After Years on the Rise, These Japanese Favorites Just Got Cheaper
It’s not exactly breaking news that fun cars are a lot more expensive than they were, say, a decade ago. Nor is it a revelation that Japanese classics from around the 1990s to early 2000s have, in percentage terms, appreciated more than just about any other era or genre. Here’s a surprise, though: After several soaring years of price guide numbers and sales results, several darlings of the ’90s and ’00s Japanese market took a step back in the first half of 2024.
Specifically, the R32-generation Nissan Skyline GT-R, 1991-96 Acura NSX, FD-generation Mazda RX-7, Mk IV Toyota Supra, Acura Integra Type R and AP1-generation Honda S2000 are all worth less now than they were last December. That said, they’re all still worth more—way more—than they were in the pre-pandemic days of 2019. The Supra in particular is worth over twice (109 percent more) what it was five years ago. These movements reflect a wider trend in the market that sees some cooling and increased pickiness but few major drops.
Of course, we can’t talk about money at all in the 2020s without touching on inflation, and the devaluation of the dollar does give a bit more perspective into these cars’ trajectories. Adjusting for inflation narrows the gap between 2019 and now, but all six cars have still made real gains.
The Integra Type R (37.1 percent more valuable than 2019) and S2000 (52.4 percent) are the closest to their values from five years ago, and adjusting for inflation brings them even closer. The Integra Type R’s condition #2 (“excellent”) value five years ago was $44,400. With inflation that translates to about $54,300, just a few grand shy of the car’s #2 value of $57,600 today. As for the S2000, its #2 value five years ago was $25,100, and with inflation that’s roughly $30,700 in 2024 dollars—not that far off the S2000’s current value of $38,100.
Regardless, all of these Japanese classics appear to have hit what’s at least a temporary peak. That’s not necessarily a bad thing—as far as enthusiasts who are looking to enter the market are concerned, a pause in this segment means there’s still a chance.
R32 used to be rare here but now I see them often and they are in need of work. Accept for the NSX they all are rare as there were not many to start and then few people saved them. They are often difficult to restore due to lack of new parts.
Feels like it would have been good to mention that the exchange rate has dramatically affected the purchasing power of the USD against the Yen. The prices in Japan continue to increase… in Yen. As the yen weakens against the dollar the price of the car seems like it has gone down but in actually it is is the purchasing power that has gone up. Purchasing power vs value needs to be a separate conversation as purchasing power and the strength of the value against the yen can change at any point. In fact, since this article it has gone from 163 to 154, a change that affects the past price of an R34 GT-R by over 10k USD.
That’s a good point!
In August of 2019, the exchange rate was 109 yen to a dollar. Staying under 110 yen to a dollar until April 2021. It went over 120 yen to a dollar in March 2022. Its currently hovering around 150 to 160 yen to a dollar. The US dollar vs the yen gained huge buying power. So even if the prices of the cars stays the same or even rises 20,30% the effective price is lower to a US buyer vs 2019 or 2020.
Ahh. Nipponese vehicles. No thank you.
Of course one could save a cubic ton of dough and pick up a very clean, very low mileage for WAY less than 20 grand and have just as much fun hooning about without so much as a second glance from others.
Of course one could save a cubic ton of dough and pick up a very clean, very low mileage NA or NB Miata for WAY less than 20 grand and have just as much fun hooning about without so much as a second glance from others.
Oh no! I should have sold my car last year. LOL, still driving it, not selling.
How could you leave the Datsun 240Z off this list?
Has it dropped in value? That’s the point of this list.
Nice to see the AP1 S2000 still getting some love. I’m not sure that there is another car that is both praised and slammed as frequently. A very subjective experience. It has to be driven the way it was designed. Once you get it you love it. If you don’t you don’t. The AP 2 is an easier drive. Not as rewarding though.