Since this is the first blog post i guess a basis should be put in place for what this blog is actually all about. The term JDM is an acronym for Japanese Domestic Market which in the terms of the import tuner means a style of vehicle that is meant to conform to the market within Japan. What this means in comparison to the US market or even the Euro market is a vehicle that is designed for a differing driving style and different road type. Japan is a nation built with many small short twisting roads where improved handling and throttle control is a must, however the United States market has been in love for many years with the idea of the American Dream living in the suburbs and commuting into town with a larger, safer, and slower vehicle (emission standards don't help any of this either). The suspension is made to ride like a boat not for precision handling.
The best explanation I have scene of what JDM is
- "Stock JDM". This is where you make your car identical to the version released to the Japanese consumers. Nothing more...nothing less.
- "Modified JDM". This is where you perform the above AND MORE. Modifications from different "JDM" aftermarket companies such as Spoon, Nismo, 5-Zigen, etc. You may even make a replica of a Spoon CTR or a Nismo 350Z.
- "Not JDM". This is what many people suffer from. They think that by getting a "JDM STYLED" body kit from some guy on eBay that they're now "teh hardcOre JDM enthUsiast". Well...you're not. a cheap replica is almost worse than putting euro tails on your car.
JDM is a growing movement but with such a movement many people will destroy it much in the 
way that the RICER movement did as import tuning within the states was in its infancy. Ebay is a great resource for finding rare and hard to find parts that many retailers and speed shops within the states don't carry the unfortunate side to Ebay is the rampant amount of cheap knockoffs and off brand parts that don't have the engineering and research that a true JDM part would.
The other aspect of this blog that i want to address is other growing trends within the import tuner scene. Among these trends is the emergence of Hella Flush, VIP, Euro and Drift. Hella Flush is a trend that I enjoy but don't fully understand as it evolves, the idea behind this trend is the slamming of your vehicle and having an offset that puts the edge of the rim flush with the body with little or no gap between the tire and fender. The portion i don't fully grasp yet is the usage of many people using undersized tires having the that angle in seem as if they will pop off the rim with minimal impact from say a pot hole. The other movement of VIP is one that,
much like in Japan, is catching on with the older tuner crowd that is largely based around slammed vehicle with deep dishes and high gloss. Most cars that employ this style are not bright colors, the rims are chrome or high gloss finish, and the cars are larger four door vehicles and more expensive models much like Acura, Lexus, and Infinity. Euro is very similar in nature to the VIP movement and is highly based on a regal style that puts little emphasis on performance but more a look that reflects the high end
European market, trying to emulate the look of German vehicles. The final trend is not so much a style as it is a direction in which you set up your car but is quickly having a distinct look. Drift cars are strictly reserved to RWD vehicles and historically drift cars were lower horsepower vehicles that focused largely on drivers skill and style when driving. Higher horsepower vehicles have now made their way into the drift scene and domestic vehicles have joined imports. Most of these vehicles are covered in sponsors, lowered with coilover suspensions, and gutted interiors to save weight.
The direction this blog will be headed in the future will include pictures of growing trends, new parts, pictures of beautiful import cars, bashing ricers and those doing the import scene wrong, and in some cases my commentary on all of the above.
