03-08-2025
I'm a Mechanic: 5 Japanese Cars I Would Never Buy and Why They Aren't Worth It
When it comes to cars that seem to get you further down the road without a lot of added expense, Japanese cars seem to be bulletproof. But hold onto your wrenches, folks, as not every car from the Land of the Rising Sun is made equally or holds up to the reliable reputation of a Toyota Camry or Honda Accord.
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GOBankingRates reached out to an auto expert to learn which Japanese rides might leave you wishing you'd bought American.
Scion IQ
MSRP: 2015 Scion iQ pricing starts at $9,224
Remember when smart cars were all the rage? This one might just fill you with rage instead. 'The ride is miserably uncomfortable,' said Chris Pyle, an auto expert from JustAnswer.
If you love road noise, good news. He said, 'A lot of road noise enters the cab.' And that back seat? Pyle called it a 'useless, tiny rear seat.' Also, be careful driving this car because 'it is not easy to merge due to the difficulty of seeing things beside you,' he added. Yikes.
Honda CRZ EX
MSRP: 2016 Honda CR-Z pricing starts at $9,966
Honda tried to make a sporty hybrid, and well… let's just say some marriages aren't meant to be. 'A two-seater that is nothing like a sports car,' Pyle explained. Want the bad news? 'It is not fast, not quiet and it handles poorly.'
Oh, and here's a not-so-fun surprise: Pyle said, 'it is programmed to shut off the AC when stopped too long.' Perfect for those summer traffic jams!
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Mitsubishi Mirage
MSRP: 2024 Mitsubishi Mirage pricing starts at $18,015
Ever heard the phrase 'you couldn't pay me to drive that car'? Well, the Mitsubishi Mirage might be Exhibit A. If you need more proof, it has a low 2.5/10 rating on Car and Driver. 'They were trying to corner the cheap car market,' said Pyle. 'They did that, but the car was too cheap.'
Planning a quick trip to the grocery store? Better make it quick, because, according to Pyle, it's 'very uncomfortable if you are on a trip beyond 30 minutes.' Why? 'The suspension is like riding in a car with no suspension, very stiff,' the auto expert noted.
Mazda RX8
MSRP: 2011 MAZDA RX-8 pricing starts at $8,840
This one's like that friend who only wants to party — fun in theory, exhausting in reality. 'It was designed to be driven hard and fast,' Pyle explained.
Drive it like a normal person? 'The engine often fails as early as 60,000 [miles],' he said. Drive it like you're in Fast and Furious? 'It loves to drink gas fast,' Pyle concluded. Either way, your wallet loses.
Toyota FJ Cruiser
MSRP: 2014 Toyota FJ Cruiser pricing starts at $24,835
Just because it wears a Toyota badge doesn't mean it inherited the family genes. 'People think it is like other Toyotas. It is not,' Pyle cautioned.
Got friends? They'll need to be circus contortionists since 'the access to the back seats is too tight,' according to the expert. Need to change lanes? Good luck: 'The styling of the doors makes it hard to see beside you,' he added.
And when something breaks? 'Parts are difficult to find,' Pyle said.
Caitlyn Moorhead contributed to the reporting for this article.
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This article originally appeared on I'm a Mechanic: 5 Japanese Cars I Would Never Buy and Why They Aren't Worth It
