Let's find the ideal car for you today!! Why have so many guys imported a used car from Japan via us here at JCD? For 15 years now we've been exporting good second hand JDM cars to the USA, the UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, the EU, and many other countries.

It's our job and our pleasure to do three simple things: to help our customers score the right used vehicle, in the right condition, and at the right price. These simple targets have allowed us to attain Google's Five Star Customer Satisfaction Rating.

It's simple, yes, but there's a lot that goes into doing it right, and people who want to get a good deal on importing a used car from Japan themselves always have lots of questions about the process, and about why importing a used car from Japan is the best way to win a great vehicle. People have questions a [...]

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Nissan Caravan VRGE 24
Exported on: 2021/12/28

Toyota Land Cruiser
Exported on: 2021/12/28

Suzuki Carry
Exported on: 2021/12/21

Mitsubishi Pajero Mini

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Let's find the ideal car for you today!! The Car I Was Not Supposed To Have So I told you at the end of our previous post on the Best Toyota Luxury Cars to import from Japan here how one day the design team leader for my 1997 S150 series, fender mirror, Crown came over to me in the company parking lot one day and asked to look inside my car. He looked closely at the dash, and under the dash, at the rear door inner panels, and then moved to the outside of the car where he checked especially under the wheel wells and looked for a while at the suspension. His conclusion was: "You're not supposed to have this car. Where did you get it?" My brilliant reply was: "Huh?"   A Lesson from a Professor of Car Design "Who sold it to you?" "A used car dealer in Shizuoka City. I don't get it. Why?" And then he gave me a nice little lesson: "Look at the steering wheel. What do you see?" "A steering wheel." I was getting more and more brilliant.

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 Mercedes Benz G-Class The Mercedes Benz G-Class, short for Gelandewagen, is a 4wd luxury SUV produced by Mercedes Benz since 1979. Although the vehicle has been in production for over 40 years, it is very similar to the Porsche 911, in that very few design changes have been made over the extremely [...]

The car that saved Porsche
Porsche was in deep financial trouble in the 1990s. Then the Boxster came along and changed everything by capturing the automotive public’s heart and rocketing Porsche sales into the stratosphere.

Combining sleek roadster styling with 911-level performance and a surprisingly affordable price, the Boxster was instantly loved by everyone from sports car enthusiasts to critics. Even its name derived from the “boxer” engine and “roadster” styling was a hit. For a while, it was the best-selling model in Porsche history and the industry showered it with praise and awards.

Affordable, but not for long
Used Boxster models are still available at reasonable prices around the world, but enthusiasts have been snatching them up like crazy in recent months. Remember how quickly air-cooled 911 prices rose a few years ago? Boxsters may be next in line.

Better cared for in Japan
Used Boxsters are typically in better condition [...]

Vehicle Search Engine: Over 150,000 vehicles at auction weekly, plus thousands more on dealer lots. Let's find the ideal car for you today!!

Self-healing electric Lamborghini supercar Lamborghini Terzo Millennio concept car The outrageously bold Terzo Millennio electric concept car was unveiled by Italian supercar maker Automobili Lamborghini at the EmTech conference in Cambridge, Massachusetts early this November. Co-developed [...]

Let's find the ideal car for you today!! Why is the Porsche 911 so cool? What is it that gives this car its undeniable special charm? Do you have a rich uncle? How are the above three questions related? O.K. Let’s start. I do have a rich uncle. Built his business right from the bottom up, he did. Lots of grinding and seven-day work weeks; lots of stress and worry; lots of inspiration and brilliance. But mostly just working day after day at it…..and then more days working. A 911 Means Success But then a day came when my uncle said to himself: “Now, I’m successful.” In fact, in future years he would become much more successful, but on this first “successful” day, as he told the story, he decided to reward himself. He went out and bought a used Porsche 911. Then, over the next few days, he called all the extended family to have a look, and more importantly for me, to have a ride in his German wundercar.

Let's find the ideal car for you today!! I’ve had such great access to supercars since I came to Japan. Generous friends and acquaintances in the “car scene” here have let me spend time with their treasured, magic machines. And they are magic; pure mechanical magic. Even their names are magic: Lamborghini, Lotus, Ferrari, Mclaren; Countach, 348, 355, Modena, Esprit, Elise, Exege, 570S. Because of their owners’ generosity, I’ve driven, or been driven in, all these supercars here in Japan. And I’m not counting the Japanese supercars in this post, only the European supercars. Spectacular and Scary The times I’ve been given rides were usually more spectacular than the times I drove myself; the owners knew their cars and knew how far to push when showing off. When I was behind the wheel I wanted to be careful, partly I was not the owner, of course, but mostly because I was just terrified. Ever floored it on a Supercharged Lotus Exige? Yep. Scary.

Let's find the ideal car for you today!! Many More 15 year old models available today! Every year, more JDM vehicles become 15 years old, making them legally importable to Canada from Japan. In this article, we present four great JDM models that finally come of age. They range from an exhilarating sports car to an exceptionally practical van and we think all are worth getting excited about. JDM 2006 Porsche Cayman S (987c) (released in August 2005) Why choose a used Porsche 911 when you can get a Porsche Cayman S with better handling and comparable power at a significantly lower price? It’s a question many Canadian enthusiasts should be asking themselves now that the celebrated Porsche Cayman S is nearly old enough to be legally imported from Japan. Released to much f [...]

Let's find the ideal car for you today!! Many great JDM European cars are reaching their 25th birthday in 2020 — which means you can legally import them to your home country even if you live in the United States. Japan may not be the first market that comes to mind when searching for a used European car. But there are many advantages to importing one from Japan including: - Japanese revere European cars and keep them in outstanding condition. - European car makers often raise vehicle specs for the Japanese market. - Japan’s used car market is huge, with diverse choices and great prices. - There are no autobahns encouraging excessive driving at high speeds. - Japanese roads have fewer potholes and less road salt to cause problems. - Many elderly Japanese are selling their European cars from the 1990s. In this article, we present five 1995 JDM European cars that our Japan Car Direct team can heartily recommend and would greatly enjoy sourcing for exp [...]

Let's find the ideal car for you today!! Now let’s climb into that little Sambar truck that came to us as a courtesy car and have a feel of what it’s like to drive on and off road. Sitting in the cab of the Sambar, you’ll note the big front picture window that seems like a mini version of what you get on a big highway bus. It gives great forward visibility. The interior layout is simple and unsurprising, with all the controls where you want them; and the convenient little pockets on the dash are an excellent extra. The mini truck I tested had no power steering and no air conditioning, and I will admit that the cabin heater on the Sambar takes a bit of time to warm up since the warm engine coolant has a long way to travel from the engine at the rear to the heater [...]

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 Japan Car News has exclusive articles and links to the latest worldwide and Japanese car news on topics such as: current JDM and worldwide automobile launches, new technologies, upcoming auction cars and reports, auto shows, speed and track records, photos, and Japanese car culture from Japan Car Direct’s team of Car News writers.

The Porsche 944 Turbo is looking better than ever to Porsche aficionados because it outhandles classic 911s and nearly matches their acceleration — at a mere fraction of their current prices.

Widely regarded as the best handling supercar of the 1980s, the Porsche 944 is exhilarating to drive on racetracks and mountain switchbacks. But it is also quite practical for everyday use thanks to ample interior space and handling ease. This unrivaled combination of supercar performance and everyday practicality makes it one of the best selling Porsches ever.

The 944 handles aggressive moves much better than the 924 and offers more civilized cornering than the rear-heavy 911 thanks in part to a nearly perfect 50/50 weight distribution. Steering is light and accurate, and braking is highly controlled courtesy of 12-inch ventilated discs, 4-piston Brembo calipers and ABS.

Porsche’s powerful 2.5-liter inline-four SOHC engine is basically the right-hand cylinder bank of a V8 5-liter [...]

Handbuilt by Renault Sport. Performance-enhanced by Porsche. The Phase 2 Clio V6 Renault Sport was the world’s most powerful mass-produced hot hatch when released in 2003.

Tom Walkinshaw Racing built the first version (Phase 1) in 2001 by reinforcing the chassis of a Renault Clio, removing its front-mounted engine and mounting a high-performance 3.0-liter V6 engine in the middle of the vehicle in place of the rear seats! This radical departure from convention increased acceleration, raised maximum speed and generated a 911esque roar from behind the front seats that is truly exhilarating.

But Renault wasn’t satisfied. In 2003, Renault Sport teamed with Porsche to further boost performance. This included modifying the 3.0-liter, 24-valve DOHC RS V6 engine to produce an additional 25 horses for a total of 255 PS at 7,150 rpm — a whole lot of muscle for a compact 3-door hatchback. The resulting Phase 2 version accelerates from 0 to 60 mph in [...]

The 964 Turbo is considered one of the most beautiful 911s ever. All the classic 911 supercar styling cues are clearly there, from raised round headlights to dramatically flared wheel arches and fixed tea-tray rear spoiler with raised black border. Every curve is impeccably refined to improve aerodynamics and the bumpers are more integrated than on earlier 911s. These sporty looks are further accented by handsome aluminum 17″ wheels with five-spoke 964 Carrera Cup car design, two oval side tailpipes, aerodynamic door mirrors that became standard on all Porsche models, and black Brembo brake calipers. It’s easy to see why this model was so popular in Japan and throughout the world, selling a total of 3,660 units.

Porsche launched the 964 as a completely new 911 series in 1989. While borrowing heavily from the design of earlier 911s, it fully renewed the chassis and well over 80% of the vehicle’s components. The Turbo version was [...]

For many car enthusiasts, one series comes to mind when they see the renowned slogan “The Ultimate Driving Machine” — the E30 M3. Developed to meet homologation standards for competition in the European Touring Car Championship (ETCC), the E30 M3 so vastly exceeded expectations in both racing success and worldwide sales that BMW built five M3 generations and continues to sell them today.

The first generation of the M3, the E30 M3 (1986-1991) blew away targeted competitors Mercedes-Benz and Audi from the very beginning and became the most successful touring car in racing history, earning more titles than even the Porsche 911. Its seemingly endless list of victories (over 1,500 by some counts) includes one title in the World Touring Car Championship, two titles in the European Touring Car Championship, four titles in the Italia Superturismo Championship and five wins at 24 Hours Nürburgring.

Used E30 M3’s can still be found in great condition in [...]

Vehicle Search Engine: Over 150,000 vehicles at auction weekly, plus thousands more on dealer lots. Let's find the ideal car for you today!!

  Big savings for Americans, Australians, Europeans, Qubecois and Beyond!   Car lovers everywhere are discovering the many advantages of importing older JDM vehicles. In America, JDM vehicles over 25 years old are easy to import and register. They are also exempt from all expensive safety, emissions and other import standards. In Australia, import taxes are much lower for vehicles manufactured before January 1, 1989. And in Europe, there are 12% lower taxes with no import duty on vehicles at least 30 years old. For a 1974 Mercedes C Class sedan valued at $10,000, for example, the savings are a whopping $2,390! Other advantages to importing older vehicles: Old cars are more pleasurable to drive. They test your skills instead of pampering you with computer assistance, so you feel challenged [...]

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 When you’re looking for a used performance car, there’s no better market than Japan — and no better source than Japan Car Direct. We’ve been exporting used performance cars from Japan to customers abroad for over 12 years and continue to be impressed by the incredible variety of secondhand Japanese and European models available in the market at the lowest prices and in the best condition you can find anywhere in the world. German sports sedans, French rally [...]

Import a Good Used Peugeot 106 S16 from Japan and You’ll Get the Best Deal on the Best Handling European FF Sports Hatchback   What is the ultimate in handling? What is The Ultimate? Is it FR? Mid Engine? All Wheel Drive? Or is it a light FF hatchback? When I was a young guy, I had a young guy’s confidence and certainty; the kind that comes from lack of experience. I was told that a mid-engined car gives the best handling. I believed it. I bought a mid ship car. Bought myself a used MR2 here in Japan. Great. I had some doubts, though (snap over steer anyone?), and I started to think that All-Wheel Drive (AWD) was the thing. Bought myself a used Impreza WRX STi. Great again. Then I doubted again (excessive weight, anyone?) and I thought: purity and simplicity is it, so: super light FF Japanese Kei sports car, Mitsubishi Minica Dangan ZZ. Definitely great. But what about overloading the front wheels? (excessive under steer, anyone?). So now I’ve gone FR, a nice used 2002 Miata. Great, and no doubt. And yet I keep thinking that FF may be the best, ultimately, for handling. If I get a good condition used 106 S16 / 106 Rallye here in Japan (and I [...]

Gorgeous Lines! Balanced Musculature! Uber Babe!   What’s this beautiful creature I’m looking at here? She’s a very good condition used Alpina B10 V8 imported from Japan to Canada. She’s a super clean, low mileage BMW Alpina with left hand drive (LHD). She’s Alpina’s take on the BMW 540i: Take a car that’s already excellent, power it up, muscle it up, and you get perfection. She’s a perfect example of the fine second hand German classic cars, super cars, and executive cars, including Mercedes Benz, AMG, and Porsche, as well as Alpina and BMW that we find regularly here in Japan in the used car market (click on the country name to get more info on our website about these wonderful machines). The used car market here in Japan comprises the Japanese used car auctions, the used car dealers, and private sales. At Japan Car Direct [...]

When Benz and AMG Team Up on a Sedan This Is What You Get: The E350AMG, The Sedan for the Man. When I set out all those many years ago to buy my first used car, I wanted a powerful four-door sedan. In those days in Canada there were basically three classes of good used sedans to choose from in the “sane” price bracket: 1) boring, 2) classy, 3) muscular. The fourth option, the sports sedan, was something that Europeans had. We didn’t have that. Nope. The Boring Sedans had, by the standards of the E350AMG that we are looking at here, crappy braking and crappy handling and were gutless. Looks were nothing to write home about either. The Classy Sedans had better looks, but still no handling or braking to celebrate. The Muscular Sedans, with American muscle car engines and drive trains, had so much power that, when you floored the throttle, you’d leave your face behind you, five seconds ago and 60mph behind you. But you did have to have positraction (an LSD) to do that, otherwise it was just burnout city.

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 Value hunters, passionate enthusiasts and serious collectors turn to the Japanese used car market for the best deals on used vehicles. Every conceivable make and model is available in excellent condition through Japanese dealer auctions and on dealers’ lots across Japan. The following is a small sample of some of the vehicles available. If you see what you’re looking for here or have another model in mind, give us a shout and it will be our pleasure to help yo [...]

Vehicle Search Engine: Over 150,000 vehicles at auction weekly, plus thousands more on dealer lots. Let's find the ideal car for you today!!

Import regulations for used vehicles from Japan to The United States of America Quick Reference:  ・25 years or older ・ Cheap and easy DIY import ・Legal in all 50 states ・Shipping to all major ports ・ Great resale market Purchasing Process Register to see auction vehicles - Search - Send links for translation - Send deposit - Pre bid inspection – Bid - Win - Pay Invoice while vehicle is transported to nearest export yard - Payment confirmation - Photos taken at port - Booking requested - Booking details confirmed - Vehicle loaded - ISF filed – Wait and track boat - Get arrival notice from boat company - Pay the a [...]

Vehicle Search Engine: Over 150,000 vehicles at auction weekly, plus thousands more on dealer lots. Let's find the ideal car for you today!!

Who ever thinks to buy a Left Hand Drive (LHD) car from Japan? Cars made in Japan for the Japanese market have the steering wheel on the right, right? Right. And you certainly can’t have both. But Right Hand Drive (RHD) cars are not the only thing we drive here in Japan. There are plenty of LHD cars on the road here, too. Why? Well, for many people in Japan there is a certain specialness, and certain element of posh attached to having a foreign car with that is LHD. I’ve even seen more classic British sports cars with the wheel on the left (likely re-imported from the USA) on the roads here than with the wheel on the right; and ye [...]

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 German Up Market Cars both Left Hand Drive (LHD) & Right Hand Drive (RHD) Where is the best place to buy a second hand up market German car from sports sedans to supercars? Where is the best place to shop if you want to buy a used Porsche 911, or BMW Alpina or M3, or a Mercedes Benz luxury sedan? In Germany? In Europe? No, I don’t think so. The best place to buy a good used German up market car is in Japan. Whether you are looking [...]

Vehicle Search Engine: Over 150,000 vehicles at auction weekly, plus thousands more on dealer lots. Let's find the ideal car for you today!!

Japanese Domestic Market Vehicles (JDM Vehicles)

What does the JDM Vehicle Market offer you, the overseas buyer looking for a good second hand car? Everyone knows that Japanese make fantastic cars. But did you know they make even better cars for the Japanese market? The competition in Japan is insanely fierce because makers battle for the wallets of the world’s most demanding consumers who always want the latest, greatest model with the most advanced technology — whether Japanese or luxury import. This makes Japan the absolute best market for buying used cars. Not only do Japanese market models offer higher quality and technology, but Japanese diligently keep their cars in the best possible condition through attentive maintenance and tender loving care. Over 150,000 of thes [...]

Let's find the ideal car for you today!! O.K., guys, yeah, there's a car shortage. A shortage of both new and used cars. The Ukraine crisis has made things worse, but the trouble didn't start there. Various supply chain disruptions, due in part to government Covid restrictions, have added to problems like the shortage of semiconductors (the "Chip Crisis"), to make things difficult for car manufacturers. There's now serious talk from car makers about closing plants in Europe and raising prices even more. And now with the Ukraine / Russia situation, there's pressure on supplies of basic commodities that are key in the car making business; things like platinum and palladium, used in so many of the whizz bang, high tech, doodads and hodads in almost all modern cars. (Have a look at S + P Global Mobility's article here for further details on the whole issue.) And that's not to mention the pressure on aluminum supplies, a metal that is central to making modern car body shells and also our belo [...]

Let's find the ideal car for you today!! So what do you think you're going to meet with when you take your dog for a walk up one of the Mount Fuji forest hiking trails close to my house? Think you might meet a herd of Japanese Shika deer?

Yeah, you might do. You'll meet them quite often, actually. How about a troop of wild boar? Sure can do. You'll meet them less often than the deer, of course, but watch yourself because the boar are smart and can get a wee bit peeved if you stumble across the [...]

Can Any FF-Car Beat the DC-2 Integra Type-R? Yeah, a DC-5 Can.   If you want to import a good used Integra R-Type (DC-5) from Japan, you’ve come to the right place. This lovely white example has gone to Canada via New Westminster, BC, and we have recently been exporting many good used R-Types to Canada and to the UK as well; like this one here that went to my Dear Ol’ Blighty. (You’ll find the used car import rules for Canada here and for the UK here.) Now when, back in 1995, Honda gave us the first Integra Type-R, the DC-2, it certainly made a big splash in the world of sports car fans like me.

Let's find the ideal car for you today!! Cars as accessories? Is it possible? Cars that are sort of like the cute pink and pastel-blue smart phone cases that nearly all of the (amazingly) cute Japanese girls here always seem to have? I can’t relate to this. I’m a guy. I’m into cars for guys. I drive cars for guys. I write about cars for guys. Mostly. So, yeah, I can’t relate to the car as accessory thing, or, at least, I couldn’t relate until, on our Car Café Day, I was properly introduced to the cutest little fun Japanese sporting machine by the cutest little Japanese sporty girl. The Girl In the first two parts of our Car Café series here on our Japan Car Direct Blog (click here for Part 1 and here for Part 2), I introduced you to a couple of the members of the car café, namely: “The Prez,” with his mighty, tuned Hakosuka Skyline, and “Mr Taxi,” with [...]

A Small Car That Carries a Big Load: The Mitsubishi Toppo BJ When I was looking for a 5-door hatchback type Kei car there was a used Mitsubishi Toppo for sale at one of the dealers down on the main road, Route 246, in Gotemba, where I was living at the time. The car had recently come to the dealer and still had shaken (MOT) and road tax on him and so the dealer let me have a test drive in the little Toppo. The first thing I noted was that, although the car is small on the outside (for those who are interested, the exact dimensions are, length: 3,395mm, width: 1,475mm, height: 1,695mm), it was certainly big on the inside, surprisingly so. (1,715 x 1,220 x 1,425 if you’re wondering). Although I’m partial to the pre November, 1998 Japanese Kei cars, especially the Kei sports cars (have a look here on our Japan Car Direct Blog for our take on some of the best pre-1998 Kei sports iron available for self import from Japan, wonderful cars!), I have to admit that since November, 1998, when the Japanese Kei car regulations changed (longer by 100mm and wider by 80mm), there have been some significant improvement [...]

Let's find the ideal car for you today!! So I deal with used cars, and as I get older I’m more and more attracted to the classics. And, as I get older, maybe I’m slowly becoming a classic myself! We export a lot of good classic cars from Japan (both European and Japanese cars) and the other day, on some of the lovely twisty mountain roads near my house here in Japan, I got a chance to drive a couple of real classic performance / sports cars: A 1971 Hakosuka Skyline and a 1971 Lotus Europa These are both dream cars for me, especially the Europa which [...]

Some years ago the company I was working for, an insurance outfit, arranged a track day for the motor engineers, vehicle inspectors, and underwriters. That’s where I met my first Integra R-Type. There was a big track where we could play with the (de-tuned, thank God!) formula cars, a middle-size track for the road going sports cars, your Lotuses, Caterhams, Audi TTs, Honda S2000s, and such like; and there was a smaller, tighter, kill-you-on-the-corners track that was exclusively for the Integra R-Types. They kept the R-Types on this track, 1) to show off their fantastic cornering and, 2) to avoid putting all those more expensive sports cars to shame. The Integra could out handle them. He’d show them all a clean pair of heels in the twisties. R-Type: Simply Unbelievable We were in the two door sports coupe Integra R-Types, the DC2 chassis cars, and I can say flat out that [...]

High Tech Muscle and Bang for the Buck: Lancer Evolution All the Way If you want a used Japanese supercar from the ‘90s (which can now be imported to the USA) that gives you reliable low five (or even sub five!) second 0-60 times, you’ve got three really good choices: The Toyota Celica GT-Four, the Subaru Impreza WRX STi, and the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution. I call these cars the “244T” cars. They’ve got 2-liter, 4-cylinder engines, 4-wheel-drive, and are Turbo charged. So in my car world they are the 244T class. And a stunning class of performance vehicles they are, just stunning. These cars are all relatively light, with the GT-Four being the heaviest at 1,380kg, and with the lighter examples of the STi and the Evo coming in at under 1,300kg. That is light for cars producing from, say, around 250ps all the way up to over 300ps. We’re talking only the cars from the 1990s here, guys, because those are the cars I know (I’ve had a 1995 GT-4 and a 1996 STi) and also because they are in the “sweet spot” right now if you want to import a used all-wheel-drive supercar from Japan yourself. (Time of writing: summer, 2021.) If the used car from Japan that you are looking at is ov [...]

Let's find the ideal car for you today!! Thousands! That’s how many. We’ve exported thousands of good used cars from Japan. And we’ve gone from obscure to a leader in this business because those thousands of cars went to thousands of guys who scored good deals. They have become our biggest treasure: our satisfied customers, our Winnermen. We’ve even been featured in a Japanese TV documentary (which you can see here). Yeah, we’ve become a well-known and trusted Japan-based used car exporter. So I guess it’s time now for the third and final part of our interview with Scott Bower, our company president here at Japan Car Direct (JCD) and the guy who “started it all,” JCD’s business of exporting good used cars from Japan. Today, among o [...]

Let's find the ideal car for you today!! In our previous talk with Scott he told us a bit about why it is a wise move to import a good used car direct from Japan rather than dragging ourselves down to the local car dealers in town. Let me summarize what he told us: 1. Because Japanese car buyers tend to buy a new vehicle every three years or so, there are many, many good used cars on the market here. It’s a bit of a glut, really, and that keeps used car prices down. 2. Most Japanese drivers do less than 6,000 miles (10,000kms) a year, so Japanese used cars have low mileages. 3. Japanese people tend to maintain their cars, both out of consideration for the vehicle, and because of the need to pass the government’s biennial shaken inspection to ensure that any ve [...]

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 Mitsubishi Evo vs. Subaru Impreza The Mitsubishi Evo and Subaru Impreza have been battling it out for the hearts and minds of motorsports fans since the early 1990s. Both are remarkably fun to drive, thanks to handling and acceleration that rival some of the world’s fastest production cars. And both offer the sporty looks of serious performance machines. So how does a car lover in the market for a used sports car confidently choose b [...]

Even supercar owners love driving the Lancia Delta Integrale because it grips the road like glue and handles challenging road conditions with ease. You can confidently push it harder than you ever thought possible and always come out smiling.

Released in 1987 to meet the homologation requirements of Group A rally racing, the Lancia Delta Integrale outperformed everything in its price range. It also became the most successful model in rally car history by winning six consecutive WRC titles (1987-92), four drivers’ championships (1987-89, 1991) and 46 victories overall.

The secret to its success was a winning combination of legendary handling and high power-to-weight ratio. By virtually eliminating wheelspin, its three-differential 4WD system with 47:53 front-to-rear torque distribution and maximum 70% rear lockup delivers unbelievable traction, especially around curves. Where you point, the Delta Integrale goes!

The fuel-injected, 2.0-liter, 16-valve inline-four engine in the Evoluzione II generates 212 bhp at 5750 rpm to propel you [...]

When Nissan came out with their C10 series Skyline in 1969, the famous Hakosuka (box shaped Skyline) the performance car world sat up and took notice and Nissan started a long line of fantastic performance cars.

When they brought out the All-Wheel-Drive, Turbo-Charged, Intercooled R32 and then R33 Skylines the world drew breath, and when they released the R34 Skyline with its nearly 40kg/m of torque, the world gasped. This car was beyond quick. 0-60mph blown away in mid four seconds; handling that could only be described as fantastic, and the strong braking needed to bring this Warp Speed capable starship to a confident halt in double quick time. All this with the immensely strong chassis required to deal with Premiere League performance.

The Nissan R34 Skyline is one of Japan’s, and the world’s, top performance cars. And compared to the top of the Lamborghini, Ferrari, or Porsche lines (and only their top grade cars [...]

There are SUVs here and SUVs there on the roads worldwide these days. It’s a very successful class of vehicle that didn’t even exist when I was first in the market for a car, but now they are everywhere. And here in Japan, too, the SUV has really caught on because of its higher driver’s seat position and better view, because of its good load capacity, and, because in the snow county areas and for those people who need some 4wd capability but don’t need a full-on off-road brute like a Toyota Land Cruiser or a Suzuki Jimny, the SUV is the perfect choice.

But in this now very popular class of vehicle, there is nothing quite like the Mitsubishi Pajero Evolution: This SUV is really a homologation special that was originally purpose built for the Paris Dakar Rally. The engine is a special tuned version of Mitsubishi’s 3.5 liter V6 with the addition of [...]