Most Euro enthusiasts stick with European cars, and there’s nothing wrong with that. The question is are they really better than JDM? Brace yourself as we find out if Euro cars are better…well kind of.
If we’re talking performance-wise, then most European cars are better, in general. If you’re talking long-term reliability then you’ll find that most Japanese cars are going to be a far better choice for you.
Euro is the way to go
Let’s not beat around the bush; European car brands are more a winner compared to JDM in terms of driving and styling. European car brands (especially German, are more reliable, well if you maintain them properly and on time they are. They’re solid and stable and have high speeds and their styling will age just like you do as the years go on. We could name countless Mercedes and Audi models that have timeless car designs. Japanese car brands? That’s what we thought, not so much.
When you look back and think about some of the amazing cars that were out in the 50s, 70s, and 80s, particularly from the Porsche 959 (German), to the Countach and F40 (Italian), pure flash and tradition. Then you’ve got British cars like the Aston Martin DB9 that have such class and style. Let’s not get started on interiors, we all know how much we loved and appreciated the cracking interiors back then.
You could say that your European cars set the benchmark for others to look up to. Luxury at its finest with the Mercedes Benz and Rolls Royce. Performance is good, so what’s the downside? The only downside to your Euro car is the cost of maintenance. Generally speaking, the cost of maintenance of one of these Euro cars can be sky high with your parts not being that cheap, but hey Ho, you can’t always have it all now.
Although technically there is no such thing as a generic Euro car, the only thing Euro cars share is a set of legal requirements to meet demands for brand-specific interior, a good Euro car can give you more or less everything you need and more.
From better handling to stiffer suspension and more space in the boot, what more could you ask for? With articulated steering and better fuel efficiency and acceleration, a Euro car can serve you well for as long as you need it or wanted it to, to be fair.
JDM now or back then
Japanese car brands are seen as reliable, mainly because they can take the neglect and lack of maintenance that most people do to their cars. So, if you lack on the car maintenance front, then you could be better opting for a JDM car. The main thing is that as long as you take care of your car, it should be fine no matter what car brand you have, isn’t that the truth?
Where Japanese manufacturers tend to struggle is odd, status. Japanese cars just don’t have the hereditary esteem of some Euro brands, which is crazy when you look at the qualities because they are often better vehicles.
When you think about it, they have made some of the most iconic cars, especially in the 90s. From the FD RX7s to the MK4 Supras, not to mention the r32 Skyline GTRs. The reliability and specs were off the charts for these beauties. You can’t deny that there weren’t some amazing JDM cars during this time, it’s just a shame that they haven’t captured the limelight ever since.
It’s sad when you think about it because they do generally tend to be super reliable. They are the best at what they do in terms of quality control and it doesn’t matter about prestige and status, your Jaguar, Porsche or BMW is probably never going to stand up to the likes of your Toyota, Lexus, or even Suzuki.
Among city cars, then we’re talking about Japanese makers taking the lead with this one. Your Toyota Yaris, Suzuki Swift, and Nissan Micra are some of the best city cars that you can buy. What’s more shocking too, is that considering how we often put Japanese car makers down by saying that they’re too slow when it comes to electrification, let’s not forget the first two mass markets electric vehicles were both Japanese, the Mitsubishi Imiev and the Nissan Leaf.
Comfort-wise, Japanese cars have historically been more comfortable and convenient than their Euro counterparts. Things like automatic parking, reversing cameras, and zonal climate control were all the norm long, long before they stepped foot in Europe, never mind adopted.
All in all, if it’s reliability and good service costs that you’re after, a top-notch Lexus is probably going to be cheaper to maintain compared to your generic Beamer. Gadgets are next level, and you’ll tend to find that your JDM cars come with all the knobs and buttons you might have thought of and some that you might not have too. If you like to off-road too, then a Japanese all-wheel-drive car of any class is going to be much more useful for you than a Euro counterpart and more reliable as well of course.
A good European car can provide a little bit of expensive fun, whereas a good Japanese ride is all about practicality. So, at the end of the day, it’s all about which one you prefer more. Rivalry is both positive and negative and this rivalry is next level. It encourages so much innovation and improvement and there’s nothing wrong with a little bit of healthy competition these days, is there? It doesn’t matter which side of the fence you’re on, the history and rivalry between these two are incredible.
