An explanation of "JDM" for newcomers

Ricochet · #1 12-10-2003, 10:48 AM

In light of all the incorrectly-placed posts made in this area I thought I would try and clear things up for newcomers. "JDM" stands for Japanese Domestic Manufacture, meaning the car/part/engine was actually built in JAPAN. A Honda made in America like your Civic Si, Dx, LX, HX, or EX is a USDM (United States Domestic Manufacture) Honda. A Civic Type R (often called ctr) is a JDM car because it was made in Japan. A ctr engine is JDM because it was made in Japan. If a ctr engine is swapped into a USDM Civic, it doesn't make it a Civic Type R, just like if you swapped with an Integra engine it wouldn't make it an Integra. It's still a USDM Honda with a ctr swap, and a real ctr is right hand drive.

JDM parts are generally pretty rare, cost more partly because of shipping, they're of higher quality, are less restrictive, and the engines have a bit more horsepower than our USDM ones, adding cool points to your ride if you've got them installed. An example of how rare/popular they are, a JDM clock for a 92-95 Civic went on Ebay and bids skyrocketted within a matter of hours. The only physical difference is the numbers are orange. Big car shows are even integrating JDM classes into the hordes of body-kitted, big-winged, neon-equipped etc. cars because it's becoming so popular. The JDM-fitted cars are usually clean, stock-looking but only the one with a knowledgable eye can spot the parts and truly appreciate them. Other types of JDM parts include companies like Spoon, JUN, Mugen (moo-gen), and Toda. These companies are like the big-named AEM, Greddy, Apexi etc. in Japan, making them somewhat JDM, and appropriate for this forum. These quality parts are very expensive, and very respectable to have on your ride. They can be bought on Ebay like the clock, and if you search around you can find them on internet sites too, like www.inlinefour.com which is where I bought my ctr engine, and an abundance of other JDM parts can be found.

Hopefully this information will help guide some of you to the correct area to make your post about USDM Honda questions.

pheurton-skeurto · #2 12-10-2003, 01:44 PM

this thread needs to be bumped and bumped and bumped again and again and again. hopefully this will prompt people to keep the b/s out of the JDM forum. thanks ricochet.

SilverY2KCivic · #3 12-10-2003, 02:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pheurton-skeurto

this thread needs to be bumped and bumped and bumped again and again and again. hopefully this will prompt people to keep the b/s out of the JDM forum. thanks ricochet.

I agree and thanks Ricochet.

Since school is just about done for the semester, I'll put together some guidelines for posting in this forum area. I mean it's getting out of hand between the "what motor should I swap?" and then the eons of classifids threads. So some guideline rules are in order I fell. I shall put these together very shortly, stay tuned.

BLU CIVIC · #4 12-10-2003, 02:33 PM

and basically, for example, a JDM civic is just a stock civic......don't be fooled by all the JDM this JDM that on ebay because a lot of that stuff isn't....be sure to do your research first b4 u buy and thing that's advertised as a JDM product because chances are it may not be

DarkEternal · #5 12-10-2003, 03:22 PM

Before anyone asks, it'd be cheaper to buy a CTR and import it than it would to try and make an all JDM Civic out of yours. Just wanted to clear that up before anyone had to be banned for asking stupid qestions.

...and to bump this post again.

jcrx · #6 12-10-2003, 04:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DarkEternal

Before anyone asks, it'd be cheaper to buy a CTR and import it than it would to try and make an all JDM Civic out of yours. Just wanted to clear that up before anyone had to be banned for asking stupid qestions.

...and to bump this post again.

No, not really, importing a car is VERY expensive, cutting out a firewall, and installing the parts one by one, would be very time consuming, but could be done way cheaper.

And There are LHD EK4's (CTR's), Mugen, Spoon, Blitz, Cusco, Bride, HKS, etc...., are all very JDM, since they are Japanese companies. Clean does not define JDM, as you can easily see in a copy of Hyper Rev where there is a fair share of kitted cars that would be called "rice" here. And people who say turbo is not JDM, FUCK YOU, you don't have a clue what you're talking about. It isn't OEM, but there are TONS of turbo companies, and shops/companies that run, tune, sell turbos on the Japanese markets.

I'll rant more later on.

Milliardo · #7 12-10-2003, 05:29 PM

I would just like to add that if you want t complete the JDM look, you really need cheek lights. I've seen pics of USDM cars converted to JDM, but the cheek lights are missing. This is especially true of 92-95 Civic pics, partly because mine is a 1993 Civic. You really have to put those flat, amber cheek lights, and put them in the proper place.

jcrx · #8 12-10-2003, 05:32 PM

They're called sidemarkers

Milliardo · #9 12-10-2003, 05:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jcrx

They're called sidemarkers

Over here we call them cheek lights.

SilverY2KCivic · #10 12-10-2003, 08:03 PM

C'mon peopl, no flames on this. Not yet at least. Let me draft up something, and then let me know what you think of it, or if I left anything out. What's JDM to one may not be considred so to another. But it's a lot more definable than the definition of "rice." My A'PEXi WS exhaust is theoretically JDM since A'PEXi is a Japanese company (and very highly reguarded in the JDM realm) but since their products are so widely available, I wouldn't consider them in this forum like I would with genuine Honda of Japan JDM parts that your local Honda dealership doesn't sell nor stock, nor even be able to get in most cases. There's not many shops that carry genuine JDM Honda of Japan parts.

Mugen and Spoon are of course JDM. Tein is neglegable unlessd your taking about say parts they DON'T market in the US such as the Tein HE system (only applicable to 240SX's and RX7's) or other suspension stuff they carry or list on their Japanese website. HKS I'd also put in the same boat as A'PEXi because of their marketability.

In terms or motors, if it's from an Acura, it's NOT JDM be any means whatsoever since Acura is not marketed in Japan. Nothing more can be said about that.

If it's from a JDM or EDM ITR, CTR, Accord Type-R, NSX-R then of course it would go in this forum.

DarkEternal · #11 12-10-2003, 10:01 PM

Actually, importing a car isn't very expensive at all. Especially considering how much money you save buying direct from Japan or Europe. Making the vehicle pass Cali Emissions, that's expensive...or at least can be depending on the vehicle you bring over. All in all, shipping charges to boat a car over is about 3-5 grand. Trust me on this one, I've been looking into importing a 97 Mitsubishi FTO for about a year now.

NOBU-SAN · #12 12-11-2003, 07:55 AM

Thanks for clearing this up. I can understand better now. However, it seems to me that JDM stuff Is for ball swinging fags who don't/won't like USDM stuff. Now for engines, that's another story. If it makes more hp, then it makes sense, but JDM "cheek lights?" Tha's just big gay hurting. Someone should build a show car if it's all for show. I mean, who gives a fuck what you think about my car anyways? You'll never drive it, so why would I care to add parts that only attract attention from swine and thieves? Flash is for Liberace. I want low key speed.

BLU CIVIC · #13 12-11-2003, 08:01 AM

oooook

JDM is all about preference and IMO about how hard it is to get parts from other countries just to personalize ur car.....same as with getting a lip or a bodykit....now if JDM was for people who do not like USDM stuff....then it would be fair to assume that they'd import the whole car rather that parts

Ricochet · #14 12-11-2003, 08:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NOBU-SAN

However, it seems to me that JDM stuff Is for ball swinging fags who don't/won't like USDM stuff.

Yeah it is kind of artsy fartsy, but I'd rather have jdm parts (for their stock Hondas) than outrageous body kits and neon APC crap from domestic companies.

jcrx · #15 12-11-2003, 09:15 AM

Quote:

Actually, importing a car isn't very expensive at all. Especially considering how much money you save buying direct from Japan or Europe. Making the vehicle pass Cali Emissions, that's expensive...

Well part of importing a car is being able to drive it right? And in order to drive it legally it has to be up to US standard right? So by the logic of 1+1=2, then importing a car is expensive. You can believe me when I say this since I spent about three months researching, by calling and talking to people who have imported, do import for a living, the EPA, DOT, registered importers and shipping companies. No, the cost of the container isn't that high. you're right, but getting it legal and once again, that's the point, is.

POST REPLY TO THIS THREAD