Nobody denies it anymore. Japanese cars will remain among the very best, worldwide. We aren’t surprised because Japan is known for creating quality and luxurious cars.
Before the Japanese mastered the art of producing great cars, they made a whole lot of mistakes that manifested both in the design and performance of their vehicles and though most of the cars they made had to be discontinued, we’re all glad they learned from these mistakes.
But since nothing lasts forever, these great Japanese cars would need to be fixed when they broke down. Therefore, we need to know exactly which ones won’t drill a hole in our accounts when the time comes.
We’ll explore these ten expensive Japanese cars when it comes to repairs and five others that are on the cheap side when it comes to repairs. So if you’re ready, let's go.
15. Costs A Fortune: 1977 Datsun F10
via Old Parked Cars
The vehicle had all the necessary amenities a car of its era needed, except that the rear portion made the car resemble something only the Joker would drive around in. The F10 broke down too easily; one wrong turn and something gets broken. Seems like our Joker is going nowhere fast.
14. Costs A Fortune: 1997 Eagle Talon
dragtimes.com
The 1997 Eagle Talons could only generate 145 hp. It was produced by Chrysler and Mitsubishi, but it didn’t really live up to expectation. It suffered from several technical issues with the radiators, gaskets, and several other technical issues that regularly plagued the Talon. If you were to buy this car, you’d spend a lot of dollars with the mechanics.
13. Costs A Fortune: 2003 Mazda RX-8
en.wikipedia.org
The Mazda RX-8 didn’t do a good job like the Mazda RC-7. It suffered from a faulty engine, broke down quite a lot, and couldn’t carry on with the legacy of outstanding performance its predecessors had set. This car would eat a hole through you as the engine develops one issue after another.
12. Costs A Fortune: 1991 Mazda MX-3
en.wheelsage.org
By showing up in Fast and Furious, The Mazda MX-3 attained a certain prestige that it didn’t really deserve. Its engine could only generate 115 bhp, it was slow and certainly, Vin Diesel won’t be able to do the handbrake turn with this one.
The MX-3 suffered from very poor handling and if you accidentally let it run low on oil, you’d have to spend top dollar to get it up again.
11. Costs A Fortune: 1990 Toyota Sera
en.wikipedia.org
The Sera was not pretty, and in our opinion, the only unique thing the Toyota Sera had on it was the gullwing doors. Frankly, that wasn’t so unique, several cars had that feature back then. Poor handling ruined the Sera’s chances in America and it was only sold in Japan. Its production was cancelled a few years later. Goodbye Sera.
10. Costs A Fortune: 1993 Hondo Del Sol
motor1.com
The Del Sol suffered heavily from a leaky roof to the poor transmission, it was quite a shame that this problem was never fixed, maybe because it was considered by lots of people as a convertible. If the Sol’s problems couldn’t be fixed while it was under production for six years, then it’s safe to stay far away from it.
9. Costs A Fortune: 1985 Subaru XT
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Unlike the Subaru WRX STI, the XT underperformed several expectations and although the sales weren’t bad, it had to be cancelled after its production year ended. The XT features promised to its followers the performance of a sports car. But it didn’t deliver on these promises, with issues some of them down to the styling itself.
8. Costs A Fortune: 2001 Mitsuoka Orochi
wikiwand.com
The Orochi began as a concept car in 2001. In Japanese, it means a many-headed serpent. The Orochiappears to have a creative design, as it tried to establish itself in the industry. But the producers missed it when they created a sports car with a weak engine. The Orochi could generate only a meager 230 bhp and a maximum speed of 155 mph.
7. Costs A Fortune: 2002 Nissan 350Z
wsupercars.com
There’s a reason why this car was nicknamed the Widowmaker From 2005 – 2008, It was responsible for 143 deaths per million registrations. Despite its great style and performance, no one in their right minds would want to stand near the 350Z even though it birthed the second-generation Nissan 350Z Roadster.
6. Costs A Fortune: 2011 Honda CR-Z
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The Honda CR-Z was a decent car but it suffered from major issues. The issues ranged from electrical problems, light problems, the transmissions broke down easily, seat belts and airbags malfunctioned. Plus, the wheels and hubs were also a source of worry to the owners of this vehicle.
5. Cheap To Repair: 1999 Honda S2000
motor1.com
The Honda S2000 provides better reliability compared to its peers, even though it suffered from minor issues that could be fixed quite easily without placing a financial strain on the owner. You’d just have to look out for its heavy oil consumption, the rattling of the windshield and modifying the oil valve.
4. Cheap To Repair: 1989 Honda NSX
motor1.com
Nothing describes the spirit of the 1900s like the Honda NSX. It was one of the best cars of its era. It was so good it was almost on the same level as a Formula 1 car. This machine was a beast in its day and only suffered from minor lighting issues.
3. Cheap To Repair: 1978 Mazda RX-7
motor1.com
The Mazda RX-7 is a great vehicle and although it struggled with high fuel consumption, it still remains one of the best cars Mazda has ever produced. Just like the GT500, the RX-7 was popular for the sound the rotary engine produced. Although it did suffer from clutch failure, the RX-7 remains one of the best Japanese cars to date.
2. Cheap To Repair: 1997 Acura/Honda Integra Type R (Second Gen)
hemmings.com
The Honda Integra Type R has an aggressive engine that pumps out 200 bhp that is responsible for its great performance and, because it was designed to be lighter than the base model, the Type R could perform greatly under any condition. But you might want to bring your umbrella because of the roof leaks.
1. Cheap To Repair: 1989 Mazda Miata MX-5
pinterest.com
The Mazda Miata MX-5 is one of the few cars on this list that’s still under production and it achieves this goal by delivering quality performance throughout its service years. Although it doesn’t have a spare tire, this fella can take you anywhere, and won’t rack up pricy repair bills.
