So my best friend and I were talking last night about getting a car that we can modify and take auto-crossing, so that we could learn how to drive better and improve our skills at handing a higher powered car with low risk.

Because I sure the hell wasn't going to take my EJ8 out there, and he wasn't going to take his baby out either...We figured it would be fun to pick up a beater and throw a small turbo on it, gut it out, get a REALLY good coilover setup and some nice tires and see what we could do with it.

He's a true Honda boy through and through, I wanted to try something different than Honda's because I'm most familiar with them, and I want to step into new territory and see what I can learn there.

Of course, best friends can hardly ever agree on their favorite shared hobby...so I come here today to ask your opinions! I'm thinking we don't want to spend any more than 5k with performance modifications included (this will be a true budget performance vehicle).

He wanted something rear wheel drive, but then he loves Honda's and doesn't want to stray away too much. I (coming from BMW roots) proposed an E30 BMW (1988-91 BMW 3-Series), lightweight, good power and torque, rear wheel drive....why not, right? No good.

I told him NO MIATAS! I don't care if they handle good or not, I cannot and will not attempt to get anywhere those things. My neighbor has an 87 RX7 in immaculate condition that he was considering giving me...I'm scared of rotary engines though and don't know the first thing about Mazda's.

Well...here's a list of possible candidates so far, feel free to give me your opinion or your own option as well!

-EF Civic Hatchback - Si Model
-DA Integra - GSR Model
-E30 BMW 3-Series - 325i Model
-FC Mazda RX7 - Non-turbo'd
-EG Civic Hatchback - Si Model
-HF Civic CRX
-AE86 Toyota Corolololololol!!!!!
-Z432R 1972 Datsun 240z
-S13 Nissan Silvia 240

So far the DA Integra has a strong chance. The GSR has a DOHC B17 with good power for a starting car, they handle good, aren't too expensive and they are supposedly dominating in the Honda Challenge events. Because it has a good engine to start off with we won't have to worry about engine swaps or being bumped into a class above our level. I don't know how all that stuff works though....

The Corolla was another car that we really wanted to do but they're getting a little TOO popular around here with the drifting craze going on, and we fear that theft of them might start to become a serious issue soon.

Thanks in advance for your help, I will most likely be constantly updating this thread with news and information if it picks up.

This post was last modified: 06-12-2008 08:30 PM by Artikgrau325is.

I still autoX my 93 corolla, love that car. Did same thing, gutted- nice suspension, still working on throwing something better in the engine but it's swapped 4AGE.

No interest in 240's? Have a lot of fun with an S13. Beaters all over the place. My dream car is a 98 240sx LE, just waiting on the right time to get one.

I still autoX my 93 corolla, love that car. Did same thing, gutted- nice suspension, still working on throwing something better in the engine but it's swapped 4AGE.

No interest in 240's? Have a lot of fun with an S13. Beaters all over the place. My dream car is a 98 240sx LE, just waiting on the right time to get one.

Eh...I definitely respect the car, but it's difficult for me to see it as a track car now. Because of all the drifting stuff I sort of put it in that category and left it there, but it will definitely be added as an option. I might add that my buddy dislikes Nissan for whatever reason, so...again...another discrepancy...*Sigh*

dude AE86 or the DA
nothing looks better then a slammed DA

ever thought of a 90's celica
the alltrac are AWD and turbo
and super torque monsters

I will definitely take it into consideration, thanks for the suggestion!

FWD....EF or DA
RWD....E30 or Miata.

Subaru Impreza 2.5 RS? The two door, those things are so hot. I wanna do an EJ25 swap into one of those one day.

Or an older MR2 for RWD or maybe a GTI for FWD

+2 on the mr2 on the crx ... its already a light car to start off with you know... or maybe a 90's subaru impreza ?

How much do those earlier model Subaru's go for? I don't really want to spend more than 2gz on the car itself. Thanks so much for the opinions so far guys, they're definitely helping us out!