on the left side, and an identical hole with a cover on the right side. I removed the cover on the right, and the cigarette lighter on the left and swapped them... so now the cigarette lighter is on the right and the cover is on the left. Now it's "JDM" because the cigarette lighter is on the right side.... I could have put it on ebay and probably sold a $5 trim piece for close to $100 bucks because it's "JDM"

 

 

gotta love it

[HS30-H]

There is no advantage other than bragging rights.

 

What a broad and sweeping statement that is.

 

I painted my car in '60s Le Mans Japanese national colors, but just because it looked good and was appropriate for the car and its heritage...others might do it because they're 'japanophiles'.

 

'60s Le Mans Japanese national colours? No Japanese car competed at Le Mans in the 1960s. Would you like to explain?

 

And to answer the unspoken question, no, the Japanese domestic market didn't get higher quality stuff than overseas markets. The Japanese work ethic and sense of honor would never allow such things.

 

I don't know where you are picking this stuff up from, but you don't appear to be any more credible than the 'JDM fan bois' that claim those "bragging rights" you mention. What do you know about the "Japanese work ethic and sense of honor" today, let alone over the length of the nation and peoples' history?

 

Some particular models / trim levels / many aftermarket parts never made it here because of marketability, but not because of spite or simply a want to keep the good stuff in Japan. Some things just wouldn't have sold here to the extent that it would have been profitable.

 

You seem to touch on part of the truth by accident. The fact is that there is so much nonsensical babble out there in the ether that the truth ( and it is in essence very simple ) is drowned out. With regard to automobile design and manufacturing over roughly the last fifty years or so, people outside Japan have generally underestimated the needs and desires of the Japanese home market, the readiness of the Japanese auto industry to cater to these whims and the sense of competition between Japanese manufacturers to please their own home market customer base. Japanese manufacturers have always given their home market a wider choice of models, specs and price points than they have their export markets. Nobody should need to ask why the export ranges and models would be required to be simplified and made more profitable, whilst the home market could have more choice and exist on lower profit margins.

 

What is "better" is a subjective topic, but when the subject in hand is the cars that we usually talk about on this forum there is absolutely no doubt that the Japanese home market always had a wider and more extensive model range to choose from, along with more official showroom options and 'Sports Option' / competition-oriented parts to use with them. If you want to be brave ( or short-sighted ) enough to claim that ALL of that is no "better" than what the USA/Canada market had access to then go ahead - but you are going to be asked to back it up with facts at some point.

 

These are Japanese cars we are talking about here.

[jerryb]

Yup this is a cool ..."rad" .....JDM. ....240Z. I always enjoy seeing different Zs, thanks for pointing it out.

[Datsun350Z]

JDM is cool because when you need to replace a part you can get a rental car for 3 weeks while you wait for it to come in the mail!

 

Then you can brag about having to wait for your Soshinoya badge which is coming in the mail while you drive around a rental dodge caliber.

 

When It comes back from the shop It's gonna be mad JDM Tyte Yo!

[capt_furious]

Alan, I'll gladly cede the floor to your more extensive experience and knowledge with automotive history. Obviously I've got some details wrong.

 

As to the colors on my car, here's my source. 'Le Mans' is indeed incorrect. As is the fact that I purposely didn't put a hinomaru on the hood of my Z but instead a stripe that followed the hood bulge's contour.

 

...and to avoid a shitstorm, I'm going to shut up on this. I had something else typed out, but considering I've only got 80 posts and haven't been around long, I'm sitting down.