Happy Friday! On today’s Shitbox Showdown, I’m asking a serious question: Why JDM? What is the appeal of having virtually the same car you can buy in the US, with maybe a little more power and some different trim, for many times the price? I honestly want to know, so I’m putting it out there to all of you to debate and discuss over the weekend. So I’ve found what I think is a fairly desirable but still attainable Japanese import, and an equivalent US model that’s nice but not perfect.

But first, there is the matter of yesterday’s silly Jeeps to finish up. The idea of taking two hulks and making one working car out of them is intriguing, but it never really works out quite the way you planned. At best, you have a “parts car” to store somewhere or dispose of when you’re done with it; at worst, the car you thought was the “good” one ends up being worse than the first one and you end up junking them both. Ask me how I know.

The whole idea is so troubling, in fact, that it even drew a comment from our esteemed Master of Ceremonies, a man who until recently would have been all over a two-fer like this. Maybe he really is growing up. In any event, the “both” option proved popular with most of you, at least theoretically.

Now then: I don’t know how often this happens wherever you are, but here in Portland, at least once or twice a week, I see a Japanese car that almost looks familiar. I recognize the make, and can almost make out the model, and then I notice that the driver is sitting on the “wrong” side of the car. Japanese domestic market imports have become big business up here, and several large importers will either help you bring in the car of your dreams, or sell you one they have already imported.

But it’s not cheap, and I can’t help thinking of all the drawbacks. Say goodbye to drive-thru lines, and good luck at parking garage kiosks, for a start. You’ll probably just have to live with it if you get a minor ding or crack in one of the trim pieces that’s nothing like the US version of the same car. And I don’t even want to know what sorts of hoops the DMV makes you jump through. So why do it? Why not just be satisfied with a US-market version of almost the same car? Let’s look at one of each, and then you tell me.

Engine/drivetrain: 1.8 liter dual overhead cam inline 4, five-speed manual, FWD

Location: Sacramento, CA

Odometer reading: 115,000 miles

Runs/drives? Yes, but might have starter trouble…?

I do like the Acura Integra, despite my personal history with one bad buy. We spent too much on an automatic Integra that ended up having some weird electrical issues, and I listened to the wrong forum idiots about fixing it, going against my gut, and wasted a lot of time chasing gremlins, which soured us on the car. But it was a nice little car to drive for the most part, if a bit dull with the automatic. With a manual, I imagine it would have that wonderful lively Honda zippiness that everyone loves.

This one has a scant 115,000 miles on its odometer, though they haven’t been easy miles, from the sound of it. It has a salvage title for an undisclosed reason, which I know is an immediate red flag for some, but I’ve had two salvage-title cars, and they were both fine. I guess it depends on how it happened, assuming the seller even knows. As it sits, the car runs and drives just fine, but it sounds like it might have to be push-started. The ad is a bit unclear. I do know that one of the problems we had with our Integra was a bad starter; I spent a lot of time mucking about with the ignition switch and some big relay under the dash before just replacing the damn starter and fixing the problem.

Salvage title or not, it’s a sharp-looking little car. This looks like a basic RS model, with few options, but that means there are fewer things to break. And I like the fact that it’s stock, right down to the steel wheels and plastic wheel covers.

I’ve generally had good luck with Hondas, particularly manuals, so I think I’d be willing to at least look at this car, and find out how it ended up with a salvage title. The price still seems a little steep, but I know these are getting more desirable, and a rising tide lifts all boats, as they say.

Engine/drivetrain: 1.8 liter dual overhead cam inline 4, five-speed manual, FWD

Location: Shoreline, WA

Odometer reading: 163,000 kilometers (102,000 miles)

Runs/drives? Yep

The Japanese-market Integra carried Honda badges; Acura is primarily a North American nameplate. From the looks of it, it also has a different nose, and a far less interesting one. It looks a lot like a contemporary Accord, actually. The fact that this one is a four-door sedan and not the sportier two-door hatch doesn’t help, nor do the exact same wheels as our Accord EX sedans.

But as has been said of other high-performance machines, “She may not look like much, but she’s got it where it counts.” Under the hood of this Integra is a VTEC-equipped twincam 1.8 liter four, sending 180 horsepower to the front wheels through a five-speed manual and a limited-slip differential. So there’s some fun to be had here, for sure.

Of course, you’ll have to learn to shift with your left hand. And from what I’ve heard, unlike British right-hand-drive cars I’ve driven, the turn signal and windshield wiper stalks are reversed, so you’ll have to signal with your right hand. Odds of you turning the wipers on accidentally when approaching an intersection are significantly greater than zero.

It’s a cool little car, no doubt, and it’s probably close enough in spec to the US models that a lot of basic maintenance and replacement parts available here will work. But it’s also probably close enough in spec that it wouldn’t feel much different to drive, except that you’re sitting on the other side.

I get the desire for “something different,” but is that something different worth all the hassle of registering an imported car, and all the day-to-day headaches of right hand drive? There’s a $16,700 price difference between these two cars that are 90-95% the same, and close to the same age and mileage. Yes, there is a performance difference as well, but not that great. So what is it? Bragging rights? Cool factor? I know both of these cars will sell for the asking price. Which one is worth it to you, and why?

(Image credits: Craigslist sellers)