These used Nineties Japanese cars are circa £20k time capsules

A clear favourite here, but while most old Subies aren’t exactly the fisherman’s dream catch at this price bracket, a ‘Type R’ is. Yep, Honda wasn’t the only one to use that badge on its models; here, it equates to a 276bhp boxer unit, around 1,260kg of weight and more grip than your stomach could likely handle.

Finding a stock FD3S for a reasonable price isn’t doable these days. If you do, chances are its rotary engine is on its last legs and the seller is looking to punt. So if you want one, best get yourself a modified example like this and slowly start reverse engineering it. Easy!

The thing about vintage Honda engines is that they just don’t know how to stop working, and that’s led to a pretty stellar reputation for reliability over the years. Some owners even say it’s mandatory to redline every few days… for exercise purposes. Interested? Here’s a bug-eye Integra Type R for you to consider.

Carrying over much of the Integra’s internals, but simmering it down into a smaller (and lighter) body is this EK9 Civic Type R. Finished in the correct shade of Championship White, just one owner has racked up the 72,000 miles it has on its odometer thus far. What a thing.

You’ll need to get your very best negotiation face on if you’re to lower the asking price of this S13, but doing so would get you a pretty special car in return. The full suite of bumpers, skirts and wings are finished in an original Skyline R34 shade of ‘Active Red’, and should be enough authenticity to gain entry into the UK’s biggest Japanese car meets. You know, those that aren’t in McDonald's car parks?

This week’s wildcard isn’t that wild, because it’s a bog-standard Toyota MR2. It has no wild modifications applied to it. The interior is remains bone stock. The 16-valve four-pot still puts out a miserly 168bhp. But can you see where we’re going with this? Correct! It’s an MR2 that’s basically brand new, and that’s surely worth considering as your next big purchase.