Toyota MR2

Three generations, three quite different cars, all with Toyota engineering underneath. The first went on sale in Japan in June 1984 and is the light, simple original. The second followed in October 1989 with 2.0-litre engines; the turbocharged versions are the quick ones, so a documented history matters more than shine. The third, sold from October 1999 as the MR-S roadster in Japan, has a folding soft top and just 78 litres of luggage space behind the seats. Check every car for oil use, smoke and service records, and on the roadster ask about the pre-catalysts, whose failure can wreck the engine.