10 Classic Japanese Sports Cars That’ll Bankrupt You Through Maintenance And Repair Bills
Japanese automakers were late to the sports car scene compared to their counterparts in America and Europe, but it wasn’t long before they stamped their influence as one of the best carmakers in the world. Part of this influence was because of two main reasons. Japanese cars were affordable, and their durability was legendary. On top of that, they produced powerful sports cars with excellent aftermarket support, like the Supra MKIV, Skyline GTRs, Nissan 300ZX, and the Silvia.
Updated February 2023: Japanese vehicles have a long-standing reputation for reliability, reasonable pricing, and durability. However, not all Japanese cars live up to these standards. Here’s an updated list of a few classic Japanese cars that will bankrupt you through maintenance and repair bills.
Japanese sports cars are arguably the most reliable cars in the world. The secret lies in the bulletproof nature of these cars. Still, there are a few instances when Japan produced some real duds, too. They suffered from reliability problems due to poor build quality from the factory. While these classics are dirt cheap on the used car market today, chances are they will break down frequently and require expensive repair bills. Here are 10 classic JDMsports cars that will bankrupt you with maintenance and repair bills.
10 Subaru XT
Subaru confined its creativity to designing weird trucklets and a series of unusual coupes during the ‘80s and ‘90s. However, none came close to the forgotten Subaru XT, which looked like nothing from the Japanese automaker with its wedge-shaped design and pop-up headlights.
The Subaru XT held a promising future for the brand if only its mechanicals lived up to its styling. The 1.8-liter four-pot produced a paltry 97 hp, which was no match for other cars produced by Japanese manufacturers. Rust problems and reliability issues also contribute to the reasons why the XT doesn’t get the same attention as other ‘90s Japanese sports cars.
9 Subaru SVX
Following an unsuccessful production run with the aviation-influenced XT model, Subaru ventured into the luxury/performance market with the 1991 SVX. Thanks to its unique window-within-a-window design, it was a head-turner, but reliability problems cut short its success prematurely.
Earlier models experienced transmission problems from as low as 40,000 miles. Other problems included wheel bearing failure, clutch failure, and warped rotor. The latter was a result of the car’s sheer weight. Because of the SVX’s rarity today, spare parts are relatively expensive.
8 Honda Prelude
The Honda Prelude had a promising start to life with the first four generations and set out to become one of Honda’s most successful models. However, things took a sudden twist with the introduction of the 1996 fifth-generation model. The automaker somehow turned what was one of the best sports coupes into a rather bland one.
If looks weren’t a letdown, the car’s reliability certainly was. This model suffered from engine and transmission problems like sticking clutch pedals, a non-functioning gearbox in automatic transmissions, rough engine, gear grinding, and excessive oil consumption.
7 Acura RSX (4th Gen)
Honda marketed the fourth-generation Integra as the Acura RSX in North America from 2001 to 2006. More than a decade later, it remains a popular gearhead choice thanks to its JDM flair and impeccable performance. Unfortunately, the RSX gained a poor reputation due to its reliability issues.
All models were prone to oil leaks, faulty emissions control valves, and failing pressure sensors between 80-100k miles. Other common problems include gears grinding on the manual transmission models and popping noises in the front suspension. In 2013, Honda issued a safety recall for the 2006 RSX models due to a failing power braking system.
6 1991-1997 Toyota Paseo
The Paseo is another failed Toyota project that’s hardly remembered even by hardcore JDM enthusiasts. Today, the Celica, Supra, and even the Tercel largely overshadow the Paseo. With 93 hp on tap, it’s surprising that Japan dared market it as an actual sports car.
The mediocre 1.3-liter engine propelled the car from 0-60mph in a sluggish 11.4 seconds. On top of that, Toyota somehow made an unreliable car in the Paseo. While you can get one on the used car market for just a few hundred dollars, the Paseo is a car we wouldn’t touch with a 10-foot pole.
5 Mitsubishi Eclipse
The Mitsubishi Eclipse might deceive you with its decent looks, but it’s a car you should probably avoid, like the plague. The car was a headache to most owners, as it was problematic from the factory. While it started out as an excellent driver’s car, it wasn’t long before the automaker issued the first mass recall in 1998, citing a transfer case lockup problem.
The turbocharged 4G63 engine in the second-generation model suffered from the “crank walk” problem, which required an engine swap to fix the issue. Other recalls in subsequent models included electric wiring issues, fuel leakage problems, and fuel filter tube rust.
4 Honda CR-X Del Sol
Based on the Honda Civic, the CRX Del Sol was Honda’s answer to the ‘90s Mazda MX-5. It came with a 1.5-liter or 1.6-liter gasoline engine, sending power to the front wheels via a five-speed stick-shift or four-speed automatic transmission. However, the car’s poor build quality and unreliability led to its demise in 1997.
The removable Targa roof was prone to noise and leaks, leading to poor sales throughout the car’s production life. Owners also complained of faulty auxiliary lighting, interior squeaks, oil leaks, and other problems.
3 Mazda RX-7
---front.jpg?q=50&fit=crop&w=750&dpr=1.5)
Produced between 1978 and 2002 across three generations, the RX-7 remains one of the best-looking sports cars ever to grace the automotive scene. But like the RX-8 and anything Mazda stuck a rotary engine, the RX-7 is a great car when it works. Once it starts burning excessive oil, you know you’ve already blown your engine’s apex seals.
Sadly, it isn’t a matter of “if” but “when.” This typically happens anywhere shy of 100,000 miles. Fixing the problem requires an engine rebuild that costs anywhere between $1,500 to $2,000. While these maintenance and repair bills aren’t too costly, the constant worry and frequent mishaps make the RX-7 tricky to maintain. Many owners end up taking an engine swap after the constant headaches of the 13B-REW rotary engine.
2 Mazda RX-8
Mazda introduced the RX-8 in 2002 as the successor to the iconic RX-7. The latter served as Mazda’s best-selling sports car during the ’90s. It was beautiful and aggressive but left with big shoes to fill, the RX-8 turned out a complete disappointment.
While it featured a rotary engine, the naturally aspirated 13B Renesis lacked the performance to match the car’s looks. On top of that, the engine suffered from reliability problems. They included leaking apex seals, excessive oil consumption, ignition coil failure, engine flooding, and starter failure. The RX-8 will probably bankrupt you with its expensive spare parts before you even land a specialized rotary mechanic.
1 Mitsubishi 3000GT VR4
The Mitsubishi 3000GT is one of the most forgotten Japanese performance cars of the 1990s. Often overlooked, the 3000GT VR4 doesn’t get the same kudos as the Supras and Skyline GT-Rs from the same period. Combined with its unreliability, it is one of the most affordable Japanese classics today.
The main issues that plagued the car were weak transmission and lifter ticker. On top of that, the 1990–1994 models suffered from spinning bearings on the engine bottom end. The 1991 Mitsubishi 3000GT has five recalls to its name, including one factory recall to address the faulty transfer case. Today, many models tend to rust, especially on the rear quarters.
