Getting your first car is exciting. It reflects who you are becoming as a person and has to be something incredible. Look no further than a JDM tuner car! JDM tuner cars are entertaining to drive, often more affordable than their European or American counterparts, and are extremely easy to tune for more immense power!
Although rockstars like the WRX and the EVO are popular JDM tuner cars, they’re far from ideal for beginner drivers. They’re expensive, with several models costing well over $20,000, parts are pricey, and tuning can get challenging. Instead, here are ten awesome JDM tuner cars for beginner drivers that won’t drive you away from the tuning scene.
10 Mazda MX-5 Miata (Anything But Brand New)
The light two-seater is legendary for the ability to craft it into pretty much anything you want it to be and more. Practically every part in the Mazda MX-5 is swappable, and the aftermarket support is outstanding. Parts are also relatively cheap, so beginners won’t feel overwhelmed with the cost of tuning.
Part availability and cost wouldn’t mean anything if the Miata was difficult to work on. Luckily, the MX-5 is notorious for its easy basic maintenance, and more advanced upgrades require few specialized parts. Don’t buy a brand new one as they’re getting rather expensive. But a quality secondhand model will be perfect!
9 Honda Civic Si (Late 2000s)
Civic fans claim there are few quality models to choose from, and the late 2000s Si usually doesn’t crack the list. That’s why it’s an awesome JDM tuner car for beginner drivers—it’s underrated!
The late 2000s Civic Si had a pretty solid K20Z3 i-VTEC engine with a manual gearbox. Add on the limited-slip differential and the fact it was more potent than a standard Civic, and you’re ready for tuning. The aftermarket support is unreal for these JDM classics, and you’re not likely to find a cheaper performance Civic on the market.
8 Acura Integra 2nd Generation
Honda’s foray into a more luxury/performance-minded sedan produced the Integra, marketed as an Acura in North America. By 1993, the Integra was a sporty coupe with a unique four-headlight design and a screaming 200-horsepower engine. Better still, it enjoys an extensive tuner-friendly aftermarket catalog.
The second-generation Acura Integra is a prized commodity among JDM tuners, and rightfully so. They’re getting harder to find untainted, but should you come across even a lightly tuned model, snap it up before someone else gets to it! This 1990s classic has it all—power, looks, charm.
7 Nissan 350Z
Nissan’s Z-coupe sports cars are another wildly popular tuner car, especially in the drifter scene. With a naturally aspirated V6 and a rear-wheel drive platform, the Nissan 350Z takes corners like a boss. What’s really nice is there’s wild support for the 350 and 370Z, should you decide to upgrade to the newer model.
A Nissan 350Z is an awesome JDM tuner car for beginners because it looks great, used models go for as little as $5,000, and there are 6-speed manual variants. What’s not to love about this JDM sports car?
6 Honda Accord 4th Generation
Civic fans are cringing at including an Accord on the list of JDM tuner cars for beginner drivers. But hear us out on this one. The 4th generation accord looks better than any modern Accord, having that classic 1990s JDM styling. You’ll be able to find examples with a manual transmission, and there is plenty of tuner support on account that it’s a Honda.
The fourth generation Accord comes with an F20A or F22A engine, both widely recognized by tuners for their rock-solid reliability. Scouring the internet or local markets reveals used models for less than $5,000; perfect for a beginner driver!
5 Subaru Forester XT
Everyone champions the WRX as Subaru’s tuner model. However, the Forester XT is practically a lifted WRX, especially models built before 2008, which still featured the iconic Subaru hood-scoop.
The Subaru Forester XT trim ran until the 2018 model year and featured various boxer-four engineers, each with a turbocharger. The boxer engineers are easy to tune for either off-road builds or street-style builds. Plus, older models are affordable for beginner drivers.
4 Acura TSX 1st Generation
The Acura TSX is somewhat of a sleeper car. It’s a compact executive sedan that’s rather bland. But the TSX harbors an excellent 2.4-liter, long-stroke K-engine that hits a whopping 205 horsepower.
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Like the Integra, Honda produced the TSX through its Acura division in North America. You can find it with a manual transmission, and while the TSX is a front-wheel platform, look no further than the Civic for examples of this platform done well by Honda. It’s an awesome JDM tuner car for beginner drivers.
3 Lexus SC400
Lexus did something rare for JDM cars, especially for the 1990s—it produced a V8. Built by Toyota’s luxury division, Lexus, the SC400 sported a 290 horsepower 4.0L V8. The 1UZ engine only graces a few models, making it a rarity for tuner cars. Still, it gives it a massive boost in the power department.
In addition to the power and awesome reliability, the Lexus SC400 is easy to tune for significant gains. A beginner driver will love that used examples of this JDM classic are easy to find cheap, making it a perfect tuner car.
2 Acura RSX
Acura decided to change up the classic Integra/Legend lineup and translate them into a new name scheme. Thus, the RSX came to be. While it only ran from 2001 to 2006, these stylish coupes still looked like a fun sports car, regardless of the name change.
The RSX had some remarkable features, including a reliable and highly tunable Honda K20 engine. Because it’s a Honda, it has the vast aftermarket parts market enjoyed by Honda owners. And used models are easy to find at affordable prices, making them an awesome JDM tuner car for beginner drivers.
1 Toyota GR86 / Subaru BRZ
Another great JDM tuner car for beginner drivers is often overlooked. To be honest, it’s actually a pair of cars—The Toyota GR86 and the Subaru BRZ. These twins are rear-wheel drive and sport manual transmissions for an authentic sports car feel.
Aside from how fun these cars are to drive, they are affordable, especially used. Owners enjoy massive aftermarket tuning support for the GR86 and BRZ, with turbochargers particularly popular because of the naturally aspirated engines. There’s even support for stage kits that are easy to install and generate reliable power gains.