It’s much easier to import a USDM car to Japan than it is to import a JDM car to the US, especially if you live in California. In Japan, you do have to prove its smogworthiness, but different emissions equipment isn’t an automatic fail. And major cities actually have LHD toll booths. Many marques, like Chevrolet, sell LHD cars directly from the dealership. Imagine going into an American Nissan showroom and being able to drive out in a RHD Skyline GT-R.
But contrary to popular belief, there are USDM cars that were “better” than their Japanese versions. Our S12 200SX/Silvia, for example, came with a V6 while Japan only got four-cylinders. Today, February 10, is Left Handed Day in Japan, a play on the word le (0) fu (2) to (10) in Japanese, and established by the Japan Southpaw Association.
What LHD car would you drive in Japan?
The most entertaining comment by next week will receive a prize. Scroll down to see the winner of last week’s QotW, “What kid-friendly commuter is still fun to drive?“.
Many great cars made their way into the answers of the week. Let’s start off with Honda, which eked out a slim victory over the other marques with excellent offerings like BlitzPig‘s Civic Si; Sammy B‘s Accord 2.0T, TSX or ILX options; Manu‘s trio of Civic Shuttle, Fit, and Element; and dankan‘s Integra GS-R. All great choices, and I do regret not buying a GS-R Sedan years ago because I thought the mileage was too high.
Next up, Toyota, with a wide-ranging lineup of beige alternatives, such as crank_case‘s choices of Caldina GT-T or Probox, Negishi no Keibajo‘s Scion xB, and Land Ark and cesariojpn both suggesting the Lexus IS300. Another recommendation of a Lexus SC was near and dear to my heart, but two doors is too impractical.
Mazda makes excellent sports cars, but their sleeper sedan game is also very good. Joe Musashi‘s Mazdaspeed 3 and Franxou‘s Mazdaspeed 6 deserve strong consideration. And if I were younger Bryan Kitsune‘s Miata suggestion made in jest is something I might be crazy enough to try to pull off.
Nissan’s underrated Primera/Infiniti G20 was suggested by both Maestro and Jim Klein, and crank_case‘s Cefiro gives a JDM option. Meanwhile, Subaru ‘s Legacy GT, in both sedan and longroof form, got shoutouts from Lee and Land Ark, respectively. And Taylor C.‘s blanket suggestion of any 90s V6 sedan covers all the bases.
The winner this week is Sedanlover, who suggested Australia’s version of the Toyota Van. It was an answer that came straight from the heart, with the struggle of kids as palpable as the nostalgia for the good ol’ pre-SUV days:
It’s simple, anything designed to carry more than three people that was created before the spread of the SUV.
I recently purchased a 1988 Toyota Tarago YR22 (aka Toyota Van/Model F/Master Ace Surf) as a fun little project to replace my 1997 Toyota Corolla AE102R sedan. Initially, my very opinionated 5-year-old daughter was disgusted that I could sell the ever-reliable Blue-silver Corolla for a stinky brown van that we couldn’t just get in and drive straight away. With its dented panels, filthy interior and lack of ‘go’, she couldn’t see the potential. But after seeing her dad spend a bit of time working on this car, making it nice to be in, and ensuring it starts, drives, steers, and stops, maybe, just maybe, she can appreciate how a little hard work can go a long way.
Well, I can safely say it is a favoured choice for commuting to and from school, not only because it has a manual transmission (the Corolla was auto), but largely due to the fact you can slide open the roof for the 2nd-row passengers! My soon-to-be 2-year-old son equally goes crazy for rides in the Tarago and has active meltdowns when told he’s going in mummy’s car hahahaha.
One more reason for the choice to go with this unaerodynamic, shitty old 8-seater is the fact the kids can stand up inside, and I’m not banging their heads or straining my back to get them into their car seats. Absolute godsend.
Omedetou, your comment has earned you a set of decals from the JNC Shop!
One “genre” of vehicles that caught my attention were LHD European vehicles delivered to Japan for the JDM. Although not intended, but this combination really seems to stand out and provide a rarity. I think a BMW E35 M3/4/5 would be a nice change of scene in a sea of Crowns, Glorias, Crestas, Primeras, and Legends. It’s compact dimensions would feel right at home on Japan’s roads. I think a mid 90s Volvo 850 Turbo GLT wagon would be a nice vehicle to drive out there as well. I know SUVs are inevitable anywhere we go, but I feel that Japan still hasn’t “fallen” for it like every other market. They still have (had) all sorts of station wagons, and I think this Brick would be a nice alternative to the Stagea, Mark II Qualis, Legnum, Crown Estate, Orhia, Windroad, to name a few.
The only challenge is to find a reputable source of maintenance parts.
I have a habit of not proofreading enough – E36, not E35.
I think I’d pull a sneaky here … and, ship our ’23 Mercedes-Benz CLA250 4Matic AMG over there to surprise the citizens. It isn’t the fastest model … 255hp … but the way I have it set up, the car is very striking in Sun Yellow over Black leather and, fully optioned! The main idea is to make a statement and, this car would for one thing, no one expects a YELLOW Mercedes (the color isn’t available anymore so, it IS a rarity) especially in Japan where the brighter-hued cars are of the tuners palettes. It is quick but, not as a rule. The car has several levels of perform-ance and, chicken as i am, I tend to keep our Bumblebee in the economy section. But all those horses respond in the sport very well. This Benz would be on the level of whatizzatamercedes? when out on the highway, he’s got enough beans and is at a great comfort and appearance … It’d be cool to do this but, our Lotto tickets refuse to have the proper numbers so far!
Oh wow I won! Thanks, Ben and the JNC team. Seriously, everyone was talking about nice comfy big sedans or wagons, but you cannot beat an old people mover that you can pretty much stand up in when it comes to getting small kids into their car seats. Plus, it’s a crappy old thing, and although I’m actively trying to teach my kids to be neat and respect the interior of the car, it doesn’t matter if it gets more wear and tear than usual. For anyone interested in seeing me get this piece of junk back on the road you can check out my instgram here https://www.instagram.com/smol__bois/
For this week’s answer I’d go with a bright pink giant old Cadillac, purely because it seems like the antithesis of what Japanese roads and city driving is built for.
Well, as the following cars I’ll mention are not Japanese in origin, then I think the LHD cars that may end up on Japanese soil would be: (Mainly those are marketed in continental Europe, plus non-EU ones like Norway, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Andorra, Monaco, San Marino and Iceland, and also South Korea.)
Peugeot: 104, 106, 107 (aka Toyota Aygo), 205, 206, 207, 208, 305, 306, 307, 308, 309, 404, 405, 406, 407, 408, 504, 505, 508, 605, 607, 806, 807, 2008, 3008 and 5008
Citroen: DS, SM, CX, GS/GSA, Visa, BX, AX, ZX, Saxo (aka Chanson in Japan), Xsara, Xantia, XM, C3, C4, C1 (same with 107 and Aygo), C5, C6, Evasion (aka Synergie in the UK and Ireland) and C8
Jeep: Patriot, Compass (mainly the Fiat-based models), Renegade and Avenger
Fiat: 124, 125, 127, 128, Uno, Regata (aka Regatta in Sweden), Ritmo (aka Strada in Britain and North America), Bravo/Brava, Marea, Punto, 500x, 600 and Ulysse
Alfa Romeo: Giulia, Giulietta (both generations with those names), GTV, Sprint (based on Alfasud), 164, 155, 156, 166, 145/146, 147, 159, GT, Brera, Stelvio and Tonale
Lancia: Fulvia, Delta, Ypsilon, Thema, Lybra, Kappa (aka k) and Thesis
Renault: 4, 5, Clio, 16, 18, 9 and 11, 18, Megane, 21, Laguna, Alpine GTA (simply known in the UK as GTA), Kangoo, Kadjar, Captur, Koleos, Espace, Austral and Rafale
The former Rootes Group later Chrysler Europe/Chrysler UK: Simca 1501, Simca/Talbot Horizon and Talbot Solara/Simca 1307
Ford (mainly Europe): Fiesta, EcoSport, Focus, Kuga (aka Escape), Mondeo and Cougar
Volvo and Saab: all models (?)
Opel: Corsa (first generation was named as Vauxhall Nova), Tigra, Kadett (aka Vauxhall Astra), Astra, Vectra (first model was named Vauxhall Cavalier), Calibra, Insignia, Senator, Omega, Manta, Monza, Mokka and Grandland
Land Rover: Freelander and Discovery and that’s all
Easy, a Mazda RX3-SP, complete with the optional spoiler, louver, and stripe package. The SP was a U.S. market LHD model, with the optional bits added at the Long Beach port of entry. There was no RHD version of it, or anything RX3 that was close to it. Love the optional bits or hate them, you can’t easily ignore them.
The Toyota Altezza/Lexus IS300 would be my pick. While the Japan version got the famous BEAMS 3S-GE, the U.S. version got the 2JZ-GE which I think better fit the platform. Make it a manual wagon in a rare color like imperial jade mica and I would drive that car all over Japan.
back in the 80’s and 90’s many GM cars were actually sold new in japan, be it with some modifications, the third gen f-bodies for one had factory fender flares, different ‘paddle’ mirrors and all the models had the base model laillights but the steering wheel was still on the left.
so a JDM american muscle wedge like a trans am would suit mejust fine.
That being said, i’d gladly take a page from Kendrick Lamar`s playbook, f*ck being rational imma go from Hokkaido to Kyushu in a black grand national!
Given my love for Mazdas I could go with a Euro-spec ’89 323F or some kind of special edition NA MX-5 – think countries like the UK had some nice ones that aren’t duplicates of JDM specs with steering on the left. Alternatively could be a late 90s Civic Aerodeck, those were never offered outside Europe.
Or, if we’re not going exclusively for Japanese cars, how about a VW Corrado?
Practically speaking, as a BMW-phile, I’d probably drive the nicest 80s Alpina I could find in Japan.
But since this is Japanese Nostalgic Car, I’d want something inkan-worthy, so I’d drive a Plymouth Laser RS Turbo AWD.
Why?
Because it’s the strangest looking and probably the most rare of the DSM triplets. It’s based on the Mitsubishi Galant VR-4 but in coupe format. They sold the Eclipse in Japan, but never in AWD. So you’d have this strange, quasi-American, quasi-Japanese Nostalgic car manufactured and designed in the USA built on a Japanese platform. You’d be able to find more support and consumable replacement parts, and the Mitsubishi-ota will constantly be doing double takes. And so would the USDM lovers, and the Amesha-ota. It’s the triple-crown of Car Otaku.
And, I’d pair it with a Plymouth Sapporo maybe, because that’s my wife’s hometown, and based on the Galant Sigma.
Easy a New Suzuki Jimny 5 door on that greenish/yellow color that’s not available in Japan, It’ll be the topic of conversation not only because it should be a LHD Jimny, because it was recently launched as a 2025 Model as Jimny Nomade in Japan, but the wait for one is 52 months and the sales where put on hold because of the high demand, even the units in the dealers where removed to not tempt more potential buyers.
Besides think on the following seeing a model from a japanese maker not available anytime soon in a LHD variant would make passerbys and enthusiats scratch their heads, or better then taking it to a Suzuki dealer to get some service done…
It would be great to bring a second generation Ford Probe over there and ask a Mazda dealership to do the maintenance! It was a badge-engineered Mazda MX-6, but the reskin was extensive, and while the MX-6 was really good looking, I always liked the Probe better for its hatchback and pop-up headlights.
The same 1955 Bel Air that I left there in 1966 i![
Oh, to drive my LHD ’71 Datsun 510 SSS sedan in Japan…
While visiting Tokyo/Kyoto/Hiroshima I was awestruck by how their streets were so clean, well-cared-for, and in some cases, awkward (in a fun way).
The sensory experience of driving any vintage car is very cool. But the image of driving my 510 at night in Tokyo with windows down, pulling in the visual, auditory (and olfactory) sensations of Tokyo nightlife – is to me the essence of alluring and serene.
It would be a privilege to bring my Datsun back to it’s land of manufacture where it would feel right at home navigating the narrow but pebbly-smooth surfaces of Tokyo roads/side streets.
Definitely my still (almost) “new” 93SE!
Just wonder if anyone there would notice?
https://www.virtualparking.net/ride/2762/1993-honda-accord