Datsun 240Z vs Mazda RX-7 — JDM Sports Car Icons

Choose the Datsun 240Z for the original — the car that proved Japanese manufacturers could build world-class sports cars. The L24 straight-six's sound, the long hood, and the flowing fastback shape are elements that influenced sports car design for a decade. Driver-quality 240Zs trade at $25,000–$55,000 — more accessible than the best FD RX-7s. Parts are well-supported through vendors including Z-Car Garage and Motorsport Auto. The 240Z rewards mechanical involvement: the engine is accessible, the suspension geometry is understood, and there is a global community of owners who have solved every failure mode the car can develop.

Choose the Mazda RX-7 FD (1992-2002) for the most technically advanced Japanese sports car of the 1990s — sequential twin-turbo rotary, 50/50 weight distribution, and a driving experience that contemporary reviews universally rated among the world's best. The FD RX-7 is appreciating faster than any other JDM classic in 2026, with clean examples approaching and in some cases exceeding $100,000. The earlier FC RX-7 (1986-1991) offers the rotary experience at a lower entry point ($15,000-$28,000). Both generations require rotary-specific maintenance knowledge — the engine is reliable when treated correctly but unforgiving when neglected.