Curious how supply and demand creates its own mythology

"Nauraushaun" (nauraushaun12)
04/15/2020 at 18:00 • Filed to: None

Doug describes how the WRX STi and Lancer Evo were like a sort of second coming of Japanese performance cars, since they didn’t hit America at all until around 2002. He mentions how most of the Japanese sports cars died around ‘96, so there was a nice lull before these cars came in.

It’s curious how this only applies to America. These weren’t a second coming at all, they were just leftovers from the 90s that lived on. The STi and Evo weren’t new at all in 2003, they were in their third or so generation. In fact, in Japan most of the cars that died in the 90s lived on to at least 2000 - The 300ZX was built until 2001, the RX-7 until 2002, the Supra also until 2002.

Of course, Doug is aware of this and carefully explains that it only applies to America. It’s just interesting how this whole stigma around these cars is localised to one market, manufactured by a complex situation of supply and demand.

DISCUSSION (6)

jimz > Nauraushaun
04/15/2020 at 18:19

It’s curious how this only applies to A merica.

we’re left-hand drive. the mid ‘90s was the collapse of the “Bubble Era” in Japan, so they pulled back on a lot of the low-volume performance stuff for LHD markets.

Napoli > Nauraushaun
04/15/2020 at 18:23

I really enjoyed his review of the SRT-4 and the STI. I’m hoping he reviews a Evo IX soon.

Bob Loblaw Made Me Make a Phoney Phone Call to Edward Rooney > Nauraushaun
04/15/2020 at 18:40

I’m not sure I buy that, to be honest. These early 2000s examples appear to be significantly more popular in Europe than the earlier 90s stuff was as well. I know you’re in Australia so you have more exposure to JDM-ness than any other non-Japanese market, but friends and acquantainces in the UK and contiental Europe tend to treat these later JDM treats not terribly dissimilarly from how Americans do.

For Sweden > Nauraushaun
04/15/2020 at 18:53

What is the mythology that explains the continued demand for Doug

Nauraushaun > For Sweden
04/15/2020 at 19:26

Dare I say a smart car guy giving deep insight into weird cars

Nauraushaun > Bob Loblaw Made Me Make a Phoney Phone Call to Edward Rooney
04/15/2020 at 19:31

I think as a RHD market, we get more exposure than some, especially the US. We can import any generation we like, so the 2004 cars mean little to us. P ersonally, I’d take an earlier one, pre-bug eye with the cooler decals and more holes cut in the hood. And I’d much prefer an earlier Evo 6 to anything later.

I think the 6 is the last one factory homologated for rally, so if you ignore what year the cars came to the US, the 6 is the big dog not the later 7. And the 2-door 22B STI is the more significant of the Subeys, the bloat eye STi is just another STi.