spracingsports

article written by Dan at HondaTuning Magazine:

What's got me befuddled in my senility is this whole facination with all things Japanese Domestic Market. The importance that some Honda enthusiasts attatch to JDM parts, pieces and trim nearly rivals religious devotion. Twenty-five years ago, "Made-In-Japan" was a joke to most. Now it's a fashion. Give credit to the Japanese companies for sticking to it and becoming a world leader in automotive and consumer electronic technology.
In 25 years, don't be surprised to fing your kids rocking Chinese Domestic Market power mirrors on their Dongfeng compacts.
Seriously though, what gives with this whole chase for JDM credibility? Suddenly the power mirrors and guage clusters dont do it anymore. You need a full civic type-r interior to get in the door these days. I thought my lucky charm from Kobe's Ikuta Shrine, hanging from my integra's rearview, might give me some legitimacy. But apparently the Japanese traffic gods these days prefer charms with a Mugen gold stripe. It's getting tough.
I blame the rage of engine swaps for this situation. One day you figurured out the ZC motor sat perfectly in your civic's engine bay yet delivered better performance, and it was on. Suddenly guys started talking in whispers about engine importers and yards that could bring in whole JDM sheels. Guys who'd never been to Japan and weren't sure whether you proounced it "moo-gen" or "moo-jen" became the keepers of the JDM code, because they'd learned where to buy one-piece DA headlights and you hadn't.
Nothing is wrong with digging for unique and rare JDM parts. That's part of personalizing your car. It's when the attitude swings a bit extreme that we should step back and consider. Most of us can agree that Honda makes some very quality performance products abroad, products that rival even those of aftermarket competitors (I'm thinking primarily of manifolds, pistons and cranks). But does a product, simply by virtue of its manufacture by a Japanese company, make it better than its American or European counterparts?
Hard to say. A lot of Japanese companies have sourced manufacturing to China, another step removed from the quality control process (to be fair, a number of American and European companies do the same). Some so-called JDM parts may never even touch Japanese shores, but are considered by JDM hipsters the real deal simply because the company maintains a Tokyo adress.
In the end, it's up to enthusiasts and magazinrs like HT to steer people to good products, whatever their origin. Don't be suckered into that whole "JDM equals better" belief. Remember that Japan is going through some tough economic times right now. American enthusiasts have become a nice overseas market for many Japanese companies. Read up. Ask around. Choose wisely.



here he brings up great points... really makes ya think... what are your reactions? agree? disagree?

punkindrublic

that reminds me of a certain member....

EL_CIVIC

it's not simply the fact of gettin jdm parts,

we have been all guilty of joining the "fast and the furious" bandwagon at one point or another...
now we look back and think, "what the hell were we thinking?!?"

it doesn't matter where it come's from, as long as it's of good taste.. why spend 2000 dollars on mugen rims, if you can get the same looking one's by rota for 800... u noe?

yes, some people go way overboard with the AUTHENTIC JDM.. but hey..it's not money their wasting..it's theirs...

Quick_CX

most things JDM are better....for example a USDM gsr is 170 hp and has a compression ratio of 10:1, as per a JDM B18C has around 178 hp, and a compression ratio of 10.6:1...but when it gets down to the insane money people are spending on things liek JDM honda road flares?...thats getting extreme...a few years ago the big thing was clear corners...and now? JDM amber rip off's. my car has JDM headlights corners and a complete power train, nothing wrong with some peoples obbsession with jdm spare tires or a JDM seatbelt....every little detail counts when some one cares soo dearly about there car...its a matter of personnal opinion, JDM AMBER clocks and clusters....simply they look cooler, maybe not to all....BUT JDM parts are the new altezza or EURO this euro that. sam things can be said about all parts CARBON FIBRE...even if its fake or has one layer of carbon fibre, all of a sudden its top of the line and surpasses all non super carbon fibre products....

imported_94EG6HB

I would like to counter and offer a different opinion.

I for one have been to Japan, and most of Asia for that matter.

Not for a week or two vacation mind you.

Months and months on end..

It is was this time in my life that my fascination with the 5th gen Honda began..

I was given a "lowly" 94 EG6 SIR to drive as a commuter vehicle.

I loved that car, the features, the performance, the fact it was easy to park.

Upon returning to North America I was car less.

After sometime my girlfriend soon to be my wife shows up with a 94 EH2 CX .

Its not an SIR but I can fix that..

Hot damn..

The slow and labourious process of sourcing parts I felt would enhance the vehicle began.

This is 6 years ago mind you not yesterday.

Well before all the JDM "hype" started..

I started with a set of 5Zigen N1R Q.F rims..

They were a bit costly at the time but looking back not that bad considering what they are worth now.

Next was a Honda Access exhaust...

Throughout this time I have sourced many oem parts for my car that most people don't even know exist..

Some of them functional, some cosmetic, some both..

To date I have spend under $2500 CDN on "JDM" upgrades for my car.

For those of you who think I spend an arm and an *** on parts you are mistaken..

I love the challenge of finding that "you're never gonna find that" part.

This includes several pairs of rims, tires, accessories, glass, interior pieces etc

I don't consider myself a purist.

Just an enthusiast.

Now most people will swap a motor and call it a day..

I find the motor swapping component the easy part, it the details I'm after..

I can appreciate a customized civic as much as one that is showroom stock.

I find myself prefering less bling as I get older, but thats a personal choice.

For me myself, putting "JDM" parts on my car brings back a bit of nostalgia.

I could care less about the money I've spent ...

I've worked hard for it and damn it I'm gonna enjoy it..

I've even passed on most of my parts contacts to other members of this board so they can pursue their projects..

The thing to remember is to "customize" your vehicle with items "you like"..

Its your time, your money and your hobby, If you don't like it leave..

SiknTwistedCiv

Its all about personal preference, step outside the world or Honda's and Acura's look at Mitsubiti where JDM means what 5 More HP when it comes to a motor. It the people's choice when it comes down to the nitty gritty, best bang for your bux is not always going to be JDM.
Too much HYPE for JDM not enough proof that its the ****.
IMO thats my .02

imported_EH_94_Civic

i try my hardest to march to my own beat. i have not jumped on the JDM bandwagon. i dont own one part JDM on my car. i dont have anything against it. i just have a big problem with the ppl that bring the attitude into it.

where they have to mock some one for there altezas or there exhaust. Some ppl spend tons of $$ just to get accepted by these ppl.

Be yourself and do what u enjoy most that is what makes this hobby fun.

we need more genuine ppl who are themselves.
thats what makes us different and unique.
who wants a bunch of clones.

thx for listenings

spracingsports

ya i totally understand all your points.... i kinda feel he was getting at that "most" people think that all JDM parts are of a higher quality, like putting JDM armrests or door panels, makes their car actually better than someone else's. i love the JDM style myself and would like to do the whole, lips, seats, shift assembly, etc. i just cant justify spending moohlah on a JDM clock....

i once saw where a kid (who didnt even claim a JDM car) had like 15grand put into his car, engine swap, volk wheels, tires, JDM lips all around, type-r seats, 'tezzas and the engine was done up rather nicely..... rather than congratulate or praise his car, his entire guestbook was filled with the replies of "true JDM enthusiasts" who were bagging on his ride saying stuff like:
-your car has altezzas? how can your car be JDM
-My car is way better than yours, i have full JDM interior!

now i have yet to see people this ignorant on these boards, but its the dumasses like these that frustrate me, they think "i have more JDM parts than you, so my car is better", and that is ****ing whack!

bbarbulo

iTrader: (2)

I tried to argue exactly that point on jdmcivic.com cuz I kept saying, your car is LHD, get that through your head! ... yet you knock Rota rims without even knowing why you do it. I got banned

For the record I knock Rota rims cuz they have been shown to stress-fracture at auto-x events and have been banned by the SCCA in the states. If you care, check out north american impreza owners association website for info.

SiknTwistedCiv

If the hype about JDM keeps headed the way it is now, shortly all the people that say JDM JDM JDM this and that will be saying that JDM is RICE......

imported_SW20 MR2

I've been saying the same thing as that article for years now. I don't care where my parts come from as long as they are good quality. I would rather spend half the amount of money on some USDM forged JE pistons than buying Jun/Toda pistons.

I buy parts cause I like them. I am not out to impress anyone, and I could care less what people think of my cars. In fact, I don't even like attention.

Honestly, how many people out there TRULY believe that the Spoon SW388's are actually nice wheels? If they were made by American Racing and were identical, do you think people would buy them? Hell no!!! If a non-JDM company sold magnetic drain plugs for $50, do you think they would sell if they didn't come with a Spoon box? Hell no!!! I've said it before, and I'll say it again, the scene is full of lemmings.

spracingsports

yup, the more it catches on and everyone starts doing it, it will all stop, and be lame because its the pupoular thing, just like SiknTwistedCiv said

spracingsports

bbarb, i had no idea the rotas had problems, or the fact that they were banned by SCCA?

imported_94EG6HB

As much as we would all like to deny..

"Altezza" lights originated in the JDM market..

Where do you think APC got the idea from?

People out there were flossing them in 96/97..

Quick_CX

yea too many kids are buying vision corners and calling their car pure jdm styles....everyone does up their car their way....and i would be impressed if somone had glass from a jdm civic...cause thats civic enthusiasm....and no one can deny the JDM version of most of our USDM version, are better and have cooler options...someone who has a JDM clock or JDM cluster more power to you....cause thats nitty gritty enthusiast...and isn't thats what this is about?....finding that one part that finishes up your interior or exterior or engine bay...and the whole spoon mugen toda jun, thing is the same with any market....if BROOKS came out with a set of 'iversons' even if it was the same quality as the origanals...would it sell as much?...the JDM thing is a FAD and will be over done and prolly worn out...weather you like alltezzas, carbon fibre this...big wings....anything....if your car is 100% RACTIVE or 100% SPOON....its YOUR car...and if thats how you like it....and your proud at the end of the day...you've done a good job...

Quick_CX

94eg6hb...well said

imported_BoOsTd

imported_94EG6HB

Its the truth don't you know..

Bad casting...

Nova_Dust

I buy aftermarket parts that have reputable names with top quality. I am not here to impress anyone but myself. Who else knows Japanese car better than Japanese themselves? Not dissing American companies but if I drive a Ford, then I would look for SVT parts.

For us Asians who were once a FOB, we have lived under a heavy Nippon influence since our childhood. The comics, the way people dress, the toys, video games, models, songs, singers and whatnot where almost all came from Japan. Of course, we still like our own culture very much, but you can�ft deny that Japanese has some cool stuff that other people don�ft. At one point, I had so many Japanese female signers�f CD and I spent a lot of money of those. I couldn�ft understand jack what they were signing but I liked the tune. I still have those CDs. I listen to those once in a blue moon just to bring back some nice memories. It is a phase of my life, my childhood.

True, back in the 70s, anything that says Made in Japan you can pretty much forget it. The quality was crap, and no one wanted them. But they did make the effort to improve their products or else you wouldn�ft see so many Hondas and Toyotas on the road today.

Then it comes to cars. Well I like Honda, period. I spend money on what I think is worth my effort and hard earn cash. I wouldn�ft spend money on thin moldings but I might get side markers just because it makes changing lane that much safer. I wouldn�ft really get an EK factory hatch door and replace my EJ one, to me, they are the same thing. I wouldn�ft spend money on CTR cluster unless my engine can rev that high. I wouldn�ft spend money on EK e-brake cover because�c well, it is useless to me. But however, I would spend money on a nice set of rims because if it is the best the market has to offer, then I want it. I don�ft care if it is copied thousands of times, I will stick to what I like. I spend money on my car to improve its performance, not to make it look the same. Ya everyone wants to show off their ride a little or else we wouldn�ft be in this Civic club in the first place.

Well, blah blah blah, I don�ft give little rat�fs *** about what is in and what is out. I care what I like and that�fs that.

imported_EH_94_Civic

i agree w/ nova.

said the same just worded it in my own words