6 UNDERRATED JAPANESE SPORTS CARS! LOST JEWELS OF THE JDM CULTURE

Japanese vehicles are well known around the world, whether or not you are a fan of the motor world. Although it is true that one of the biggest cultures in this field is the jdm one. And from this, true legends have been born, very well known by many. The Toyota Supra, the Nissan GTR and the Honda NSX are three of the best examples, although certainly not the only ones. Vehicles that everyone knows, and that most would like to have. However, let's look at the other side of the coin. Cars that are truly worthwhile, and perhaps the more cultured know about, but that for most, unfortunately go unnoticed.
Credits:
Mitsubishi 3000GT - Roads Untraveled
Subaru SVX - Roads Untraveled
Mazda MX-6 - Shooting Cars - Henry Brooke
Suzuki Cappuccino - RegularCars
Mitsubishi Starion - Javito Rivas - SpooledUp TV
Mazda Eunos Cosmo - Shooting Cars - Clay Wong
Escenas extras - Hartnett Media

[@TheNostalgicFuture]

90s Japan was something special. Special engineers, special companies. Special mentalities. Special race drivers. Such beauty, and such aggression.

[@yert8527]

Yeah keichi

[@marmedalmond9958]

90s japan was apparently the worst times in japan. They were going through one of the worst economy crysis ever

[@iuanterry6642]

made me so happy to see the mx6 in this video, as an owner of one, i can confirm everything youve said is true, but also there are some technology in the car that you might not expect (mine is a 1994 model and had electronic sunroof, window and mirror control, and cruise control, as well as abs and an airbag in the steering wheel. it even has baby seat adapters in the back seat area).

[@jdmswap]

Congratulations on the car! It keeps surprising me

[@szymszakow]

I’m happy to say I’m the owner of the mx-6 in that video

[@CRFLAus]

Made me happy too! I have an 87 build MX6 Turbo. They were ahead of their time and nowadays are overlooked. I love that turbo rush with added torque steer, and the smell of a 1980's Japanese interior!

[@retrocompaq5212]

my first car was a ford probe, it was incredibly bad, one of the worst car i had, made my cavalier look like a much better car, much more reliable at least

[@christopherchristie4642]

I had a 1990 MX-6 GT. It was an amazing car. In addition to 4-wheel steering being available, they also had electronically controlled suspension. The other party trick was the two oscillating center vents. No one ever complained about being too hot or cold simply because of that. The car pulled like a freight train with only 145hp, but 190 lb-ft of torque. It wasn't as popular as the Hondas and Toyotas of the time, but that didn't stop HKS from developing a cat back exhaust and a hard intercooler piping kit. Paired with a chip to allow a Freddy Profec-A boost controller, mine was keeping up with final generation Preludes.

[@jcorbo7518]

Congrats on pronouncing Giorgetto Giugiaro as well and authentic as I've heard from someone without an Italian accent

[@jdmswap]

Thanks my friend!

[@bumfluffmcregor3730]

My name is Giovanni georgio but everybody calls me georgio

[@Slideyslide]

I love the 3000gt vr4. I owned three of them and would like another one someday. The svx has always been a neat car to me too.

[@Slideyslide]

Another cool car was the galant vr4

[@callmegeorge]

The MX6/Ford Probe was an incredible machine for its time. Best seats I have ever sat in was my 1993 MX6 LS V6 5 speed. Such a smooth revving 2.5 V6, and even the transmission felt just as good as my 94 Miata's does now. Only option mine was missing was M Edition stuff.

[@mattjacomos2795]

same transmission as the MX5 (just a longer shifter...)

[@laeggroll777]

Thanks for talking about the MX6! I have one and it’s a small, snappy little car and I love it. They’re super light, and not hard to mod, and can be done clean

[@jdmswap]

That's great! Congrats on your car man

[@47sweet]

i love my mx6

[@kevinfestner6126]

I still own an 88 mx6 gt stick turbo. It's a light car, which makes it quick.

[@jesusmylordhegaveitall4894]

I know he mentioned the Mitsubishi Starion was sold in America by Dodge/Chrysler but I don't think he mentioned the Mitsubishi 3000gt was also sold by Dodge as the Dodge Stealth

[@pigeonsil240sx]

the mitsubishi galant vr4 and grossly underated and unknown to many

[@Makaya9s]

Ikr! It's the Evo before all Evo's

[@skylinefever]

It was interesting to see Jafromobile work on one of the few VR4 Galants left in the USA.

[@Makaya9s]

@@skylinefever i think i saw that video. What an amazing and good looking car, esp for it's age

[@skylinefever]

@@Makaya9s I was never attracted to the look of early rally cars, but I was fascinated by them. Some rally cars to me looked like ordinary family cars with a few extra details tacked on. However, it was exciting to read about turbo power with AWD. That is actually sometimes an advantage to a rally car. Many people don't know they are fast until it passes them. That is also one neat quirk about the VW Golf R. Always make sure the tow truck driver knows your car is AWD. Some tow truck drivers make and assumption, then use a truck that only grabs the front wheels. It causes thousands of dollars of damage. Even if it was easy to make the tow company pay up, who wants to go through all that trouble?

[@rjbalbuena7789]

Man i only knew of these because of Gran Turismo 1 and 2. Later iterations almost never gave love to older JDM cars anymore. That old GTO still looks modern to this day damn

[@skylinefever]

Many Americans didn't know of certain cars before Gran Turismo games. I often say that Gran Turismo games are a major reason the WRX came to the USA in 2002 and the Evo arrived in 2004.

[@Zerofightervi]

There are so many JDM oddities out there, including some very rare engines. Mitsubishi produced the world's smallest capacity V6 under 1.6 litres. Honda actually produced an inline 5 cylinder which I didn't know about until recently. The Mitsubishi Starion was in a Japanese cop show where the main character had a black one, with gullwing doors no less.

[@brantleyfoster021]

The Mitsubishi 3000GT was definitely the most technically accomplished out of this group. It was heavy for it's time due to the massive amount of electronics. But the way it looks even now could easily make it one of the sexiest looking car's on the road. Just make sure you get a genuine well looked after low mileage example & it's like a dream. If I had to criticize it, I would probably have given it more power just to offset the weight like 300kw. I wouldn't take away all the electronics as it gave it a very significant selling point.

[@micktaylorwolfcreekmechanical]

it was a cunt of a car i had so many elec problems with mine yet my 32yr old 80 series is still going strong

[@brantleyfoster021]

@@micktaylorwolfcreekmechanical You just have to stay on top of the massive amount of electronics. Once you repair them all & they are all working, it's a terrific car. Plus many BMW's, Mercedes & Audi's have vastly more electronics failing constantly. In fact, BMW is on the top of the European ownership board as the most unreliable European manuafactor due to failing electronics.

[@BoundlessFPV]

I actually owned a US Mitsubishi badged Starion back in 2002. To this day it's still the best car I've ever owned.

[@CrFouquet]

The SVX is a beautifully awesome car. One of my personal favorite's. I also wish I could have bought the Chrysler conquest.

[@ichibanmanekineko]

Looks like a Saab concept car

[@swaj420]

Great video, thanks!

[@MrRazortimes]

love the mx6/ford probe

[@rushnerd]

Mark III Supra. That's all I have to say. Not going to win over in the numbers, but it's the nicest CONSUMER vehicle Toyota made up to that point (this is pre-Lexus). Absolutely adore mine, it's nicer than pretty much any car I've been in and the looks are unmatched. Sure they can be had for cheap, but you want a very nice example and it's worth it when you really take care of them. You get a Toyota, you get a SUPRA, and all the attention while having an amazing car. It's worth it.

[@HiNRGboy]

I wish I could ride with you in one haha! That's my favorite Supra model as well.. There's a local one in my town someone owns, I've seen it a few times, and there's a 90's MK4 Supra at my local Toyota dealership that they take out for rides sometimes, but I like the MK3 design best :)

[@rushnerd]

@@HiNRGboy Yeah, the design and name make it all worth it. Anything but cheap though obviously if you want real power. I'm just happy with her as is.

[@twoshady518]

glad to see the Conquest/Starion. most fun car I ever owned

[@elQuestionare]

Epic! The Starion is lovely.

[@NickAbatino]

That was fun. Thank you!

[@jdmswap]

Thank you my man!

[@Divin3Valor]

Awesome video! Highly underrated, keep it up 👍 Subbed :)

[@jdmswap]

Thanks my friend!

[@frias2287]

Nice one🔥

[@CalGcastglassnz]

Love from New Zealand homie 🇳🇿 New sub here, soar high g

[@jdmswap]

Thanks man!

[@chrispatania9836]

Absolutely love starions they definitely got choked out by emissions tho, love mine dearly though

[@NPC-fl3gq]

Someone should make a Cappabusa!! A cappuccino with a Hayabusa drivetrain!! That'd be so much fun 😊

[@Kabal1247]

good job on the vid. Strong start!

[@jdmswap]

Thank you my man!

[@Makaya9s]

Love the cappuccino being on this list! Such a cool Kei car, i kinda want one in the future and put a 1.1 f10D from my alto or a swift 1.3/6 in it or something

[@reginaldsmith6356]

I would love to get my hands on that last car. It looks like it would be awesome to drive

[@TheNostalgicFuture]

I never even knew the 626 was an MX6. My grandma has daily driven a 626 my entire life. Maybe like a 1998-01 model. Nice dry Texas car, still looks completely perfect.

[@jaredeckert]

Cool video! Keep it up. Try some transitions between talking points and pump up the music a little bit.

[@jdmswap]

Thanks for the help man!

[@nightnaj5278]

the first moment i saw the eunos cosmo i fell in love, one of my dream cars 100%

[@keisera]

Very well executed video !

[@jdmswap]

Many thanks!

[@trcs3079]

In Australia, ALL cars are expensive. I remember owing a 1990 5 door hatch corolla, probably worth $200 back year years ago. Fast forward now, they sell for like $5000

[@danielkerekes9053]

I have the previous generation Cosmo(although the EU market one, which is called 929 Coupe and came with an underpowered 2.0 I4). That car was impressive back in the day as well. Adaptive suspension, power windows, mirrors, sunroof, and antenna, A/C, cruise control, headlight washers, heated seats… all of this could be yours in 1982! And it even came with pop up headlights, of course!

[@daviddyson7359]

In Japan it had a 12A Turbo EFI the same as the Series 3 (1983-85) JDM RX-7.

[@danielkerekes9053]

@@daviddyson7359 And I’m thankful I don’t have that version, which is surely quicker but a real pain to maintain and work on. Finding parts for this one is a nightmare as it is haha

[@Fallen_Chimera]

I actually encountered a Mitsubishi 3000GT when I was in Margate, thing looked marvellous!

[@takingoutthetrash1512]

I FN LOVE JAPANESE CARS... It never disappoints me

[@chappy2121]

I'm currently running a Toyota Crown Athlete Vx. They only made 300 of them, highest state of tune for the 1jz Gte Vvti from the factory. Had it nearly 3 years and I absolutely love it. Loads of tech, everything works 💪

[@Eternal_Zundamochi]

My uncle owns a Eunos Roadster M2. It was a phantom roadster that was only sold in the Setagaya district of Tokyo. Taxes, maintenance fees, and more. It certainly costs money. However, a convertible is a car that everyone once dreamed of. In the past, I had it on the passenger seat, but the exhilarating feeling is the best word. Salute to all the cars and the people involved in all cars. *THANK YOU ALL CARS* *THANK YOU ALL AUTOMOTIVE PERSON*

[@dirtdobber7799]

I had a 1987 Mazda 626 GT turbo coupe, and it was a fantastic car. Off the line it would out accelerate the early 90's GT mustangs. oscillating AC vents on the dash was a "cool" touch to the car. It had electronically controlled suspension dampening. All my friends in HS which were mostly muscle car owners, were amazed by the power in this car.

[@STONE-wh2en]

I was absolutely crazy by a 3000 GT. There was a red one in my town. Gorgeous machine.

[@richardike2342]

The Mazda Eunos was obviously the design inspiration for the exterior & interior of the early 90's Lexus SC400.

[@carguygibby]

I've had several Starions and Conquests. Fantastic cars but could be troublesome.

[@CheesusSVT]

Great video, this is so underrated... Keep up the great work. Subbed brudda.

[@jdmswap]

Thanks my man!

[@MauriceanMX6]

My first vehicle was a 95 MX6 in white. I miss this era of vehicles.

[@perryshotwell7903]

The 4th generation honda prelude was also underrated 3000gt vr4 was way ahead of its time

[@RiC3R69]

I love Mitsubishi 3000 every Generation of it looks Amazing

[@elQuestionare]

The Cosmo is also lovely.

[@rt2255]

300zxtt 4 wheel steering adjustable suspension and looked awesome

[@jdmswap]

Yeah, it's an awesome car!

[@skylinefever]

If you ever dreamed of getting a 300ZXTT, you might want to look into importing a Z32 Fairlady TT under the 25 year rule. Soon after the 300ZXTT ended sales in the USA, Japan got a few small improvements to the Z32 Fairlady TT. I know it got HID headlights and a few styling changes. However, I don't know what else it got.

[@rt2255]

@@skylinefever i had a 90 zxtt black.on black leather. Great car t tops fast handled and in touring mode on suspension rode smooth for sports car. Had stage 3 pushing about 390hp, all you ever need for the street.

[@skylinefever]

@@rt2255 When the 300ZXTT went on sale, I instantly wanted one. I was 5 at the time. My mom had a 1985 Nissan Maxima and it made me know and love the name Nissan. Turbo power sounded like magic back in the 1980s, so twin turbo was like having even more magic. Many years later, I would read an issue of Sport Compact Car about how to get 450HP out of a 300ZXTT. I read about what a hot wire mass air sensor was and how it became a choke point. That day I knew I would be able to work with modern computerized cars. In that issue, I saw what an R34 GT-R was years before most American boys did. I instantly wanted one badly. Years later, I chose the name Skyline Fever because of my desire. My knowledge of cars sold outside of the USA, and people like me made possible the WRX in 2002, the Evo in 2004, and the R35 GT-R. I like to think I was part of a massive movement.

[@rt2255]

@@skylinefever in 1990 was taking my ninja in my truck to tampa for vacation. Stopped at rest area saw black zxtt. I waited for owner to exit rest area building, he was kind enough to let me sit in it, popped hood and gave me specs and info. I swore that day when i made enough to buy one i would. I rode bikes since 6 yrd old liver dirtbikes but in 80s sportbikes were my passion, sleek fast loved them. Until that day no car eber stirred my soul, that z screamed at me. I am a sport bike with 4 wheels. Few yrs later i had my dream car. Best 3 buys in my life my ninja 600 my zxtt

[@canaryellow.]

I saw this video, then your subscriber count, thought it said 300k cuz that’s what it should be, then did a double check, HOW DO YOU HAVE LESS THAN 400 SUBSCRIBERS?!?!

[@jdmswap]

Hahaha thanks my man! I can't even complain, this video kinda blew up

[@johnnymason2460]

The Mitsubishi Starion and its Chrysler siblings are the only cars that I know that had antilock brakes on the rear wheels only(like a lot of pickups at the time). It's unusual but a very satisfying sports car to own.

[@Krezo200]

That eunos cosmo is so beautiful

[@user-pw6xg8rq8i]

That’s mazda 🚗✨

[@hagbardceline9909]

for 20 years my dream car has been a Cosmo - glad to see it on the list and also scared its gonna make it more expensive lol

[@AntonovP]

I have a Mazda MX-6 2.0 90 hp, 1987. in Europe known as Mazda 626 coupe, and I absolutely adore that car.

[@jdmswap]

Congrats on your car my man!

[@joelikespotatoes8321]

I saw Cappuccinos for hundreds of dollars online. Its insane. If it werent for the fact that its a 2 seater Id buy one right now.

[@BobSmith-ht4hv]

Subbed

[@jrjamz]

mazda and mitsubishi have alot of old gems that are slept on

[@spyrolover24]

Had a black 97 svx, loved everything about it except for the 4eat. I plan on getting another someday to manual swap, but that's down the road.

[@LuckyCharms777]

Did you ever get it up to its claimed top speed? If so, how was it?

[@spyrolover24]

@@LuckyCharms777 fastest I had mine was 125mph. It then decided to shut off for no reason at that speed. That car had a mind of it's own at times.

[@LuckyCharms777]

@@spyrolover24 Interesting. Guess it Japanese gremlins. I recall one review saying they reached a top speed of something like 142 mph.

[@spyrolover24]

The early ones had a top speed just over 150mph, but the obd2 ones I believe was 146mph.

[@fireblade21-30]

Thank you for making this video, now all these cars prices are going to go up at unholy rates.

[@seanscanlan2583]

I know it may not technically be in the same class of sports car but the glanza v turbo and other turbo starlets in my opinion have always been criminally underrated and overshadowed by the civics

[@HiNRGboy]

I really like these underrated and not so well known cars.. I know some of them pretty well, but others I did not know well. You missed the Isuzu Piazza/Impulse... both 80's and early 90's models. The original designer was Giugiaro in 1981. I like the re-designed 1990=91 model.

[@kevinfestner6126]

I still own my mazda mx6 gt turbo stick in ticket red. It just turned 200k miles. Getting hard to find parts, now. Doing repairs to keep it oem.

[@neilburton9136]

Would love to have a starion I worked for a garage as a young teenager and my boss had one

[@4BillC]

The MX-6 was also front wheel drive. I did almost buy an SVX in the late 90s. I ended up with a 94 Z24 Cavalier. Loved that stupid thing!

[@anthonytsi]

Love my Starion.

[@BeagleBageler]

Cool, I just want an r31 please.

[@denzellrocha5313]

This video has single-handedly added 4K to all the values of these vehicles

[@leonm6969]

The SVX is a good car, however for someone unexperienced they are absolute pain to mantain.

[@Makaya9s]

Same with the 3000gt. Great car, very advanced tech, but all that expensive tech has the possibility of breaking or malfunctioning if anything is tuned cause of the rudimentary ECU

[@hybridAbsol]

The fact that Subaru didnt offer a Turbocharged variant, pretty much a nail in the coffin for the model

[@Makaya9s]

@@hybridAbsol and no manual.... So dumb

[@f4rensabri]

Nissan 4 wheel steering is called HICAS and it was already available on the R32 Skyline GTR and the S13 Silvia/180SX.

[@VeilSideZ32]

And on the Z32 , R31

[@the302ghost]

The R31 having active aero and rear steer in the 80s

[@hubertasselin]

Yep started in 1986

[@the302ghost]

@@hubertasselin yea it's my favorite generation of the Skyline

[@yuriypislar8246]

The 3000gt was available for sale in the states when it was originally built and released.

[@davidjackson2524]

The Mitsubishi Stanion. As seen in the film Cannonball Run 2, where Jackie Chan is it's co-driver

[@digimon916]

Galant vr4. Some ppl still dont know about this car today bc in the usa it was watered down (later gens are basically honda accords) except for the few 1000 turbo first gens that made it here. The later gens internationally are bad ass and i identify them as the "gentlemen's lancer" because they look like an elongated lancer evolution.

[@KingBAS666]

I had a MX 6 but the second edition

[@courtneypuzzo2502]

the Supra was originally the top trim of the Celica in the late 1970s a friend of my dads had an early model supra and they loved it Alcyone was the name of the XT XT6 and XT turbo in Japan my mom drove a Subaru XT turbo when I was a kid actually enjoyed that car back then smooth ride for its class though I'd take a GL 10 sedan over that the XTs only sold around 100,000 in their seven model year run where as in that time the Toyota Camry sold 1.5 million units in the US alone and its older compact brother the Corolla wasn't far behind mind you the Corolla has been among the best selling car models in the US since the 1979 model year when it sold 257,096 units in the US becoming the first Japanese model to enter the top 10 at #8

[@LuckyCharms777]

I’m a Celica Supra guy, but I’ve always had an eye for the XT models, they just look neat. Mind you I loved the MR2 AW11, so I’m a fan of angular cars. Can’t believe Elon actually plans to produce the Cybertruck, how awesome is that body?!

[@lisillapapal]

I recognize all those for gran turismo 1 and 2

[@jeremywentworth1833]

All these other than the Mazda Eunos were sold in the UK, Mitsubishi starions were quite popular with people putting bigger Turbos on the cars, Suzuki cappuccino sold in the UK were only available in red and silver the car in the video is the first I've scene in nearly well over 20 years, Cappuccinos rusted like mad here but they were very popular for 3 or 4 years they were sold in the UK market.

[@robertstone9988]

$1700 to have spark plugs changed in a gt3000 vr4, in 2013. Sold the car with 45,000 on it to a friend who had to do a clutch. It almost cost him his marriage.

[@vikingwarriorlofotr2988]

Have owned 2 different mx6, both from 1988. First was a 2L 12v carburetor. Second one was 2L 16V dohc. Almost bought a 3rd one just a few months ago, but it needed too much work. I have a friend with another 88 mx6 and I have told him, if he ever sells it then I wanna buy it

[@noobitski700]

to be honest i thought that car shooting massive flames but it's actually the lake reflection on the thumbnail

[@wildimpo]

I can't believe the AWD Eagle Talon hasn't become a collector car

[@AndrewADeMuthIII]

The Eunos cosmo looks so frickin similar to an S13

[@repnatl]

The SVX with a gm Eaton 3.8 supercharger and an STI 6 speed made this car better.

[@SP00TNIC]

Don't forget that in the Mitsubishi in today's dollars was $85,000!! I believe 45,000 in those days or was 50k and a Supra was $29,000

[@char1737]

What about the Nissan Gloria or the Cema or the Toyota Celceor?

[@playeragex]

I have heard of all these cars

[@TonyWitThaTommy]

am I the only one that thinks from the front, the Eunos Cosmos looks like a budget S13 coupe

[@mickfindley603]

Mitsubishi in the 1980s where advanced with technology the 3000gt and the starion and I have the last 1983 Colt Cordia turbo MOT and taxed in the UK

[@jcaj9002]

The mitsubishi mirage cyborg R is very underrated

[@lithosjr4732]

The silver Starion reminds me to Megatron of the old transformers series

[@d.wagnerRE]

This list could’ve contained another 50 cars or so!!!

[@entityeoe2285]

My dad said his gtst type m had active 4 wheel steering and would adjust so the rear wheels turned the same way as the fronts if you were on the highway

[@hubertasselin]

Facts and every GTRs but the r35 had active 4 wheel steering. They even started this on the skyline R31 in 1986. I was looking for someone to bring up the skylines being equipped with 4WS as well.

[@skylinefever]

Sometimes I wonder what it would be like if the MX6 had the Millenia 2.3 Supercharged V6 instead of the 2.5L NA V6.

[@Imhere74]

But my friend had in Chicago Mitsubishi Starion in 1994 not a Dutch ? How so

[@justinfabricius1597]

I've owned an SVX and a few 3000GT VR4's. The SVX is the better daily of the two

[@simonminecraft4548]

I know Suzuki Cappuccino from Initail D Four Stage

[@eldrifto_]

omg an s13!1!1!1!

[@daviddyson7359]

The JC Cosmo was not supercharged. Both engine options incorporated a complex Sequential twin-turbo system, similar to that used on the 3rd generation RX-7.

[@billynomates3162]

One look at the channel name and I knew this was gonna be a yank hahah

[@Ferjijiji]

1:44 Wait, the GTR uses attesa awd the rear wheels of the GTR Rotate too

[@twrcrew8852]

the Eunos Cosmos looks like mazda's GMO experiment with an SC300 chassis that got injected with the DNA of an S13 Silvia's exterior and S14 and 4th gen Prelude DNA in the interior - all mashed together, fighting for genetic dominance.