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Let's find the ideal car for you today!! Used Porsche 911s are always in demand! In Japan, almost any model dating back to the 1960s can be found at lower prices than just about anywhere else in the world. They are also in better condition because Japanese treasure their JDM foreign cars like babies. In Japan, almost any model dating back to the 1960s can be found at lower prices than just about anywhere else in the world. They are also in better condition because Japanese treasure their JDM foreign cars like babies. Here are some examples of great Porsche 911 models periodically available through used car auctions and used car dealers in Japan. The first model is now beyond the reach of most enthusiasts, but others have been exported by Japan Car Direct to satisfied customers around the globe.   1972 Porsche 911 Carrera RS 2.7

Dignified and luxurious. The 1994 Toyota Crown Majesta Whenever you see a black Toyota Crown Majesta in Japan, you can assume it’s a corporate limousine for a VIP executive. Every black Crown Majesta I’ve seen has been in sparkling condition with an impeccably groomed driver either chauffeuring an executive or buffing the finish to perfection before picking the executive up. In the late 1980s, I was deeply impressed by a ride in the Majesta’s predecessor, the Crown Royal Saloon. Longer and wider than other Toyota Crowns, it was remarkably quiet, refined and comfortable. In 1991, this model evolved into the even more impressive Crown Majesta, which makes any driver or passenger feel like a million bucks. The luxurious Crown Majesta is Toyota’s answer to makers like Mercedes Benz. It shares flagship status with Toyota’s other full-size luxury sedan, the Toyota Century, which is more conservative and can only be purchased new by invitation from Toyota. The 1994 Toyota Crown Majesta features a 4.0-liter V8 engine (260 hp) that was tuned to satisfy the most fastidious Japanese execut [...]

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!!

Some people say that there are no “aspirational vehicles” any more. No cars that a serious motoring enthusiast can really aspire to, really want. No cars that, when you see one drive past you on the road, make you say: “I want that car! I gotta have one!” Yeah, I guess it’s true in a way. And certainly for me, when I look at most modern cars, with their regulated, semi-egg-shaped bodies, their narrow, darkly tinted side and rear windows, and their meaningless body panel press lines, I don’t feel myself really wanting, strongly wanting, what the car makers are offering me today. But whe [...]

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

BMW Unveils The X2 M35i

New BMW X2 M35i

All indications are that the new flagship of the X2 SUV lineup, the BMW X2 M35i, [...]

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!! Stay in the '90s (or close) for the Best of Toyota's Luxury Iron to Import from Japan Today I've got some stories to tell you about my experience with Toyota luxury cars and about the feedback and info that some of my car fan friends here in Japan have shared with me, but first, let's do a quick survey of the cars that we are looking at when we start talking direct import from Japan; the Toyota luxury machines that should be on your list when you are thinking: "I want to import a used luxury Toyota from Japan." And even before we talk machines, we've got to talk dates. And I don't mean the dates with the babes that you are hoping to get when you have a cool, smooth, powerful, and high quality set of wheels, like a Crown or a Crown Majesta,

Let's find the ideal car for you today!! But what is a “supercar”? How would you define it? Is it, in fact, even possible to come up with a definition that all car lovers will agree with? I’m not sure, but let me give you my own boyhood definition of “supercar” and how I arrived at the definition. First off, some background. I grew up in Canada, and when I was young there were no supercars in my neighbourhood. We had only American sedans, wagons, and vans. These are not supercars, obviously. There was a smattering of sports cars: older British roadsters like a Triumph Spitfire or an MG Midget, cars that rarely started and kind  of just sat there looking a bit grimier month by month (or year by year if they lasted that long). The Canadian winter slaughtered those cars. There were a few Italian sports cars, a Fiat 124 Spider with its fine balance lines, and a Fiat 850 spider, looking so tiny between the fat sedans parked along the side of the street. Those cars never started much, either. Their owners washed them a few times in the summer and then the Canadian winter killed them off, too. But, [...]

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!! The Pre ’98 Exotics I’ve been singing the praises of the hatchback-type Japanese Kei Sports cars in the earlier posts (here and here) about these vehicles on our blog here at Japan Car Direct, and, if my editor would let me, I’d continue on and on about how great these cars are. And I’d also go on and on about why, if you are seriously into light sports cars, you should equally seriously be considering importing a Kei Sports car yourself direct from Japan, as that is totally the best way to get a good, unthrashed and well-maintained unit. One thing (of the many things) that pulls me toward the hatchbacks in the Kei Sports category is their practicality. And the fact that a hatchback Kei Sports car is practical (small on the outside for getting into and out of tight spots, big on the inside for carrying luggage and people) is one thing that kept me in my Kei Sports car for eight and a half years o [...]

Let's find the ideal car for you today!! In Part 1 of our two-part series, we introduced air-cooled Porsche 911s from the 70s and 80s. This second article leaps forward to the water-cooled 2000s before concluding with a pair of air-cooled models from the 90s that Japan Car Direct sourced at Japanese used car auctions and exported to enthusiasts abroad at highly reasonable prices. 2002 Porsche 996 Turbo Incredible value and performance For those who aspire to own a used Porsche 911 Turbo, but refuse to spend an arm and a leg for a classic air-cooled model, there’s the 2002 Porsche 996 Turbo. It’s more reasonably priced than many other 911 turbos, and its parts are also cheaper [...]

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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.

Let's find the ideal car for you today!! For some car aficionados, a Mercedes-Benz isn’t enough because they know beyond a shadow of a doubt that there’s something even better. Mercedes-AMG. The passion to own a Mercedes-AMG only intensifies when headlines proclaim the launch of a new model like the Mercedes-AMG GLE 53 4MATIC+. But the price tag keeps many dreaming of winning the lottery or befriending a millionaire eager to bequeath his ride.

The new Mercedes-AMG GLE 53 4MATIC+ is tantalizing with its attractive SUV body, twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter engine and fine-tuned suspension. It looks a lot like the standard GLE, but can be visually distinguished by 15 vertical strips on the radiator grille (versus two horizontal strips on the [...]

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

Incredible Group B Rally auction featuring Lancia Delta S4 Stradale

Bonhams auction house in Carmel, California will be auctioning seven Group B rally machines from the ‘70s and '80s this August. Especially exciting to many vintage rally enthusiasts is the inclusion of a Lancia Delta S4 Stradale and two other Lancia rally machines that pushed automotive design to the limits in pursuit of road-handling perfection and virtually dominated the rally scene in [...]

The Skyline R32 GT-R (Grand Tourismo Racer) — nicknamed “Godzilla” for effortlessly crushing all competitors in Group A Series racing — won 29 consecutive races in the Japanese Touring Car Championship and three consecutive championships in the Australian Touring Car Championship after being reintroduced by Nissan in 1989.

This remarkable track record is part of the reason the Skyline R32 GT-R has such a strong cult-like following among serious car enthusiasts around the world. Other reasons include impressive appearances in games and popular street racing movies like The Fast and Furious series, a reputation for having launched the JDM car scene, a leading role in serious street and drag racing, the exclusivity wrought by a 25-year import restriction in the United States — which finally ended in 2014 — and performance that is nothing short of incredible. If you want maximum bang for the buck, it’s hard to beat a well-tuned Skyline R32 GT-R imported [...]

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 Welcome to the wonderful world of Kei vehicles! After the Second World War there were little resources in war-torn countries that needed to rebuild. Small and cheap cars for daily use were highly sought after. Germany gave the world the VW beetle, and Japan brought us the Kei! Early Kei vehicles were even smaller than they are today with an engine displacement of 330cc or less! As they still are today, Kei trucks were workhorses on the farm, at construction sites, [...]

The 2007 Mercedes-Benz CL550, known as the CL500 outside of Japan and the United States, is praised by the cultured elite for its superb balance of luxury and performance. The understated styling of its smooth, aerodynamic body with low roofline and no B-pillar conveys taste and prestige. Inside, the spacious interior indulges with sumptuous leather, classic wood trim and a dizzying array of cutting-edge comfort, safety and entertainment features made swiftly accessible by user-friendly COMAND (Cockpit Management and Data System). Power is generated smoothly and effortlessly by a 5.5-liter V8 powerplant with variably adjustable camshafts and two-stage intake. While barely audible at most revolutions, it reaches an exhilarating crescendo during full acceleration that can race the CL550 from zero to sixty miles per hour in 5.4 seconds courtesy of 382 hp and 391 lb-ft of torque. The seven-speed automatic transmission shifts smoothly and nearly imperceptibly until you accelerate hard to enter a lower gear. Sport, Comfort and Manual modes that affect both power and suspension settings are selectable on the center console, and buttons on the steering wheel let you shift up or down with a press. Driving luxury is enhanced by [...]

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 Land Cruiser, Toyota’s longest running series, has been going strong since the early 1950s when it was a jeep-like vehicle christened with a Land Rover-inspired name. Over the years, the Land Cruiser evolved into a much larger vehicle, but it never strayed from its serious off-road heritage.

Toyota launched the 80 series in early 1990 (1991 in the US) as a luxurious replacement for the aging 60 series. Its smooth lines initially disappointed off-roaders who associated boxiness with rugged design. However, the fresh styling broadened the Land Cruiser’s appeal around the globe and eventually won over enthusiasts as well.

The 80 series introduced the Land Cruiser’s first full-time 4WD system. Part-time 4WD with manual locking hubs was also available in Japan, but not in the US — a good reason for Americans to consider importing secondhand models from Japan.

A totally new suspension gave the 80 series better handling and ride comfort than its [...]

The Honda Beat is a cross between a Honda NSX and go kart, and the most beloved JDM minicar ever produced.

Now that first-generation Honda Beats have reached their 25th birthday, Americans can finally discover what they’ve been missing all these years by importing Honda Beats from Japan under the 25-year rule.

The Beat was designed by Pininfarina and developed by a particularly young and passionate team of Honda engineers. It was also the last automobile Soichiro Honda the founder of Honda ever approved for production.

When released in 1991, the Beat stole the hearts of millions and sold like hotcakes in the Japanese market until a major recession took its toll. After producing two domestic models and selling fewer than 34,000 units in 6 years, Honda sold the design to MG (which used it to produce the MG F) and ended production of the Beat in 1996.

Despite boundless enthusiasm from an ever-hopeful fan [...]

The 2002 Subaru Impreza WRX STi Type RA Spec C is one serious performance machine with handling and acceleration that rival some of the world’s fastest production vehicles.

“WRX” (World Rally Cross*) tells you it was rally inspired with a high-performance turbocharged engine, stiff suspension and AWD. “STi” (Subaru Tecnica International) assures you it was only released in Japan and features an engine, transmission and suspension specially tuned by Subaru’s in-house tuner. “Type RA” (Rally Applicant) indicates it was specially stripped down to lower weight and improve performance. “Spec C” conveys an extra level of performance refinement. And “Bugeye” headlights reveal this was an early model from Impreza’s popular second generation, which featured an especially stiff chassis and powerful engine.

STi Imprezas are popular among enthusiasts and private rally teams importing vehicles from Japan, and the Type RA version is particularly appealing because of its higher performance. In 2002 models, the Type RA offers not [...]

Some drivers are willing to pay whatever it takes for a vehicle that unquestionably surpasses the ultimate driving machine. For these demanding perfectionists, there is the Alpina B10 V8.

Alpina, the Bavarian carmaker renowned for tuning and racing in the 1960s, became so accomplished at improving the performance and luxury of BMWs that it was granted the extraordinary privilege of selling its modified vehicles at BMW dealerships with full BMW warranties.

The B10 V8, one of the most popular models in Alpina’s history, was a dramatically modified BMW 540i offering considerably improved performance and an interior so tasteful and refined that one can easily imagine business executives giving up their chauffeured limousines to savor the B10 V8 driving experience.

Alpina received the 540i straight from BMW’s production line and immediately replaced its engine block with a larger 4.6-liter cousin fitted with lighter Mahle pistons, higher performance camshafts, a larger crankshaft and a reprogrammed Bosch Motronic [...]

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 [...]

The radically aggressive styling of the Ferrari Testarossa took the world by storm when unveiled at the Paris Motor Show in 1984. Few cars in history have so dramatically influenced pop culture and automotive design. Adolescent boys covered their walls with Testarossa posters, millionaires drove Testarossas as a testament to their taste, and celebrities drove Testarossas to flaunt their fame. For many, Testarossa ownership was the ultimate status symbol.

Rocketing the Testarossa from 0–60mph in under 5.2 seconds was a magnificent 4.9-liter flat twelve-cylinder engine with four valves per cylinder and double overhead camshafts — the most powerful production engine of its day. The impressive 390 horsepower (440 hp on later models) and 490 newton metres of torque peaked at relatively low rpm to deliver pleasingly smooth response at all revolutions. Such tractable power was unheard of in supercars and contributed to the Testarossa’s robust sales.

One of the Testarossa’s most distinctive features, the flamboyant [...]

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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 [...]

Last and Best of the Hawkeye Imprezas When you decide to import a used Impreza WRX from Japan you are immediately confronted with quite a variety of sub types. And they are all too good cars, too. If you are looking at the first series, the "Hawkeye" Imprezas, you've got (with the 1,994cc EJ20 flat four engine) the WRX, the WRX STi, the WRX Type R, and the WRX Type RA (I'm sure there is a version that I've missed here); of the Impreza WRX STi itself there are six versions (Versions I to Version VI), and then there is the S201 subtype of STi Impreza and also the 22B subtype. The 22B comes with Subaru's 2,012cc EJ22 power unit, which is also a flat four. It's nearly the same engine as the EJ20 except that it is bored up from 92mm to 96.9mm (stroke remains the same), and it has a somewhat different power curve; it's more oriented to the lower rpm range than the EJ20 is. My WRX was a 1996 STi Version III, looking almost exactly like this rocket

To import a Lancia Delta Integrale from Japan may seem like a strange way to get your hands on a clean example of this truly iconic Italian sports car, but, in fact, it may be the best way.

Look at this 1995 Lancia Delta Integrale Evoluzione 2 that we just shipped from Japan to our customer overseas: Beautiful exterior condition (rated high at Grade 4 by the inspector), quite nice interior condition, and decently low kilometers for the year (103,000kms, or just 64,000 miles); overall in very fine shape for one of these cars and better than you can expect for the price if you buy one in Europe or Italy.

In Japan, anyone who has a Lancia Delta (or really any great Italian performance car, be it Ferrari, Lamborghini, Lancia, etc.,) is treasuring that car. Really treasuring it: enjoying it, maintaining it and keeping it in good shape. So if you want to import [...]

Whenever we export a Toyota Supra I feel great. Actually, I feel super. (Sorry, couldn’t resist.) Why? Because one of the reasons we like doing this business of exporting used cars from Japan to countries like the UK, Canada, New Zealand, the US, and Australia is that we can share the fun and joy of reasonably priced, good quality sports and performance cars with other car fans worldwide.

These days if you want a truly quick car that is not too much money you are going to have to buy a used car. The makers of reasonably priced cars are just not giving us anything today like the Supra or the Skyline GT-R or the faster Imprezas and Evos. If you want low fives or even sub fives in your 0-60 times and you don’t want (or, like me, can’t afford) a Porsche, then you’ve got to go Japanese turbo from the 1990s. These cars [...]

The best part about this business of exporting used cars from Japan is the chance to help other car fans, petrol heads, gear heads, motor maniacs….whatever you want to call us….to get their hands on a good, reasonably priced, Japanese performance car.

Pound for pound and dollar for dollar, I think that your 1990s and 2000s Japanese turbo cars like the Lancer Evo from Mitsubishi, the Supra TT, Celica GT-Four, MR2 Turbo, and Soarer Turbo from Toyota, the Skyline GT-R and GT-S from Nissan, and especially the all-wheel drive Impreza WRX STi from Subaru give you by far the best bang for the buck.

Helping a fellow performance car fan in Halifax, Canada to import this 1999 Impreza WRX STi Sports Wagon was a delightful bit of work for me since this is exactly the car that I myself have at the moment. AND I LOVE IT TO BITS! Mine is a 1996 but it [...]

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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!!

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 [...]

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 Hey Yoshi, Just a quick note to say that the car has arrived at my home – it's booked in for a mechanical check next week – but from a cosmetic point of view the car looks to be in exceptional condition. I've checked the paint thickness across the body and the car does not look to have been repaired anywhere and the paintwork is in truly excellent condition. It's got four fairly new tyres and the interior is also of a very high standard. Sorry for the delay getting back [...]

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!!

Extreme Camber in Japanese Cars

Some souped up Japanese cars are known for having extreme amounts of Extreme Camber. Japan Car Direct can source monster drift cars like the Nissan Silvia, Skyline GTS-T, Toyota Chaser, Supra…..in great condition from the Japanese dealer auctions.

There’s even a Japanese term for this called 鬼キャン or “oni kyan”.  “Oni kyan” is short for oni = demon and kyan = camber.

The stunning Mercedes Benz CLS550 combines the sportiness of a two-door coupe with the practicality of a four-door sedan, making it highly desirable amongst affluent executives in Japan.

When introduced in 2004, its sleek, coupe-like styling with big grille, long hood, low sloping roof and bold tail lights was so popular that Audi, Volkswagen and Jaguar came out with similar-looking models. The second-generation CLS550, launched in 2012 with more aggressive looks and better all-around performance, left the competition even further behind.

Its fast 4.7-liter, direct-injection, twin-turbo V8 engine pumps out 402 horsepower at 5,000 rpm and 443 pounds-feet of torque at 1,800 rpm to propel you from zero to 60 mph in about 5 seconds flat. Even when you press the pedal to the metal, there is no perceptible turbo lag.

The smooth-shifting 7-speed automatic transmission provides a Sport mode for sportier acceleration and a stiffer ride. You can also press “M” to manually shift [...]