JDM (1 Viewer)

[pican57]

First time posting-middle aged woman with NO mechanical skill who wants a LC or Lexus LX. Saw a 1999 with low mileage for sale described as being a JDM car which now had a Florida title.
Is that by itself a red flag?
Thank you for educating me.

 

[Trunk Monkey]

JDM is Japanese Domestic Market, meaning it was sold new in Japan. The appeal is to import them after 25 year federal law as they got some different models and engines that the US market didn't. Typically they go for a premium price because of that and they're often low miles like your example. Some parts can be more difficult to get in the US and there can be difficulty with language settings, diagnostic computers.

If you're just wanting an LC or LX as a primary car and aren't "into them" as a niche vehicle, I'd pass on a JDM model.

 

[SteveH]

To the original poster - beware that any 25 year old 'luxury vehicle' (Lexus, Land Rover, etc.) can have premium repair prices and dealers will see you coming from a mile away, claiming that nearly every part has aged out or worn out. You will find many people on this forum who DIY because it's the only way to practically maintain such a truck.

To paint this in stark terms, my daughter's '08 Lexus RX330 was claimed by the Lexus dealer to need $11,600 in repairs (the car was only worth $7500). I did all the necessary repairs myself for $278 in parts. Beware that any 25 year old vehicle is.....25 years old. I love mine, but I would never recommend anyone but a gearhead buy one.

I second the others on avoiding JDM vehicles unless you're a hobbyist. If you find the truck of your dreams, you might want to get a second opinion on its condition before buying it.

 

[BamaHoo]

As a new owner of an old (2000) Land Cruiser, I strongly urge you not to buy one if you have no (or very little) mechanical skills, unless you have very deep pockets and simply must have one. Even more so with the LX, considering the additional pricey-to-repair systems (AHC) that model has versus the LC. Owning one of these is a labor of love, sometimes more labor than love.

 

[Tareq]

I own a JDM, yes, they come with very low mileage, 30-50k.

I learned how to work on cars because of my LC, things like fluids and brakes so far and many more things seem doable, but definitely taking it to mechanics for complex stuff like cv axles and timing belts ..

If you live in a busy area, skip the right hand drive, it is very tiring when I have to go downtown, but ok in the suburbs ..

 

[Exiled]

You should be able to find a Land Cruiser or LX in Miami easily enough, every time I go there to visit my family I'm astounded by the numbers I see driving around. But I would skip on a JDM vehicle as others have suggested, a lot of mechanics (and certainly local Toyota dealerships) will balk at working on them, and even if they do, may struggle to source parts. JDM is more of a specialty item.

 

[nissanh]

YOU'LL DRIVE ON THE RIGHT SIDE AND IS NOT FUN IF YOU WANT TO PASS.

 

[MongooseGA]

I don't see any issue with buying a JDM vehicle beyond the awkwardness of driving on the right. They're not some mysterious unicorns, they're mechanically identical to what we have here provided it's the same 4.7 V8. If you bought a truck with an engine that was never sold here, sure. Otherwise, there's nothing more to be afraid of than a USDM vehicle. Maybe they have an odd option or two that we didn't get here, so what? LXs have different options than Cruisers. If your mechanic refuses to work on it, that's a good sign to find a new mechanic. Cars are just sums of parts. Some cars have better parts than others. 100s have particularly good parts and whether it was originally sold in Japan or the states, they were designed and built by the same people, using the same logic and qualities. I don't understand the wariness posted here. One would be better off buying a 25 year old, well designed and built 100 from Japan than a 25 year old Range Rover originally sold here.

 

[Tareq]

If your mechanic refuses to work on it, that's a good sign to find a new mechanic.

No mechanic refused working on my JDM, they actually love it and appreciate it, however, 90% of alignment shops will refuse to work on JDM cars, especially with a lift kit

 

[pican57]

Thank you all for your replies. I’ll pass on it.