The golden age of Japanese cars in the U.S.

[Rob-A-Gee]

When do you think the Japanese auto makers have their golden age. I believe that there Golden age between the years of '85 and '95. Pretty much all the Japanese auto makers had a bad ass car. About '95 and '96 the golden age was coming to a close. Companies started to drop all the good cars because I believe the American public couldn't understand the awesomeness of Japanese cars. Well until it was too late.

[imotion s14]

more like people wanted SUVs, cuz that was the "cool" thing. Of course when gas hit 4bux/gallon...

[sub9lulu]

........ ok

[Matej]

2000-2004 was the golden age of Japanese car modding.

[Rob-A-Gee]

more like people wanted SUVs, cuz that was the "cool" thing. Of course when gas hit 4bux/gallon...
That didn't happen until recently though. Americans just couldn't except a Japanese car that was able to beat " good 'ol 'merican muscle!" Back then even Mazda had an AWD turbo Protege. It was just bad timing for Japanese companies. If they would have put out what they had in the late 80's and early 90's out in '99 and early 2000's, we would have some super bad ass ride out now. We would be crying to Nissan or Toyota to bring back the Silvia and Hachiroku.

[ronmcdon]

I'll take what we have today over the nineties. sure, back then we had the fd, supra tt, 300zx tt, but these cars were really much more expensive when you factor in inflation. 20-30k today gets you much, much more. japanese hi-po cars today are just as, if not faster than cars of a decade ago. plus, the r35 pretty much tops anything ever made by the major japanese manufacturers, esp for the $. For example, I know I would prefer 35k S2000 over a 90k NSX, or a WRX over a SVX.

This is not even going to some of the great deals from chevy and bmw (and maybe even vw if you like the GTi, A3, and R8).

[Agamemnon]

1990 - 1996ish. Thats when the age of the japanese twin turbo roamed the earth.

[Matej]

New cars are huge.

http://spoon-official.up.seesaa.net/image/t_t_CIMG1892.jpg

[trad1987]

holy crap, that nsx looks like one of those sweet electric cars they used to have at toys r us next to that huge car... new camero?

I think that we are in the golden age of japanese cars in america. in the the 90's the ONLY cars with a hint of sports car were the FD, supra, 300zx, 240sx, sc300 and the NSX. Now we have G35, GTR, RX8, 350z, nsx, s2k, evo, sti, wrx, is300, altima coupe, IS-F, etc. Most of which are relatively affordable

[Z33dori]

New cars are huge.

http://spoon-official.up.seesaa.net/image/t_t_CIMG1892.jpg

holy fuck.... and ppl thought the r35 was huge

[s13 @ fullboost]

^^^^ is that a car or a boat????

[mangoes]

holy shit, what a contrast

[!Zar!]

RX8/is300/altima are piles for the most part.

I'd choose a car from today over any car from the past that japan produced.

As for the pic with the nsx and the camaro. It doesn't help that the camera man isn't directly behind both, and the camaro is closer.

[BustedS13]

...next to that huge car... new camero?


As for the pic with the nsx and the camaro. It doesn't help that the camera man isn't directly behind both, and the camaro is closer.


that's a Challenger
and why is there a shark fin on the back window of the nsx

[murda-c]

CUZ IT'S GONNA FUCKIN EAT YOU!!

Anyway, early-mid 90s had mk iv supra/ fd rx7/ 3000gt vr4/ nsx/skyline gtr/lancer evo/tt 300zx

i like those

[stiizy]

that's a Challenger
and why is there a shark fin on the back window of the nsx

Challenger Correct not Camaro guys...

The Nsx has a carbon air duct at least thats what it looks like to me but dont know why its on the Windshield!?!?!

[murda-c]

Challenger Correct not Camaro guys...

The Nsx has a carbon air duct at least thats what it looks like to me but dont know why its on the Windshield!?!?!

I think it's only there for race homologation.

the race car has is so they have to put it on the production model.

[ryguy]

And that's why the V6 Challenger is slower than your mom's camry, hell even almost the same 0-60 as a stock S13.

That being said, I agree that we're currently in the tail end of the "golden age".

[stiizy]

I think it was at it's peak during the Civic, Integra days when all that rice was the shit...

I think thats when JDM shit was just getting big to us..

[wangan_cruiser]

i like old school cars.

[jeeper_x]

it peaked in the late 80s and the early 90s......

93 is the peak year of the golden age because 2jz-gte came out.....

:bigok::bigok::bigok:

[noshow]

heres your reasoning, lower sales..
last years of supra and 300zx were costing in the 50K area fully loaded tt,
low production numbers due to low demand.
i believe the time began in the early 80's and faded until about 98.

[ilia]

Challenger Correct not Camaro guys...

The Nsx has a carbon air duct at least thats what it looks like to me but dont know why its on the Windshield!?!?!


It's an intake... it's sitting on the engine cover, not the windshield.

[noshow]

oh and i dont give a shit how much hp a car has, if its a 4 door, its not a goddamn sports car.

[stiizy]

^^ Looks like that shit is on the glass to me....

I've seen countless Nsx's built my boy used to work at Science of Speed and they never looked like they were on the glass like that

[stiizy]

oh and i dont give a shit how much hp a car has, if its a 4 door, its not a goddamn sports car.

Your Joking right???

Sti, Evo,

Fuck outta here they are sports cars

[VROOOM]

the cars today are way better. the WRX, MS3, Cobalt SS all have almost as much power(within 10 hp) as the 90k NSX and they all cost less than a used 1990 NSX.

[twistedsymphony]

The reason Japanese cars in the US died in 1996 was because of the Increased US Emissions standards

OBDII killed Japanese sports cars, it even killed a lot of the American and European sports cars in the US.

the way the emissions standards are setup most SUVs and trucks are exempt from a lot of the more stringent standards, Manual transmission cars need to be treated as a completely separate type of car so a lot of manufactures just dropped it altogether since they usually don't sell as well here.

the emission standards basically ramped up hardcore for cars and barely at all for trucks and SUVs since they were considered "work vehicles" and the result is that people started buying SUVs because there weren't any high powered cars anymore.

[VROOOM]

oh and i dont give a shit how much hp a car has, if its a 4 door, its not a goddamn sports car.

Cadillac CTS-V will own most cars on the street (drag and road race) and its a 4 door sedan.

[exitspeed]

the cars today are way better. the WRX, MS3, Cobalt SS all have almost as much power(within 10 hp) as the 90k NSX and they all cost less than a used 1990 NSX.

And don't forget that the Cobalt SS Turbo ran a raster time at the Ring then the almighty R32 GTR.

My opinion it goes like this:

Late 80's-mid 90's > in the looks department. Hands down. The Supra and the FD being the pinnacle of Japanese GT styling.

Current Japanese sports cars > performance, and bang for your buck department.

[SimpleS14]

New cars are huge.

http://spoon-official.up.seesaa.net/image/t_t_CIMG1892.jpg


No way thats an actual comparison....i need to see more pics haha

[exitspeed]

Cadillac CTS-V will own most cars on the street (drag and road race) and its a 4 door sedan.

In fact it's faster then an Audi R8 at the Ring...

No way thats an actual comparison....i need to see more pics haha

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v491/exitspeed/motivator6382276.jpg

[stiizy]

In fact it's faster then an Audi R8 at the Ring...





I'll still take my R8 thank you :bow:

[lucky7]

i like european cars. i loved the early 90's japan cars. but im over them. new japan cars are boring to me. the styling is horrendous nowadays. i cant think of 1 car i think is really good lookling, coming out of japan these days.

i dont know. i associate most of the japanese sporty cars, as kids cars. i want a more grown up car right now.

[!Zar!]

I've seen a new challenger driven on the streets.

Doesn't look that big.

Just looked like another car.

[lucky7]

ive seen 436431563153123 on the street. ive been seeing them for nearly a year. theres 10 infront of the closest stealership. ive been in the SRT several times. they ARE enormous. they look cool. but i dont want one. :keke:

its weird to think that alot of you havnt seen these around. i live in chryser country. half my neighborhood are execs. all these people have had these things. they are everywhere. :keke:

[noshow]

Your Joking right???

Sti, Evo,

Fuck outta here they are sports cars

sports car=generally it is used to refer to a low to ground, light weight vehicle with a powerful engine. Most vehicles referred to as sports cars are rear wheel drive, have two seats, two doors, and are designed for more precise handling acceleration, and aesthetic.
not saying they arent fast, they just arent sports cars.
they are mostly for all intensive purposes sportier version of there basic sedan counterparts.

[jeeper_x]

so, IS-F is not a sport car?

[noshow]

again guys, mostly personal opinion here.
not saying the ls-f isnt, nor am i saying that the cts isnt either.
what im saying is that sports car is a distinct description, that not all these cars fit.

[stiizy]

sports car=generally it is used to refer to a low to ground, light weight vehicle with a powerful engine. Most vehicles referred to as sports cars are rear wheel drive, have two seats, two doors, and are designed for more precise handling acceleration, and aesthetic.
not saying they arent fast, they just arent sports cars.
they are mostly for all intensive purposes sportier version of there basic sedan counterparts.

So wait Rally Racing isnt a sport??

Subaru and Mitsubishi got that on lock?

Both handle great in all weather both fast as shit so what are you trying to say??


Only lambos and ferraris and shit are sports cars...

Like i said fuck outta here with that BS

so, IS-F is not a sport car?

Yes it is bro...

[jeeper_x]

let's put it this way....

Sport Luxury Cars then.....

and for the EVOs and STIs....

Sport Compact/Rally cars....

everybody happy?

[exitspeed]

sports car=generally it is used to refer to a low to ground, light weight vehicle with a powerful engine. Most vehicles referred to as sports cars are rear wheel drive, have two seats, two doors, and are designed for more precise handling acceleration, and aesthetic.
not saying they arent fast, they just arent sports cars.
they are mostly for all intensive purposes sportier version of there basic sedan counterparts.

I think that is an old definition of a sports car. 30+ years go that would be correct. Its outdated frankly. Like the saying "no replacement for displacement".

[boro otaku]

I believe the American public couldn't understand the awesomeness of Japanese cars.
The economic downturn in Japan had more to do with it IMHO.

[boro otaku]

No way thats an actual comparison....i need to see more pics haha
It's true. Those things are disgustingly fat.

[noshow]

well generally up to around the late 90's cars like evo's and sti's wouldnt fit into the "golden area" for japanese cars, judging by how i feel the age of Japanese cars that were the most respectable has passed.

[lucky7]

sports cars dont have to be powerful, imo.

[stiizy]

Evo's and Sti's have been around since the 90's just not in the U.S.

[stiizy]

sports cars dont have to be powerful, imo.

AE86 nuff said

[noshow]

Evo's and Sti's have been around since the 90's just not in the U.S.

ok...title
i can agree to disagree that these cars are nice, and ive even considered owning them.
they are just sedans, and awd. neither of which i feel qualifies them to that category imo

[exitspeed]

AE86 nuff said

Elise is a better example.

[stiizy]

I'm talking in general homie.....

Watch ya mouth too.....

[noshow]

who's seen the two new spoof's of the hyuandi's genesis coupe and the new 240 models?

[exitspeed]

who's seen the two new spoof's of the hyuandi's genesis coupe and the new 240 models?

Yea...

http://zilvia.net/f/off-topic-chat/182896-official-hyundai-genesis-coupe-sedan-thread.html?highlight=genesis

http://zilvia.net/f/off-topic-chat/127041-official-2011-240-other-future-rwd-coupe-thread.html?highlight=genesis

[lucky7]

miata was my example. but those other 2 work.

[noshow]

Yea...

http://zilvia.net/f/off-topic-chat/182896-official-hyundai-genesis-coupe-sedan-thread.html?highlight=genesis

http://zilvia.net/f/off-topic-chat/127041-official-2011-240-other-future-rwd-coupe-thread.html?highlight=genesis

just wondering, as you can tell im new here. anyway, it's almost as if they are trying to reinvent the whole japanese sports car era. R-35, G35, 350Z, RX8, EVO, etc. :)

[VROOOM]

just wondering, as you can tell im new here. anyway, it's almost as if they are trying to reinvent the whole japanese sports car era. R-35, G35, 350Z, RX8, EVO, etc. :)

RX8 has more than 2 doors. not a sports car by your definition.

[stiizy]

^^ Good one Vroom haha

[stiizy]

No Show i found ya car

http://upload.moldova.org/auto/Nissan/Nissan_Micra_Barbie_Car.jpg

2doors 2 seats

[noshow]

RX8 has more than 2 doors. not a sports car by your definition.
suicide doors dont count, they have no exterior handle.
good try though.:)

[trad1987]

[quote=exitspeed;2341518]And don't forget that the Cobalt SS Turbo ran a raster time at the Ring then the almighty R32 GTR.

Are you freakin serious!?! goes to show how the desire for the skyline series and out dislike for american cars blurs reality.

[VROOOM]

And don't forget that the Cobalt SS Turbo ran a raster time at the Ring then the almighty R32 GTR.

Are you freakin serious!?! goes to show how the desire for the skyline series and out dislike for american cars blurs reality.


yup its only 2 seconds slower than the new 400hp Camaro SS around the ring too.

[fliprayzin240sx]

Golden age of Japanese cars in US has been going since 2000. Think about it, Toyota, doesnt Toyota pretty much sell as much cars in the US as the top 3 sells all together?

Or maybe the OP meant Golden Age of Japanese Sports Car in the US? Then if it is, Id say 93-95. But even then, its not like what we get now sucks. STi, Evo, Z33, RX8, just to name a few.

[exitspeed]

[quote=exitspeed;2341518]And don't forget that the Cobalt SS Turbo ran a raster time at the Ring then the almighty R32 GTR.

Are you freakin serious!?! goes to show how the desire for the skyline series and out dislike for american cars blurs reality.

Yep. OH NOES it's a Skyline! Yea, and my Cobalt is faster what's your point.

[exitspeed]

Golden age of Japanese cars in US has been going since 2000. Think about it, Toyota, doesnt Toyota pretty much sell as much cars in the US as the top 3 sells all together?



That is not correct. Toyota has just recently pass GM in car sales. And the F-150 is still the number one selling vehicle in the country. Even though the Camry beat it out recently which was the first time in like 16 years that any other vehicle has.

[HyperTek]

stop talking about cars for a minute.. each generation had their awesome cars.. in the 70s it was the Zs, in the 80s there was the rx7, supra, Z, etc.. 90s was the same cars etc..

Lets think, with the whole market turning towards buying japanese cars, maybe the government had to step in in favor of US economy? more limitations on smog, crash etc. Lack of jobs from declining domestic sales.

We should buy american to support our country.. but we dont... lol
If there was some decent affordible american cars that had good styling, power and handling, id be for em, but those dont seem to exist without their problems...
hence why i like to look at late model japanese rides which offer all.

anyways, r35 is a cockmagnet boat imo
http://jalopnik.com/assets/resources/2008/03/NissanGTR_NSX.jpg

[Rob-A-Gee]

Well in my own opinion the only dope cars we have now from the Japanese are the Z33, S2000, STi and the Evo. (and they don't make the NSX anymore) The Rx-8 can't keep up with any one of those cars and it's not over the top like cars were back in the days. Don't get me wrong though it's a great car, but if anybody wants to buy me one to prove me wrong by all means. Back then they all had outrageous cars like AWD turbo cars to Twin Turbo setups. Like people are saying emissions killed a great era. Japanese sports cars in the 70's were great also but just lack the greatness that the cars had in the late 80's and early 90's.
By the way that NSX could be the Spoon NSX-R.

[SimpleSexy180]

90's are when the japanese built great cars that could be cake to modify.

[atom]

Golden age is now IMO. With Japan and US getting more in line in terms of emissions and safety standards, plus Japanese companies focus on global markets, that means from here on out we're getting most JDM cars relatively un-molested from the home market. No longer are we gonna get just the crippled shit like the 2.5RS and non-turbo 240's.

[SexPanda]

No way thats an actual comparison....i need to see more pics haha

http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p279/sexpanda69/mycarandchallanger.jpg

my e36 next to a new challanger SRT8. My car is only about 3 feet away from it, so the spatial orientation shouldnt matter.

[s13 @ fullboost]

wow that thing is a monster you could cross sea's in it. =/

[ryguy]

We should buy american to support our country.. but we dont... lol
If there was some decent affordible american cars that had good styling, power and handling, id be for em, but those dont seem to exist without their problems...
hence why i like to look at late model japanese rides which offer all.



American cars, like the Accord, and the Camry? Or maybe other American built cars like the Subaru lineup, or the Mercedes Benz M class? Hell, Mercedes Benz builds cars in America and exports them to Europe.

[Fonix36]

the golden years 82-87 and 90-99

[SexPanda]

We should buy american to support our country.. but we dont... lol
If there was some decent affordible american cars that had good styling, power and handling, id be for em, but those dont seem to exist without their problems...
hence why i like to look at late model japanese rides which offer all.


And that's why Chrysler, GM and Ford are going tits up. For years and years they relied on a percieved bias against foreign vehicles, and because of that cockiness, they began to skimp out on quality.

Lo and behold, Americans now prefer japanese cars, which are often made in America, because of a history of quality over american cars, which are now made in Canada or Mexico.

Except the Honda Civic. Thats made in Canada.

Anyhow, I believe the golden age for Japanese cars has been from the mid 90's all the way up to today. The 00 era was kind of lacking, but its been picking up from there. The Golden age for Japanese sports cars? 1971-1993.