20 fine Japanese cars - and how to grab one from £4000

Many Japanese cars found their way overseas to Britain’s shores. High engine tunability, reliability and affordability make and made them vastly popular. Whether you need something to drift in or something that will rarely let you down, various marques from Japan will have you covered. Here’s some that we think you’ll like:

Nipping at the heels of the Mazda MX-5 in 1992 was the Suzuki Cappuccino, a tiny Japanese sports car built to comply with the strict kei car size regulations in Japan. The turbocharged 660cc engine revved to 9300rpm and fed 63bhp to the rear wheels through a limited slip differential, which was enough for the 679kg Cappuccino to hit 62mph in around 8sec. 

By dropping the manual targa-like top, you had a bona fide sports car. Cars can fetch as high as £11,000, but we spotted a tidy 1994 example with 45,000 miles for just £3500.

The Mk4 Supra is a well-respected car that’s found on many wish lists. The twin-turbocharged 3.0-litre straight six 2JZ-GTE engine produced 326bhp, but many cars have found themselves being tuned to 1000bhp-plus. Gearbox options included a four-speed automatic or a six-speed manual and power was fed to the rear wheels. Outside, you got 17in alloy wheels, an active front spoiler and a high spoiler at the rear. 

With the Mk4 becoming more of a collector's item, prices are on the hike and usually start from around £22,000 for non-turbo variants. We spotted a 1993 twin-turbo car with 72,000 miles and some subtle modifications for £34,995.

The R33 sat between the R32 and the R34, but its bulbous shape and extended wheelbase meant that it never quite got the love it deserved. The main focus was always on the Skyline’s big brother – the GT-R. It was backed by racing heritage, sophisticated electronics, large tuning potential and it had four-wheel drive.  With GT-R prices now climbing, the GTS-T remains a humble option. 

Underneath was a turbocharged 247bhp 2.5-litre (RB25DET) powerplant, feeding power to the rear wheels, and the cars can be easily tuned to 500bhp-plus if required. Clean examples can be had from around £19,000; we clocked a rust-free, 1998 example with 65,000 miles for £21,995.

Mitsubishi gave us multiple guises with the Evo 8 (the 260, 280, FQ-300, FQ-320, FQ-340 and FQ-400), which meant that how fast you went depended on how much you wished to spend. The 2.0-litre turbocharged engine was the same throughout the range, four-wheel drive and a six-speed manual gearbox were standard.

The MR variant (Mitsubishi Racing) saw the introduction of the Evo’s weight loss; a lightweight aluminium roof panel was installed as were forged alloy wheels and various parts were taken from the suspension to improve its handling. FQ-400 cars are difficult to come by, but FQ-320s can be had for around £20,000. We spotted a 2004 260 model that had only covered 58,000 miles for £19,000.

It may have had a boy-racer reputation, but the EP3 Type R sat comfortably high in the ranks when it came to hot hatchbacks in the early 2000s. The 197bhp 2.0-litre K20 engine would climb all the way to 8600rpm with VTEC kicking in at 5800rpm, which was enough to shove the Type R’s 1204kg to 62mph in 6.4sec and onto 146mph. Unlike Type Rs today, where fins and spoilers are of dominance, the EP3 was truly understated in comparison. 

Type Rs in concours condition can fetch as much as £19,000, but we also spotted that you can have a standard 2004 example with 92,000 miles for just £4495.

The 1990s gave plenty of choice for those in the market for a performance coupe; the likes of the 300ZX, Nissan Skyline GT-R and Mk4 Toyota Supra were among the few. The 3000GT had a 282bhp transversely-mounted twin-turbocharged 3.0-litre V6 tied to a five-speed manual gearbox, four-wheel drive, four-wheel steering and although it was weighed at 1740kg, it could propel all four occupants to 62mph in just 5.5sec. Pop-up headlights sat at the tip of the long nose, gills featured on both sides, and it even had active aero. 

In 1995, the GT received a facelift - the pop-ups were removed to make way for projector-style headlights and the gearbox upgraded to a six-speed. Pre-facelift cars can be had for around £8000; we spotted a 1996 car with a great spec and 143,000 miles for £12,000.

The Impreza WRX STi will carry around five occupants and get you out of any sticky situation thanks to its four-wheel drive. A turbocharged 2.0-litre sat upfront and was tied to a six-speed manual gearbox. Brembo brakes were fitted from factory while other variants were equipped with a useful intercooler spray. Like STis of old, a scoop sat on the bonnet to feed the intercooler with cold air, chiseled skirts and bumpers showcased its muscularity, and a spoiler was mounted to the rear for that rally-car look. 

Cars with low-mileage and in great condition can demand up to £18,000. You can pick up the 2006 car we spotted with 83,000 miles for just £14,995.

The RX-7 is favoured by many Japanese car fans, but in period the Mazda badge simply couldn’t entice Porsche fanatics, even when the RX-7 was a better specced machine than an equivalent Porsche 968. There was another issue that also began to rear its head – the engine. It was thirsty, as Autocar found out, when their test car delivered 15.5mpg; and at around 80,000 miles they may also require a rebuild. However, pressure tests can be run on cars to ensure they are healthy. We saw a nice 1997 example with 70,000 miles for £29,995, and it’s just had an engine rebuild.

Although Nismo have been known to use their paintbrush on a variety of cars from the GT-R to the Juke, the 370Z Nismo was Nissan’s way of turning up the volume on the already brutish 370Z. A six-speed manual, rear-wheel drive and a 3.7-litre V6 were standard, as was the dual sports exhaust, Recaro seats and 19in alloys. The bodywork was certainly unconventional and not to everyone’s liking, but on the road was where the 370Z came into its own. 

339bhp came in at 7400rpm and the 0-62mph dash was over in 5.2sec making it 0.5sec quicker than a Porsche Cayman of the same era. The gearbox was short and a system would provide automatic blips on downshifts. Prices are rising, so it would be worth getting a used one sooner rather than later. We noted a fine 2014 example with 66,000 miles on the clock for £19,990.

If you fancy going against the grain and opting for something other than an Impreza or Evo, then the 6 MPS might just be the ticket. It may not have anywhere near the folk-following as the famous duo, but it can still offer packs of fun for little money. At first glance, you’d never know it was an aggressive performance saloon with the only real giveaway being the twin tail pipes that poke out from the rear bumper. 

A four-cylinder turbocharged 2.3-litre engine sent 257bhp and 279lb ft to all four wheels, unlike the Mazda 3 MPS that was only front-wheel drive. This meant that 0-62mph took 6.6sec and 0-100mph - 16.4sec. Cars are becoming rarer, but prices currently start from £3805; by digging a bit deeper, you can have the 2007 car with 58,000 miles we saw for £6690.

As far as open-top Japanese roadsters go, the MX-5 clearly has the vote of many, but what if you were to stray away from the norm and perhaps opt for a third-generation MR2? Well, you’ll be rewarded with a 975kg roadster with responsive mannerisms. It had power steering, which made parking easy, it was mid-engined and the roof could be dropped in a matter of seconds for the warmer days. 

The 138bhp 1.8-litre engine powered the rear wheels and was tied to a five-speed manual. Six-speed boxes were added post 2002. High-milers can be had for just £1895, if you can stretch a bit more though, you can have the 2002 66,000-mile car we saw for just £4795.

Another exciting rotary-engined car for our list. The RX-8 tried to be as people-friendly as possible with GT-like styling, reversed doors at the rear, and a small, but respectable 290-litre boot. Inside, it was contemporary and featured a spine-like tunnel that ran up the middle, as well as deep seats at the front with a little rotary triangle in the headrests. Under acceleration, the 228bhp 1.3-litre unit would light up and rev to a cool 9500rpm. 

It handled well thanks to its near 50:50 weight distribution and sub-1400kg weight. Like other rotary cars, the engine can be problematic if not properly maintained, and it will have a thirst for both oil and petrol come what may. Rough examples can be had for £1500, but we spotted a great-condition 2009 car with just 45,000 miles for £5200.

In the early 2000s, Toyota thought it would have a go at rivalling the likes of Honda’s Civic Type R, and while they were miles off when it came to chassis response, the T-Sport could hold its own against other bigger cars on the straights. The 189bhp 2ZZ-GE 1.8-litre engine was the same that Lotus used in the Elise, but you had to work it to extract the most from it, with all 189bhp not arriving until 7800rpm. 

Luckily, prices are reasonable, and cars can be bought for just over £1000. We saw a good 2003 one with just two previous owners and 83,000 on the clock for £2150.

The Colt Ralliart was introduced to the hot hatchback market in 2008. A turbocharged 1.5-litre sat at the Colt’s heart and produced 147bhp, this was enough to wheelspin the Colt to 62mph in a Corsa VXR-rivalling 7.4sec. Combine the firm suspension with the smaller wheels and the Evo X-like front-end styling, and you have a hot hatchback package on a budget. Ralliarts are becoming scarce, but we found a 2010 one with 154,000 miles on the clock for £2495.

In 1990, Toyota decided to try doing things a bit differently with the Sera. Although it was a coupe, it was supermini-sized and featured an array of design features, most famous of which were its gullwing doors. It had 108bhp 1.5-litre engine, with a 7900rpm limit, tied to a five-speed transmission or a four-speed automatic. Underneath, it shared the same transmission and engine from a Toyota Starlet. Finding one can be tricky, but they do appear occasionally. We saw a 1993 automatic Sera for sale with 90,000 miles for just £5799.

FTO stood for Fresh Touring Origination and was Mitsubishi’s compact front-wheel drive 2+2 car that was offered with a variety of engines, including 123bhp 1.8-litre four-cylinder, two 2.0-litre V6s, 168bhp version and an MIVEC with 197bhp. The 197bhp V6 would scramble to 62mph in just 7.5sec and see 140mph with enough room. You also had the choice between a tiptronic-like gearbox or a manual five-speed. 

People then began to import cars from Japan as they hadn’t yet been released to the UK market and, in 2000, the FTO GPX got the thumbs up to be sold in the UK. One can be sat on your drive for as little as £3250, but we saw a 1995 car with 53,000 miles for £7995.

With the Honda CRX being a hit in the 1980s, Honda decided that in 1990 they would create something to follow in its footsteps — the CRX Del Sol. It was treated to a styling update, a choice between a 128bhp 1.5-litre (VXi) or a 168bhp 1.6-litre motor, and you could have a lockable four-speed automatic or a five-speed manual. If fitted with the TransTop feature, the roof could retract in an uncommon way. 

The boot lid would lift, the roof would then be pressed upwards and an arm would extend from the boot lid. The roof would then be collected and stowed away in a compartment. We spotted a 1992 rust-free example with 49,000 miles and an electric roof for £4995.

Honda released the S2000 back in 1999 to mark their golden jubilee. With 50:50 weight distribution, the S2000 quickly became the choice for many who wanted a roadster. It had a Torsen limited-slip diff and the 2.0-litre 16-valve VTEC engine produced 237bhp and would climb to 9000rpm, allowing it to hit 62mph in 6.2sec and onto a 150mph top speed. Cars were also equipped with an electric soft-top roof. 

Today, there are quite a few S2000s still around.  You can pick up a decent car for just £6500, but we saw a cherished 2002 example with 102,000 miles for £9000.

When the Lexus LS430 was released in 2000, it had Adaptive Forward Lighting, a rear camera, sat-nav and airbags that would protect your knees in the event of an accident. If you climbed into the rear, you would have the option to use an integrated cool box and massaging seats. Under the large bonnet, was a 4.3-litre V8 that was coupled to a six-speed auto transmission. 

Fast forward to today and what once was a 70 grand car, can now be had for £2500. And, although there are a few rough examples out there, there are decent cars still around. We spotted a 2001 car with near-concours looks and 73,000 miles on the clock for £6990.

Suzuki proved with the Jimny that good things can come in small packages. Its 1.3-litre petrol engine had 78bhp (later updated to 83bhp), and was enough for the sub-1000kg Jimny to do some green laning thanks to its selectable four-wheel drive system and high and low ratios. It was available in both a four-speed auto and a five-speed manual. In 2013, the Jimny was facelifted and fitted with a new front bumper, grille, bonnet scoop and it had grown in length by 30mm. Cars can be had for £1600; our pick was a 2006 car with 51,000 miles on the clock for just £3999.