Will The Japanese Ever Regain The Glory Days Of The 90's?

Of course desu! Because we Japanese make best reliabru cars desu

Actually not really.

Let's face it, no one really wants the Japanese sports cars. Mizuno of Nissan who made GT-R now left the company, so the future of GT-R is now uncertain. LFA did not really turn out to be a big success, it was just a car only a few people would know and recognize. And the NSX... is being made by the Americans.

The Japanese have lost everything, and practically no one wants the Japanese sports cars, when you can buy German. There is a reason why there are far more Europe worshippers than Japan lovers (who are practically a minority) in this world.

Even more so when Japan is suffering from radiation of Fukushima.

I don't think there's any question that the Japanese can make a similar impact again. I believe that part of the problem with the demise of the 300ZX, Supra, RX-7, and 3000GT was the fact that their prices were climbing to a point where they were no longer seen as cost-effective alternatives to more expensive sports cars.

Where the Japanese will need to get into this game is in their luxury brands. The RCF is a good starting point, though the RC350 is already proving to be a disappointment. Another important model is the Q60, which needs to come out swinging or it won't compete. Obviously, the NSX will make an impact, but that's in a whole other category. So, it would be great if Acura would come with a successor to the S2000 and get back into the coupe game with an SH-AWD-only model.

The Japanese will never regain their 90s dominance in the sport cars segment. In fact, the German will lose and never regain their dominance in the luxury car segment. While we're at it, the American will lose and never regain their dominance in the SUV segment. That's because 009's Hyundai/Kia juggernaut will kick everybody's butt in each and every segment. Heck, they will even take over the fast food market share from McDonald and Burger King :-)

Enjoyed reading your post nguyenvuminh even if I disagree, any sarcasm in there??? I would say just wait for the great Chinese invasion! In the US we will all buy our cars at Wall Mart and in Europe they will buy at Tesco.

The real question is whether the American economy will ever be at the point where people can afford to buy those kinds of products. Young people can't afford to sink money into a slick set of wheels anymore. They have student debt, bills to pay, and an economy that lacks good entry-level professional careers.

Those who can afford cars are going for affordable practical vehicles. They can no longer afford luxuries like sports cars.

Automakers make their cars based on what is going to sell and what wont. They are not going to produce gems like the Legend if there is nobody to buy it.

The Legend sold well. It was the first RL that tanked sales. A real 240Z replacement--priced right--would sell. A new CRX off the Fit is genius waiting to happen. There is a new Supra coming, but it will not be affordable like the old one was relatively speaking.

@valhallakey - I appreciate your typing my name fully :-) I was only teasing 009 given his propensity to elevate Hyundai/Kia to the top echelon of every segment, that's all. Happy posting.

That was a glorious time. Used to love to read the shoot outs between all of these cars. Japanese sports cars made up a class in itself. But even then they were a financial gamble, most being subsidized by other mainstream products in their respective line ups. Nissan seems most committed to keeping an affordable sports car around but will we ever see Toyota, Honda, Mazda, Mitsu and Nissan all have something to throw in the ring together? I doubt it.

As a 90s kid, that video makes sad. I always drooled over the z, vr4/stealth and rx7 (the supra never did anything for me since it's hideous). What I wouldn't give to find a mint, low mile model of any of them for sale.

Sucks that the Japanese are all too timid, conservative and/or stupid to revive these names or get back in the sports car game (nissan doesn't count; they're dead to me).

Not likely. Pefrormance takes a back seat to image nowadays. Nobody will pay top $ for a Japanese race car if they can get a stripped down German car for half the price.