13 Japanese Cars That Are Perfect For Track Days

Non-gearheads often consider Japanese cars somewhat mundane but impeccably reliable everyday vehicles. Well, we car enthusiasts know better.

Over the years, carmakers from the Land of the Rising Sun have built some excellent performance models that can keep up with the best from Europe and the States.

We’ve created a list of 13 Japanese cars that are perfect for track days. There are models that offer even better performance, but we wanted to use cars that regular people can afford. All the cars on this list also enjoy massive aftermarket support for those who want to compete with actual supercars.

Honda S2000

The S2K is one of the best sports cars ever made. Period. Honda launched the S2000 in 1999 to celebrate its 50th anniversary, and it remained in production for ten years. Early models had a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with the highest specific power output of any mass-produced, naturally aspirated car — around 124 horsepower per liter. Later models had a 2.2-liter unit producing the same power.

The Honda S2000 isn’t the most comfortable car to drive, but you’ll understand what it’s all about once you take it to the local racetrack. Thanks to the perfect 50/50 weight distribution, it offers amazing driving dynamics. Many gearheads have recognized its greatness, which has pushed prices higher than ever.

Honda Civic Type R

Honda built the first Civic Type R in 1997, and if you’re a driving enthusiast, few cars are as good as this. Unfortunately, it was only available in Japan, and prices have soared in recent years.

However, the FK8 Civic Type R, which debuted in 2018, is much more attainable, and other than the nostalgia factor, it’s a better car in every way. In fact, it was so good that it set a new front-wheel drive Nürburgring record, running a 7:43.8 lap.

Acura Integra Type R

The Integra Type R was introduced in 1995, and to this day, it’s considered one of the best-handling FWD cars money can buy. Speaking of money, you now have to fork out a substantial amount to get your hands on an ITR, so many enthusiasts have resorted to modifying their lower-spec models.

There are quite a few chassis and engine updates that separate the Type R from the regular Integra. For one, it has the iconic B18 1.8-liter VTEC inline-4 engine. Getting from 0 to 60 takes just over 6 seconds, but the ITR really shines in the twisty sections!

Nissan 370Z

Nissan’s sporty coupe, the 370Z, has now been replaced by the brand’s new Z car, but if you’re a track day enthusiast, you should definitely look into the 370Z.

After all, which gearhead wouldn’t like a stylish, lightweight, front-mid-engined car with a 3.7-liter V6 that sends 330+ hp to the rear wheels via a manual transmission?! To top it off, it’s even affordable.

Nissan 240SX

In 1989, Nissan introduced the 240SX, a sport compact that would eventually become one of the most popular cars on the drifting scene. Other markets used a 1.8-liter turbo engine in the first-gen model, and a 2.0-liter turbo in the second-gen. In the States, it was only available with a naturally aspirated 2.4-liter unit.

The third-gen, or S15, was never available in the States, so unless you find an imported car or are willing to import it yourself, you get to choose between the S13 and S14 models. Both are amazing, and there’s a substantial selection of aftermarket parts available for those who want to turn their S chassis into something truly special. However, due to the increased demand, prices of these Nissans have skyrocketed, a problem that’s jokingly called “drift tax.”

Toyota GR Corolla

Sadly, the GR Yaris isn’t available on the North American market, but Toyota does offer the GR Corolla, and it’s almost as good as its smaller rally homologation special sibling. If you squint, its exterior looks somewhat similar to the regular Corolla, but the two are nothing alike.

Under the hood, it has the same three-cylinder 1.6-liter as the GR Yaris, and the GR Corolla sends its 300 horsepower to all four wheels via a manual transmission. It really is a car that can do it all. The GR Corolla is comfortable enough to handle all your daily driving needs yet capable of lightning-fast lap times straight from the showroom floor.

Toyota GR86 / Subaru BRZ

Save for some minor details, the popular “Toyobaru” twins are almost identical. Either one is an awesome choice for driving enthusiasts on a budget.

With a 200-hp boxer engine at the front and rear-wheel drive, they offer plenty of fun for both everyday driving and trackday use. You don’t get a ton of power, but the excellent driving dynamics more than make up for that. As an added bonus, there’s a massive selection of aftermarket parts to make it faster.

Toyota MR-2

Toyota introduced the fun, frugal, and affordable MR2 in the mid-1980s. It was powered by the same 1.6-liter 4A-GE engine as the Corolla AE86, and while it wasn’t mind-bendingly fast, it still offered decent performance. Examples that aren’t eaten by rust are getting expensive now, so you may want to look at one of the later generations.

For the MR2’s second generation, Toyota gave it a rounder design and more powerful 2.0-liter engines with or without a turbo. Finding a decent example will still set you back a pretty penny. If you want a real bargain, check out the third-gen drop-top, as it’s essentially a poor man’s Lotus Elise with virtually zero storage space and a 140-hp 1.8-liter.

Mazda RX-7

Mazda played around with the Wankel engine for a few decades, and while they never perfected it, it was still a marvelous piece of engineering. This is especially true in its turbocharged form, found under the hood of the last two RX-7 generations.

The third-gen FD RX-7 is easily the most desirable model, and that’s reflected in the prices. The second-gen, or FC, is becoming more expensive but it’s still cheaper than its successor. While both generations have a 1.3-liter rotary engine, there are some differences under the hood, mainly that the FD has a sequential twin-turbo setup.

Mazda MX-5 Miata

The original Miata was a total game-changer. This little sports car combined everything that made British sports cars great with the reliability of Japanese cars. The result was an instant icon, and the Miata is now the best-selling two-seater sports car ever.

The first two Miata generations have 1.6 and 1.8-liter engines, and the last two are available with 2.0-liters. While they’re all great fun, our pick of the litter would be the latest MX-5 Miata for pure performance, or the first-gen Miata with pop-up headlights for maximum style — especially when fitted with a Rocket Bunny widebody kit.

Toyota Corolla AE86

The AE86 Toyota Corolla, commonly referred to as HachiRoku, meaning 86, may just be the definitive JDM car of the 80s. It offers lightweight construction, a front-engine rear-drive layout, and 50/50 weight distribution, and it’s been a favorite among drifters for decades.

With a 1.6-liter engine producing 125 hp, the AE86 was never powerful in stock form. However, few cars possess as much potential as this humble Corolla. Good luck finding one for sensible money today, though. Because of its appearance in Initial D, Gran Turismo, and being Drift King Keiichi Tsuchiya’s weapon of choice, the AE86 has become a collectible, and prices have skyrocketed.

Lexus IS300

The first-gen Lexus IS was sold as a Toyota Altezza in Japan, where it was crowned “Car of the Year” in 1998-99. It was Toyota/Lexus’ entry in the highly competitive compact luxury sports sedan segment that was ruled by the Germans.

The IS300 was powered by a naturally aspirated 2JZ 3.0-liter inline-six engine. With its 217 horsepower, the IS300 was able to go head-to-head against BMW’s E46 330i, which produced 225 horsepower. It didn’t take long before gearheads realized the IS300’s true, and, thanks to its excellent chassis, it’s proven itself to be a highly capable drift car. There are still plenty of affordable IS300s, but you may want to buy one before they’re all snatched up by the JDM crowd.

Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution

The Mitsubishi Lancer Evo came straight from the rally stages. Some would say the best of them all is the Mk6.5 Tommi Mäkinen Edition, built to celebrate the Finn’s WRC victory. That one was never available in the States, though, as the first model introduced there was the Evo VIII.

By the time production ended, 10 generations were produced, with quite a few special editions thrown in the mix. All Lancer Evo generations are powered by highly tunable turbocharged 2.0-liter engines that power all four wheels.