There's high demand overseas for older Japanese cars, driven by their appearances in movies and manga, as well as their sturdiness and cool looks. Their prices have shot up to match demand.

Older cars are reliable, they are cheaper, supplies and parts for new cars are on back order, older cars do not need to follow newer safety guidelines and standards. It is an effect of the pandemic!

Sorry. Japanese cars look... cool?

Dang. Didn't know car jacking was a thing in Japan.

Years ago I saw a car jacking in progress with victim running after the car and, possibly one of the saddest things I've seen.

As Eastman says, these "older Japanese cars" are almost all golden-era JDM sports cars. Supras, RX-7s, NSX, Hakosuka Skylines, 240Z Fairlady, etc. The quote is effectively "collectable old stuff now more valuable".

He is not talking about a thirty year old Corolla, which will be worthless.

l golden-era JDM sports cars. Supras, RX-7s, NSX, Hakosuka Skylines, 240Z Fairlady, etc. The quote is effectively "collectable old stuff now more valuable".

you forgot the iconic R34 GTR Skyline, one sold for a record 970k A$ over half million US$

https://www.drive.com.au/news/nissan-skyline-r34-gt-r-record-au1-million/

Nailed it @wtfjapan. Those are collector gold at the moment. Not to mention how cheap they are (relatively speaking) in Japan. Serious money to be made from import/export.

@kohakuebisu

He is not talking about a thirty year old Corolla, which will be worthless.

Don't be too sure about that.

I once owned a 1966 Corona for a few years in Australia long ago. Great car. And as about as common as you could get.

Nostalgic reasons saw me checking some out for sale about 8 - 10 years ago. I baulked at the average 50万 price and never bought.

Now those same cars in top condition are anywhere between 150 - 250万.

Similarly I was interested in a Datsun Sunny coupe - essentially an urban "shopping / picnic" car - at that time. Didn't buy and now gone through the roof.

Certain ordinary cars will become classics and are/will be in demand OS.

Sorry. Japanese cars look... cool?

Yes. Ultra-cool. They give those Italians a run for their money. Nissan Z-cars-Fairlady, NSX, GTRs, Sylvia, Supras...the list is endless. There is even outrageous demand for cars like the Crown, Nissan Cedric etc in overseas markets.

Design, quality and reliability will always be in demand.

He is not talking about a thirty year old Corolla, which will be worthless.

Untrue.

A well maintained, low kms old Corolla will have overseas collectors queueing up with their check books.

Bcoz in the past Japan was making cars for customers to buy now Japan is making Cars they force customers to buy thats y loosing their popularity FR platt seems almost going extinct in most Japanese manufacturers so people buy old cars cherishing the good old glory days

now Japan is making Cars they force customers to buy

Do they hold guns to their heads? Or do they kidnap their children and blackmail them into buying Japanese cars? Or do they just bully the customers with mean names until they buy the cars?