So JDM what?
 

I know that there are a great number of fellas out there that worship the JDM gods and will spend $700 on a JDM oil cap and I really don't mean to offend any of you here. To each his own.

I just wanted to find out if there are a bunch of folks out there like me or if I'm all alone.

Even when the pricing isn't absurd and the product in question looks/performs great I find myself turning away from anything that is advertised using that specific acronym.

So far everything I've purchased and that I plan to purchase is designed and built right here in the US. I'm not going out of my way to try and stay within the US....if the performance matches the hype when we finally see some info I bet I'll have an Aussie S/C in my car before too long.

I just feel like trying to shop for the best performance/quality/value/customer service I end up steering clear of everything JDM without any conscious effort to do so.

I think the customer service piece is key. Being able to contact companies like Perrin and Namless for support on their high quality parts or with questions while determining a purchase is something that the JDM gods just can't offer me.

It's a really annoying advertising term because of how overused it is. That being said, if I see two products of equal price and know nothing about either of them I'd be more likely to buy the one that was made in Japan.

youre not alone. the first thing i think when i hear JDM isnt quality, or reliability. i think over-priced. kind of like a guilty until proven innocent type deal.

Yes I'm a JDM brand whore

The main reason I get JDM bits is the availability. If the USDM would sell the stuff I'd get it here. I really only buy OEM parts for this car.

The only thing outside of OEM I've bought is my coils (Made{in VA at that}and Sold in the US) because I didn't like the look or functionality of the TRD coils and STi hasn't released theirs yet.

People in Japan put Scion and FRS badges on their Toyota GT86. Grass is always greener on the other side.

Yep. We created their SpoCom movement with our garbage altezza lights and underglow.

Their Low Rider movement is super strong as well.

Personally I want the stuff for MY domestic market. The main thing is just because something is made to sell in Japan doesn't necessarily make it better.

But that's my main driving factor. Subaru hasn't released anything for the BRZ.

With the FR-S you at least have the Five-AD and TRD stuff here.

I think you're missing the point (or I am), but JDM, to me isn't a brand or something that simply comes from Japan. It's a part that's made specifically for a Japanese car by the original manufacturer of said car. In other words, anything OEM in Japan is what I consider JDM here.

That being said, right or wrong, if I want Silvia headlights for my 240, a sun visor with Japanese text for a Civic, a SR20 engine, or padded Toyota knee guards for my BRZ, I'm going to be buying "JDM" as that's the only way to buy it.

Edit: we'll, I guess "JDM" would technically denote ANYTHING made in Japan, be it good or bad, so maybe I'm being obtuse. Still, it wasn't considered a bad thing when I was a kid. I can see how it could have been bastardized over the years.

Ricers buying "JDM" is like yuppies buying prius's....90% of the time its to put on a front for social status....

What's the other 10% buy it for?

It certainly used to be that way, thus contributing to the 'JDM is better' sentiment.

When my dad had to replace a window switch on his '82 Accord, he found a JDM one in the junkyard. It had extra rubber sealing compared to the one on his car.

They don't need to, everything is interchangeable.

Enthusiasts. I'm an old man, far from a ricer, and while it never fully panned out, I've always planned on doing a S13 conversion on a 240. It wasn't going to have a giant wing, a cheap body kit, tow hook, or neon of any kind. Just straight up stock. Okay, okay, maybe a bigger turbo/intercooler! Sue me.

Anyway, I've been out of the scene for a while, so unless something has changed and the term "JDM" has evolved, I'm not sure why this is considered derogatory now...?

A better bolt-on that is at similar value of the competition in that segment.

This. Scion parts are money on the other side as well.

That said, I love my jdm parts. The fact that they are expensive makes it that much better. Smart people wouldn't pay for them. ;)

You sir are a 10%'er....thank you....as I was talking hard parts...not cosmetics....take note folks.

I just find that when I look at some of the vendor classified forums, particularly in the cosmetic modification area, EVERYTHING is advertised as JDM or JDM Style.

JDM window visors, JDM taillights, JDM this, JDM that, oh and a JDM bumper sticker as well....

Little ridiculous.


Edit: I may have made up the bumper sticker.

Perhaps if I spent time in Asia or read JDM magazines or something I would care/ have sentiment about having white marker lights or no side reflectors in otherwise stock taillights, Japanese branded bolt ons etc. I buy what I see as having value and quality. Doesn't matter country of origin. If there is an apples to apples quality/value upgrade then it might be worth the extra trouble. What do I know, in the 90's I had all kinds of Vtecs not even knowing I had Vtecs. :lol:

People shouldn't worry about what other people want or want to pay for something. Mind your own business and do up your car the way you want.

I just wish that we had the cornucopia of selection and customization that they have over there. Take a look a Nigel's JDM Autoparts and you see so much variety - albeit an expensive variety, but, variety nonetheless. I still haven't seen any availability (at least here in Canada) of Spoiler, fog lights, a JDM TRD exhaust, shift knobs,......Granted, most of these are available to some degree from non-OEM sources, but, still frustrating that Scion has made itself to be a brand for customization, I am just not seeing it.

I buy JDM because it stands out from the rest of the crowd. When everyone starts going JDM, I go back to stock. I am unique and different and follow my own trend, to me that's what JDM offers, to look different from everyone else.

Same goes to those Japs, they want to be different from their OEM counterparts by re-badging to Scion FRS and buying those USDM chrome headlights(No offense).

JDM simply means anything made for Japanese cars in their home market.

In the US it started as a movement where using Japan exclusive parts was a way to make one's car unique. But it's been blown out of proportion in the last few years because of bandwagonning and clever parts marketers.

At any rate, I have no problem using parts made in any region on my car. Shit, I already have US made parts and oem JDM stuff on my car.

As long as they are good quality and they function I couldn't care less.

thats not following your own trend. thats going against the grain. you are as equally influenced by others as people following trends. following your own trend would be buying what you like regardless of its popularity and sticking with it because its what you like.

Caring about JDM usually ends at around age 28ish.

I'm an old fart and can give a rat's ass about JDM or clear sidemarkers, painting tail-lights, loud, heavy stereos, 3" exhausts on an N/A car, fancy tow hooks and hanging stuffed animals from the undercarriage.

I tend to gravitate to the "JDM" stuff just because in a lot of cases they make better products. Same reason I don't buy American cars like Chevy and Ford. They just seem to lack the refinement and quality of the Japanese brands. Even if the car is built in a US factory it is run under Japanese management and mentality.

I don't exclusively by JDM stuff, heck I have a motiv concepts front pipe on the car and love it. They make an excellent product at a great price and take pride in their work.

I like parts that have been proven on a track or at least developed from information gained from racing. Most of the JDM brands like Tein, Volk, Project Mu, Endless and such are being used in multiple racing series.

I admit I also like the little bit of status that comes with the name. Just like you can buy a Seiko for $300 but to say it is as good as a Rolex is tough to say. They perform the same function but the Rolex is made to a higher standard and also carries brand value.

Some things are interchangeable but not everything. For example I have the TRD door stabilizers, sound changer and Toyota rain guards. I was going to use the Scion splash guards but decided against them as my wheels are outside of their coverage.

But I couldn't have any of the front lips, grille garnishes, rear spoilers(without a trunk trade or filling holes), etc..

My point is not that Toyota parts won't fit. They are just more accessible in the US vs Subaru parts.

JDM = JDM OEM, anything else is marketing BS

I've seen quite a few cars and the whole JDM thing might be out of grasp to the ones trying to hate on things.

It was a popular swap for 5th gen celica to get JDM rear lights because they just looked better AND they were OEM. Same thing with the 6th gen.

The JDM OEM Z32 have some great tail lights that looks better than their US counterpart.

People swap JDM OEM clear side markers on the FR-S because it looks better. Same thing with the JDM tips, those stupid dinky ones for the US market looks like crap.

And let's not forget all the engine swaps, most of them are JDM engines...3sgte, 2jz, sr20's, KLZE's, k20's, honda B's and H's.

Whoever said anything about JDM oil cap don't look at it the right way...the stuff from there really is better in my opinion.

It is your money, spend it as you like. Suprisingly most "JDM" stuff means "Not For Sale in North America". Almost all countries that sport right had drive cars get the same stuff as what is sold in Japan. I on the other had like functionality over cosmetics and will only buy stuff that serves a purpose.

1. Make it faster
2. Make it easier
3. Make it more reliable

Spoken like a true Honda guy - Lighter, stronger, faster.

How did you get a Honda Integra and Suzuki Ignis stateside? Or did you own these abroad?

More of a rally guy. I'm originally not from these parts.

Usually when i hear "JDM" i start to think "Riced out Honda Civic." I don't typically care where i get my parts from as long as it does what i want it to do and it's reliable.

I can speak of older cars from experience. The FR-S, not so much.

I really wanted to find all the bits a pieces to make my Celi'Supra into a CelicaXX and love finding bits and pieces scattered about the world to help in this endeavor. I also went to the point of using a Japanese manga/anime (Mecha-Doc) characters and decals scaled up from a Tamiya model of said CelicaXX for giggles. Totally arroz, I know, but looked fun sideways at autocross and car shows.

That said, it is not hard at all to make the twins look like anything offered in Japan. Let's see how its done in 20-25 years when these parts aren't sitting in a bin.

Eric G

I like to go the "JDM" route because I feel that because we are love our cars so much and we're so into them, another person who knows nothing about the car can walk into a dealership and buy something that looks the exact same as what you have. I want mine to look different, to display something special that doesn't resemble all those driving around me.

It sounds cheesy, but when I change some of my parts to factory JDM, such as an emblem swap or changes that others can see, those who share my same love and same background in cars can look and say "That owner knows his stuff. He knows the cars history, what the car is about, the original manufacturer of the car and the struggles of the engineers/project employees that have worked hard and fully appreciates that car every time he gets behind the wheel." And if nobody thinks that when they walk by or see the parts, I myself know that, and it makes me feel better. When I say JDM in this case, I refer to OEM JDM.

Some of you guys are referring to JDM as in Japanese Domestic Market AFTER Market parts. I understand the feeling some have. I use to be a huge endorser of the JDM movement and putting my money to those companies, but if we take away all the culture, all the naming and all the price differences. In the end, as members of this community, we all have to agree that this stamp doesn't have any association with the quality of the part. There just isn't. There's no scientific proof, and any opinions on a certain market having a certain quality are biased views.

I mean, we have HKS exhausts cracking and Greddy exhaust's rusting on the forum. If I am to defend any "JDM" I'd defend the OEM JDM, but I can't fully back the JDM aftermarket. I use to be able too. Maybe back then, JDM did mean quality. But in today's present market, I can't put the JDM = Quality stamp on things anymore. I use to be one of the biggest JDM advocators before, but I can't do it anymore. It's a biased/old fashioned view that needs to change.

All about preference. Not one US shop makes exhausts or parts to the quality Amuse does. BUT... that said, JDM is misused so much as a term. Buying Japanese-brand parts does not = JDM.

Anyways, buy what you like and everyone's ok. Unless it knocks off the Japanese parts, that's when I have an issue.

There is a slight difference between JDM OEM and JDM aftermarket.. with that said, some people might even argue if an in-house tuner is considered "OEM" for a manufacturer.

A few examples of in-house tuners for Japanese car manufacturers:

Mugen for Honda
Mazadaspeed for Mazda
Ralliart for Mitsubishi
STI for Subaru

etc etc..

Toyota is an interesting exception, since TRD has a Japanese Division (TRD Technocraft) and an USA division (TRD USA).

I am more of a fan of following a factory, in house tuning program, rather than being a "JDM whore". However, when it comes to TRD, I will always try to pick up TRD Japan parts (TRD Technocraft) over TRD USA parts. The reason is because TRD USA does very little to spend time and money to R&D their own parts.. majority of the time, they work with an American manufacturer and rebrand their products as their own.

Just my $0.02

Yep, most parts will be interchangeable but not absolutely every part. The only thing on my BRZ that I'm even considering swapping is the front marker light lenses. The clear ones do look better imo.

the only parts i have that are exclusively JDM are the sidemarkers...ofcourse they aren't really stock, mike at clearcorners.com hooked me up with the prototype LED sidemarkers...


JDM used to mean higher functionality and unique appearance, or higher performance, much of it is subjective. if you "like" the Kanji instead of english, get what you want to see, but unless it is functionally superior you are just being a fanboi