Just because you don't see them as *REAL* doesn't mean other people don't as well. With that said, this post was a real eye opener:

You obviously don't see moconnor's post as a real negative while I, on the other hand do

You are putting way too much emphasis on what people point out as negatives. Just because someone points out a negative aspect it doesn't mean they are saying the car sucks (this is the second time I convey this sentiment so please don't miss it again).

For example, I loooove FD's and I think they are amazing. However, if someone asks me what the negatives are on these cars, I will tell them. Because I am not in denial and just like everything in this world nothing is perfect and the FD is far VERY far from perfect.

Come on man, you don't mean that at all. You are the same guy that argued with multiple people about non-sequential setups being just as responsive as sequential systems. And even after your own video proved you wrong you still claimed that nothing will change your mind.

 

Uh, no. I don’t need to “live with one” to know it would be a pita to safely pass a slow vehicle in a two-lane. And to know that all the other characteristics of a RHD car in a LHD country would grow old to me faster than a bitch-slap at the Oscars. Besides, I suspect many/most RHD owners above are speaking as psychological rationalists. We all compromise at some point. And either due to price or availability they did so by purchase of a RHD…but it wasn’t their first choice. As owners in North America, were they to drive and “live with” both a RHD and LHD with all else being equal, no doubt in my mind which the majority would choose.

 

I was hoping for an unbiased thread on which to buy mostly on rational choices (parts, pricing, repairs, daily experiences with a RHD since I am not familiar, etc), but I see per usual the people that want their opinions heard and to reinforce their opinions for no reason have arrived.

Thank you for have gave me good insight to my main concerns, happy to hear them. If you have any other useful info other than bickering I am happy to hear it .

 

ok, facts only no opinions.

RHD is usually less expensive to find vs LHD. LHD is worth more because 1. Less are made. 2. Vins work for things like carfax to see history, can accurately see how many produced, etc etc.
LHD is easier to get insured as less companies will accept non us vins, ( I use hagarty for my FD, and pay 56 a month, and another company for my daily)
More RHD used parts are out there, as more were made, but might be coming from japan
aftermarket world, most companies make them for left and right.
Some things easier to work on LHD and some RHD
depending on state, registering can be a pain with RHD.
Drive thrus are hard if alone in RHD hahaha

 

Mostly agree with what you said but my experience has been slightly different:

• Agree that they're less expensive, sometimes significantly less (why I bought a RHD car) but you can check out a JDM car's history through https://carvx.jp/car-vx-report if you want to.
• I have had no issue shopping insurance through both major insurance carriers and specialty ones, though I go with classic car insurers because the car can have an agreed upon value.
  • Progressive, Safeco, All State, etc all told me I'd get paid out "book value" for the car, which would be much lower than true market value. In my case, my policy cost $290/year for $500,000 limits and an agreed $45,000 value for the car should it be totaled. I would only go through classic/specialty carriers because of this and Grundy, Hagerty, USAA and National Corvette Museum never gave me a hard time about the VIN. Grundy did ask me to send them a copy of the title showing the non-US VIN but that wasn't a big deal IMO.

All in all, people should just buy what they want and enjoy it. What another man does with his money doesn't bother me.

 

Please stop with the phony virtue-signaling. You got exactly what you asked for, our “thoughts”…in the DISCUSSION section no less. We disagree, yes, but that’s to be expected on a car enthusiast’s forum. If you’re looking at universal consensus, you came to the wrong place.
Really I agree with Montego. I think your decision was made before starting the thread. You just wanted some reassurance and it didn’t go as expected.

btw Fickert, cr-Rex is a experiencd owner. While we may disagree from time to time it wouldn’t be a long search to find MANY more subjects we’ve agreed on here.

 

I think interior parts for RHD may be easier to get in the future since there were several times more RHD FDs made and Mazda continues to support the Japanese market FDs with new parts.

Also, you could "upgrade" to Spirit R spec or whatever other cool JDM spec interior you wanted.

For USA there is just '93 smooth and '94-95 textured interior pieces as far as I know.

Forgive me if this has already been stated in this thread. TLDR

 

Carful using the site linked...it may not be accurate. I put in my vin (a 94 Type-R) and it came back as no model year found but an RB Bathurst X.

 

Coincidentally, I have a 94 Type R and got the same result. ¥3,500 is cheap enough that I want to buy a report and see what it says.

 

As a person who 100% prefers RHD due to shifter on left (I’m from the UK), and has owned a RHD here in Canada, I would like to pass on one item to consider:

INSURANCE


i loved my RHD, regardless of any pros/cons listed in this thread. But ultimately the rapidly reducing number of insurance companies willing to insure RHD cars in Canada is a MAJOR concern. Once it gets to the point you can’t get insurance, your car is basically worthless. And until then premium’s keep increasing as your options dwindle. So ultimately a LHD will be cheaper in the long run, and hold its value.

it’s one of the key reasons I sold my car.

 

My apologies... Apparently I misunderstood the intent of this thread. From the first post, I understood you wanted our "thoughts if we were in the market today". My bad. Ok so let me walk this back then

Positives of owning a JDM FD-

• Can be had for a lower entry price
• Have a larger availability of replacement parts to choose from
• Later model year FD can be attained
• Get 50 miles per gallon
• When you sell, you'll get 10X the money you paid
• Get to deliver mail as a side hustle
• Mechanics be so in awe they charge you half price for labor and give you free parts
• Insurance companies will pay you to insure the car with them
• Children will flock and sing hyms about your ride
• Women will want to be with you and men will want to be you
• Last but not least, if you *brap* *brap* enough I've heard that diamonds shoot out the tailpipe.

Negatives of owning a JDM FD-

• None. Nope, nothing at all. Perfection in raw form.

P.S. obviously this post is bullshit and it is intended to match the obvious bullshit request for 'thoughts' on this matter. Bottom line if you want a JDM FD then get one and stop trying to use us to counteract whatever insecurities you have about your choice.


Edit-
That's too bad. For what it's worth, your FD is/was on my top 5 favorite rides on the forum.

 

IDK, I have driven in the UK and after a single curb check was able to keep in my lane all the time no problem. That was my first experience driving RHD, but that was also in an RHD country. Doesn't seem like too big of an issue being RHD in the US with LHD, other than the obvious drive thru and toll payments having to reach over the passenger seat.

I've been looking more into an imported FD over a domestic US FD because they are cheaper and in better condition at the same time, and the only comparable prices I can find for US FDs have claimed the engine has bad compression or straight up no engine. I would prefer a rebuild up front, since that means I know the engine is fresh and will last, but that's still more expensive than just importing a dead one.

 

One other thing to think about when importing an FD is the biblical flood that struck Japan. I've heard stories about cars that were cleaned up nicely, but completely totaled because of the salt water damage.