So JDM what?

[Beyer Subaru]

Originally Posted by SubaruBRZLimited

They don't need to, everything is interchangeable.

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.

[Rayme]

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.

[Jahdai42]

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

[Beyer Subaru]

Originally Posted by Jahdai42

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?

[Jahdai42]

Originally Posted by Beyer Subaru

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.

[mkiisupra]

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

[CrazyWookiee]

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.

[tomato86]

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.

[brianlo622]

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

[Brzetto]

Originally Posted by Beyer Subaru

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.

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.

[SkullWorks]

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

[KSC]

"JDM" is the exact opposite of ricer, imo. A ricer would never throw down $10K on an engine swap and a tasteful body conversion. A ricer to me is GTR badges on Maximas, knock-off wheels, and fart cans.

Maybe the term "JDM" has been bastardized by ricers and those who want their business, but there's plenty of people (over 28 even) that have an affinity for Japanese cars the way they were sold in Japan, period.

[CrazyWookiee]

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=9lIiW4Xwn78"]Am I JDM? - YouTube[/ame]