Originally posted by ez at nova
I'm going to do something here you are sure to be unfamiliar with, and that's THINK about what I'm posting about. If you had bothered to think about the history of cars in our country, you would understand that Japanese cars made their name during the fuel crisis. People killed to get ahold of a little civic or corolla because it got way more MPG than anything U.S. made short of a diesel Chevette (I'll take the Civic please). The cars were priced cheap so people could afford them, and as a result, weren't built as solid as heavier, more expensive American cars. As a result, their durrability wasn't the greatest and they tended to rust, etc. From the point of 8 - 10 years ago or so on though, Japanese cars could be bought for higher prices, which included much better (and MUCH better than American car) quality and reliability. THOSE are the first generation of Japanese imports that you will see on the roads for years and years. Scattered among that group you have Supras, RX's, and others that were sports/collectable cars that have yet to age enough to be valuable yet. Give them 10 more years though and they will be. Same thing with the STi (and to an extent the WRX). These cars will not fall apart and are not gas sipping econoboxes like the 20-25 year old crowd you refer to. They will be around and they will hold their value or increase if a restored or immaculate example is around in a bunch of years. These days, being an import from any country or a U.S. car has nothing to do with value holding/appreciating potential. We all know the Vette is one of America's nicest sports cars. The C5's have depreciated so much it is rediculous, even sitting at the showroom new (try going to a Suby dealer and asking for 20% off sticker for a new STi!).