Yep. I agree wholeheartedly. I already have a better and lower-mileage pickup than that F-150, so I’d take the Volvo and try for half a million on the odometer. Today we’re going further afield than usual, only not really. Although both cars today are Japanese domestic market cars, both are already here in the good ol’ US of A, with all the paperwork completed. I was inspired to look at JDM cars after listening to this week’s excellent Autopian podcast, with guests Myron Vernis and Mark Brinker sharing their love of cars from the Land of the Rising Sun. I confess I don’t know a whole lot about Japanese cars; I didn’t grow up around them, and I’ve never been much of a video game player, so I wasn’t exposed to them virtually either. But I do love a good tiny hot hatch, so I’ve selected a pair of them for us to compare. Here they are.
1990 Suzuki Alto Works – $12,900
Engine/drivetrain: 657cc DOHC turbocharged inline 3, 5 speed manual, FWD Location: Ferndale, WA Odometer reading: unknown Runs/drives? Yep American gearheads are fascinated by Japanese “kei” cars – a special tax category of tiny cars in Japan that have to fit within certain size, engine displacement, and horsepower limits. Sadly, truly small cars have never really worked out in the US, so the “subcompacts” that Japan sends us are two or three sizes up from the smallest cars they keep for themselves. This Suzuki Alto is a full foot shorter, and six inches narrower, than the tiny Suzuki Cultus that was sold here as the Chevy Sprint.
But look how cute it is! I even kinda like the “angry eye” headlight eyelids on this one. Who’s an adorable little badass? You are! Yes, you are!
The Alto Works has the power to back up its cute-but-tough looks, with a 657 cc three-cylinder, sporting twin cams, four valves per cylinder, and a turbocharger. Officially, this little wonder produces 64 horsepower, the legal limit for kei-class cars, but rumor has it that it has more. It drives the front wheels through a five-speed manual gearbox; the Alto Works was available with all-wheel-drive, but this one is FWD only.
This car has a few other add-on goodies, including a full roll cage and a racing seat. Someone was having some fun with this little guy back in Japan, I bet. The seller doesn’t list the odometer reading; it just says “total mileage unknown.” But does it matter? I mean, how are you going to cross-shop it?
And look! A bi-level rear spoiler. Merkur XR4Ti, eat your heart out. I don’t think I’d want to daily-drive something this small in the US, but I really really want to play with it.
1982 Honda City Turbo – $12,500
Engine/drivetrain: 1.2 liter SOHC turbocharged inline 4, 5 speed manual, FWD Location: Seattle, WA Odometer reading: 94,280 kilometers Runs/drives? Indeed it does Speaking of playing with things, I have been familiar with the Honda City Turbo since I was a kid. I built a Tamiya model kit of it when I was ten years old or so, complete with the folding Motocompo scooter in the back. Sadly, this City Turbo does not include a Motocompo, but it’s still a really cool little car.
The Honda City is not a kei car; it’s too big and has an engine displacement nearly double what the regulations allow. It’s a 1.2 liter turbocharged four, sending a whopping 99 horsepower to the front wheels through a five-speed manual. The City weighs about 1,500 pounds; it has more than enough power for that weight. (In fact, some would say it could get by with half as much.)
This City has cool aftermarket wheels and a nice Nardi wooden steering wheel, though the horn button appears to have an identity crisis. I’m sure a Honda logo button could be found to replace that blasphemous Toyota Racing Development one.
This City isn’t perfect; it has a couple of dings and scrapes, and the interior is a little grubby. The driver’s seat has been re-covered, but unfortunately the new red upholstery doesn’t quite match, and it sticks out like a sore thumb.
Still, the seller says it runs and drives well, and this one is just about big enough to actually use in traffic – about Ford Festiva-sized. It punches above its weight in the cool department, though. Obviously, for most of us (including me), thirteen grand for a tiny car that’s just a glorified toy is kind of a pipe dream. But since they’re close in price, let’s just imagine you have the cash to blow on one of these. Which one will it be?
(Image credits: Suzuki – The Import Guys; Honda – Sodo Moto) Suzuki: double spoiler, kei spec, ridiculous air inlets next to headlights, two tone paint job Both: asymmetric grille, silly tiny hot hatch Brain explodes in indecision That said because the Suzuki is in better condition, and new 100% the Alto, any power to weight issues can be cured with a motorcycle engine. The extra power of the Honda doesn’t make up for it’s general tattiness. Parts will always be a concern, so the new tidier Suzuki is the one. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VAYd2AK53P8 I’d just drive around all day blasting this.. Thanks Bring a Trailer… I really don’t like trucks, but a kei van or pickup would probably really make me happy. Especially if it existed in LHD and I could tune the engine up another 50HP or so. That would be fun. I’d go with the City Turbo, probably.
