Here are 10 used ‘90s Japanese sports cars for under £30k

The key differences separating the GT-T from the more desirable GT-R are as follows: the GT-T gets rear-wheel drive over all-wheel drive, a single-scroll turbo over a twin-scroll, and a five-speed manual over a six-speed. It’s not quite as hardcore, but this example still represents an affordable way into R34 ownership. And given the way GT-R prices are headed, not one person can scoff at you for being sensible.

Finding a stock twin-turbo Mk4 Supra is rare these days, let alone for a reasonable price. But here’s one for a fiver under budget, with everything from the switchgear and the exterior paint to that wicked 2JZ engine still in immaculate condition. So far as we can tell, the only real trade-offs are a bit of wear to the driver’s seat and the four-speed automatic gearbox. But you can get over those.

Honda’s throwback screamer, which winds up to 8,200rpm courtesy of a naturally aspirated four-pot with sprinklings of VTEC wizardry. Sporting the correct Championship White paint and a few tasteful vinyls, this JDM-spec £17k example even gets a Mugen stainless steel exhaust and bits of carbon fibre to complement the red Recaro bucket seats inside. Perfect.

Again, you won’t find a full-blown R33 GT-R for under £30k nowadays, but you can land yourself this GTS-T. It pinches bodywork elements from the super rare 400R Nismo model, and is apparently finished in Bayside Blue paint. The mechanical upgrade list is healthy too, and includes a Greddy air intake and intercooler, likely pushing it far beyond the standard 250-ish bhp.

We can’t not include Mazda’s turbocharged, rotary-powered, manually-driven masterclass in car design, can we? Here’s one with 69,000 miles on the clock for a smidge under £25k, and it’s got gold brake calipers, 17in Advan racing alloys and a sleek aftermarket body kit to give it some extra flair. Would you look at the size of that bronze exhaust, too? Sheesh.

Time to move on to some properly modified stuff, beginning with this 514bhp Evo VI. The numbers are lightly terrifying, and come thanks to forged internals plus a strong remap. Better strap into those harnesses real tight, and mentally prepare yourself to be thrust backward… when the turbos clear the lag, obviously. 

This S15-generation Silvia probably can't be considered a Mona Lisa of the drift world. It’s far too outlandish for that. The ‘SR20’ turbo-four remains, but itnow sends closer to 395bhp to the rear wheels. Supposedly, this very car has clocked a 1m 02.9s lap around the Tsukuba Circuit, which puts it ahead of cars like the Ferrari F40 and the McLaren F1. Some achievement from Mona’s outlandish cousin, that. 

Yep, this one’s a limited edition - specifically, a ‘555 WRC’. It’s got the gold alloys and blue paint, supplemented by a proper rally-spec rear wing, a massive roof scoop and two fat fog lamps up front. It certainly looks the part, and since it’s a Scooby, it’ll almost certainly last a few lifetimes. 

An instant head turner, because it’s so… unusual. And you’ll turn even more heads when you rock up to a parking spot and unleash your gullwing doors. What else on the used car market can be so small yet so packed with character? We know you’re sold already, so here’s the listing for a most excellent AZ-1. 

Wait, an actual GT-R? Correct! Here lies a wingless R32 that’s been boosted to 486bhp, and yes, we know it’s over budget, but this is the original ‘Godzilla’ we’re talking about. You know, the car which won all 29 of the Japanese Touring Car Championship races it entered in the early Nineties? Legend.