The Estate... "A car with a large carrying area behind the seats, accessed by a door at the rear"... That's the general consensus of what an estate is. Manufacturers around the globe have taken this fairly dull sounding recipe and created some genuinely great cars that are fun and involving to drive. Think of a fast estate car and you'll likely think of cars such as the Audi RS6 or other refined European machines. However Japan had their own ideas, putting into production some wonderful JDM machinery over the years. We list our top 5 below...

Nissan Stagea 260RS

Nissan Stagea

We often have clients who are keen to import a vehicle which is fast yet practical but how about an estate with a GT-R engine? Well the Nissan Stagea 260RS is the car to fulfil that request. Running the infamous RB26 engine and five speed box found in the R33 GT-R it truly is a wolf in sheeps clothing. With a mere 1734 examples ever built they're pretty scarce so often get snapped up quickly. Expect to budget at least 2 mill JPY for a good one in today's market with a future increase on the cards as it nears elegibility for the US market.

Subaru Forester STi

Subaru Forester

What better way to combat the poor weather than in a Forester STI? This 4WD turbocharged estate is an absolute corker in the dry but when the roads become less hospitable its next level brillaint! With that infamous flat four burble and punch of power there's no wonder we've experienced a massive demand for this JDM wagon in recent years. Decent examples start from a competetive 800,000 JPY too which is another good reason why we've found them so popular.

Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX Wagon

Mitsubishi Evo Wagon

Need something practical but also something that will blow your mind when you flex your right foot? An EVO Wagon is the perfect weapon of choice. Designed to conquer any road that gets caught in it's path, it will keep you glued to the tarmac whilst putting a huge smile on your face! With only 2500 units ever released availability is limited and strong residuals reflect this. A future classic perhaps?

Subaru Legacy Tuned By STi 

Subaru Legacy

Fast, practical and rare. 3 words often used to describe the Legacy STI. Incidentally these are also the reasons there's such a demand for this fantastic Japanese-only model and why values have remained strong for a number of years. We were tempted to include the more available Legacy GT-B as this is a brilliant (and more affordable) model in its own right but we simply couldn't resist the allure of that STI badge. And with values still at a sensible level we feel there's a great case to me made for this superb all rounder!

Mitsubishi Air Trek Turbo R

Mitsubishi Air Trek

A lesser known model outside of Japan the Airtrek Turbo R houses the same engine as the Mitsubishi Evolution VII. Although the power is toned down in the Turbo R there are obvious practical advantages with a sizeable boot and large cabin. They also come with a healthy saving over the competion above. #beatthepricerise

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