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Some of these JDM classics are cursed with underpowered engines and uninspiring performance; others are a nightmare to keep running.
When it comes to building sports cars, Japanese carmakers are not that far behind the Germans and Italians. They have given the world some of the cheapest and most reliable sports cars. Japan is the birthplace of models like the Nissan GT-R, Acura NSX, Lexus LFA, Mazda MX-5, and Toyota Supra, to name a few. These sports cars are not only solidly built, but they also impress with excellent performance.
However, Japanese sports cars weren't always as great. For every great Japanese sports car, there are many others that even the manufacturers would prefer to forget. While some were cursed with weak engines, and uninspiring performance, others wore horrible designs. Furthermore, some were also plagued with questionable build quality. As a result, many classic JDMsports cars sit unloved, unwanted, and unused. These right here are so bad we wouldn't touch them with a 10-foot pole.
When the first generation Z-cars arrived in the US as the Datsun 240-Z, everyone loved its good looks, decent performance, and reasonable price tag. Everything, however, fell apart with the arrival of the 280ZX for the 1979 model year.
This redesigned model was much heavier, thanks to the addition of more luxury equipment. To achieve better fuel economy, raw acceleration was sacrificed in the new car. The extra weight it carried and the softer suspension it rode on did nothing to help its driving dynamics. With the loss of driving fun, it also lost its charm as a performance car.
The Toyota MR-2 was launched in 1984 as a lightweight, wedge-shaped, mid-engine low-powered sports car with strong handling. For power, it came with a choice of two I-4 engines. Mated to a 5-speed manual transmission, the 1.6-liter engine in US-bound cars produced 112 hp.
It needed close to nine seconds to hit 60 mph and close to 17 seconds to cross the quarter mile. By today's standards, those numbers don't look very exciting. In addition to that, the early Toyota MR-2 also has rust and overheating issues.
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Before the Supra evolved into the fourth-generation sports car that everyone loves, it had a humble beginning as the Celica Supra. It was developed to compete with the popular Datsun Z-car. While we don't have anything against its build quality and reliability, we find its design a little bit dull.
Export-bound Supras were kitted with a 2.6-liter I-6 engine that cranked up 110 hp and 136 lb-ft of torque. Although it wasn't a very powerful car back then, today, it is even less appealing as a collector's car.
Arriving for the 1993 model year, the Honda Del Sol was a 2-seater Targa top convertible that replaced the iconic CR-X. It shared a platform with the Civic and competed with the Mazda MX-5. Unlike the Miata, it came with a front-wheel drivetrain.
The base model ran on a 1.5-liter I-4 engine that made just 102 hp and 98 lb-ft of torque. Powered by a 125-hp, the top model was only marginally more powerful. Furthermore, the Del Sol also had several build quality issues like leaking Targa roof and vibrations from bad engine mounts.
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Following the poor performance of the extremely wedge-shaped but underpowered XT, Subaru decided to bring in the big guns. The result was the XT6, arriving as a 1988 model built on the XT's platform. Under the hood, it had a 2.7-liter flat-6 engine rated at 145 hp and 156 lb-ft of torque.
However, the best it could manage was nine seconds to 60 mph. Sadly, it was still offered as a FWD or an AWD when a rear-wheel drive sports car is the preferred choice for most gearheads. Moreover, the unattractive design didn't help to grow sales figures.
Just two years after stunning the automotive world with the magnificent MX-5, Mazda launched another sports car in 1991. This time it was built on the FWD EC platform. Arriving as a 1992 model, it had either of two engine choices - a 1.6-liter I-4 and a 1.8-liter V6.
Motivated by an output of 88 hp and 98 lb-ft of torque, the I4-powered MX-3s were too weak even by '90s standards. To make matters worse, and maybe complement its unexciting performance, the MX-3 had a weird shape.
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After being shown in concept form in 1988, the Toyota Sera arrived in 1990. It had several good features like the pair of cool butterfly doors and the mostly glass roof canopy. Unfortunately, despite the cool exterior, it has also found its way into several worst lists.
The only power option it came with was a 1.5-liter I4 engine that produced just 105 hp and 97 lb-ft of torque. In addition to the underpowered engine, it was also impractical, delivered a bumpy ride quality, and handled poorly. Thankfully, it didn’t last too long on the market before it was pulled.
With models like the S2000 and Civic Type-R to its name, Honda has proven its competence in the development of performance cars. However, it took Honda a long time to achieve that. Launched in 1978, the Prelude was one of the not-so-great models that dotted Honda's earlier attempts at making sports cars.
It debuted with a standard 1.6-liter inline-4 engine rated at 79 hp. The Preludes that arrived in the US in 1979 sported a 1.8-liter I4 unit that cranked out just 72 hp and 94 lb-ft.
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Built on the Datsun S platform, the 200SX was a rebadged Nissan Silvia that arrived stateside in 1977. The polarizing design, a disappointment in itself, was odd enough to be tagged as ugly. To make matters worse, it sported a 2-liter I4 engine that cranked out 97 hp and 102 lb-ft of torque.
When sent to the rear wheels, this could only produce a zero to 60 mph time of 13 seconds in the 200SX. Furthermore, it didn't handle too well, thanks to a short wheelbase and a front-heavy weight distribution.
Riding the Chrysler D platform, the 1990 Mitsubishi Eclipse was offered as a liftback coupe in four trim levels. The top model, the GSX, had an AWD system hooked to a 195-hp turbo-four engine. With this, it could only waltz to 60 mph in 9.3 seconds and clear the quarter mile in 17 seconds.
Even worse was the base model that ran on a 1.8-liter I4 rated at 92 hp. Over the years, the 1990 Eclipse has been the subject of nine recalls for issues with the transfer case, sunroof hinges, and electrical system.
Jay Moren is a car enthusiast who loves everything with an engine. When he's not writing about cars, he plays the saxophone and keyboard. He also plays as a goalkeeper for a non-league side in his native Nigeria