Similiar price ($~1K), RX7 has no rust and 240,000kms, Corolla is 4AC powered with welded diff and rusty as hell.
I want to beat on it in TSD's/rally-x's/auto-x's as I refuse to subject my minty Swift GTi to another TSD like the one I did last weekend.
Theres a Merkur I can snag for $2k thats mint, but I really wanted to stay at around $1k for a rwd car, and I can't find any volvos 
rx7 wins for cheaper used replacement parts. and I can't overstate how much better suited a 12a is than a 4ac to what you're going to do with it.
AWD V6 Passat ftmfw!
There is absolutely nothing like the sound of a rotary at full throttle through the woods.
There is absolutely nothing like the sound of a grown man crying when his jack goes straight through a crossmember that was formerly believed to be solid.
Consider this another vote for the RX7. The AE86 sounds like a money pit: rust (those things are really good at that), 4A-C (reliable but anemic), and the welded diff means it was probably owned by some sideways-baseball-cap drifter-wannabe who had just enough knowledge to be really, really dumb. I'd bet anything that it has a bunch of other hack jobs done to it, that you'd find out about at the worst possible time. Probably 3/4 of that $1000 asking price is "dorifto tax."
Frankly I don't understand why it is even a question. RX-7 for the win.
A rusty ghetto modded Corolla or a decent sounding RX-7. I have driven both and would choose the RX-7 over the Corolla in almost any given condition.
Ok.........do I need to say it too? Alright. RX7.
do I have to ask? Where is the merkur? Always loved those cars
I vote for the RX-7 as well,but doubt there truly is NO rust. I have been around these cars long enough to know that a $1000 RX-7 has rust on it somewhere. It is hidden in the dark depths somewhere,trust me. If you need parts for the 7, I more than likely have them. I have parted many of these cars out over the years,and my collection is getting out of control. Mostly what I have is SA parts from the 78-80 models,but some of this stuff is interchangeable.
John Brown wrote:AWD V6 Passat ftmfw!
How about a Subie 2.5RS? I just went and looked at one for $4k... don't ask, the addiction told me to 
I am biased 
RX-7! And yes, they really can have no rust. Mine is spotless. Even the original exhaust system was intact and looked barely aged! Sold that one to a restorer...
I had a 82 rx-7 loved it was very rusty though and the idler arm rusted off the sub-frame so yes to rx-7 no to rust.
I had a Corolla SR5 with the 4A-C, and while the AE86 is an aweome chassis, a rusty single-cam is NOT worth a penny over $500.
Definitely the RX-7!
Rx-7 - wonderful cars!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pXEMaw6ul04
Imagine that going through the woods!
"Who let a lawnmower in!"
My fiend has a peripheral port in a miata. It backfires like a shotgun....a minute after he turns it off!
RX-7.
Stay away from rust, unless you like never ending battles... Go for the 7. :)
Soooo... this is what happened:
Basically, as I explained, I wanted something to beat on, preferably rwd (not looking for the fastest times, but the most fun I could have on TSD's, auto-x's, and rally-x's). At the same time (right after I made this thread), I just received a good chunk o' change in scholarships, but, since I already had my finances sorted out for the year, and was already going to shell out around $1K for a beater mobile, my price range COULD have been increased. It wouldn't of been, until this popped up Thursday evening:
$3800+GST ($3990 out the door) I walked off the best used car lot I've ever been on with a perfectly fine (all electronics work, no issues, very smooth motor, 183000kms) 1999 Subaru 2.5RS. And I'm in love 
And as most of you guys know, I do a lot of rallying. So you can see where this growing snowball is going 
Ooooohhh! I love the 2.5RS! Good deal young padawan.
Just thought I'd bump this thread up a bit.
As far as I can tell, the Subie has NO ISSUES. Its really odd, considering I bought it (and I do not kid about this) for $2k cheaper then the next cheapest 2.5RS in western Canada (and that one had 220,000kms on it) from a USED car lot! I'm super surprised.
I've driven it a total of 500kms (to Red Deer from Edmonton and back plus misc. driving) and am taking it to a rally-x tomorrow. All I really have to worry about is the rust that has bubbled the paint on the rear fenders (NOT accident damage or poor bondo job, I checked the car out thoroughly). It starts up fine and idles SOOOOO SMOOTH its crazy. I hope to have some video for you guys tomorrow
