Fd with an LSx swap is a winner.
Catagory 2 scares the E36 M3 out of me. Run away.
With those parts, I'd build a Factory Five roadster or Daytona.
The wild ass idea is to get a hold of a Kugle Komponents 5.0 Focus kit and put the 5.0 in the Focus.
http://www.kugelkomponents.com/focus/focusv8.php
First off, no reason to be sorry for anything. Bang for the buck and needs to be a daily driver without spending a ton of money? Fix the Mustang, maybe drop a V8 in there. Plenty of aftermarket parts in the world for those cars. Anyone ever build a Mustang with a turbo V6?
No need to aplologize, we spend other people's money best! 
You have shop + Z-06 money + 10k...
LSx (or even a turbo ecotech) into a fiero.
http://ls1tech.com/forums/conversions-hybrids/886893-ls7-fiero-swap.html
I'm fairly certain on an Audi TT or a 3000GT that $5,000 is yearly maintenance money, not modifying money.
I've never found the C5 vettes ergonomically acceptable for a daily driver, but I'm a bigger guy and really a Ford guy at heart anyway.
If I had an entire Cobra driveline, 20k and a full shop then a Factory Five '33 Hotrod would be all I'd be thinking about. it would take some time, but the idea of building something that unique and capable from nearly the ground up is awesome. I really think I could happily DD one.
Now if you need trunk or storage space, there are probably better options butit can't be worse than a Miata. And it can look like this:
GPS and I think alike. I bet Renegade could put the 5.0 in the 996 or Boxster if you really wanted to.
But...
5.0 RWD Focus would be one heck of a sleeper. And I bet pretty dang quick.
I'm not a fan of V8 Foci for some undefinable reason I can’t put my finger on. If you want to play with a Focus, sell the rest of the stuff, find a Merkur XR4ti and put that floorpan under the Focus. Then go shopping in Europe and add Escort or Sierra Cosworth 4x4 running gear. Rather than the ancient YB engine I'd use a blown Duratech 4cyl. Then play with you budget WRC car 
octavious wrote: GPS and I think alike. I bet Renegade could put the 5.0 in the 996 or Boxster if you really wanted to. But... 5.0 RWD Focus would be one heck of a sleeper. And I bet pretty dang quick.
Not sure I'd bother with an LSx 996 anymore. The issues with the M96 engines all have affordable DIY fixes these days, so I'd uprate the stock engine then add booooooosssstttttt
Buy C5 Z06 and sell all the other crap to make room for a budget to add to the C5. Is this even a question?
You have a Focus and 5.0. Build with what you have!
TheDeafElectrician wrote: Im srysly considering the 5.0 in the focus now haha.
Is that really going to be manageable as a DD? Just something to ponder.
Here's what I would do:
Swap Cobra drivetrain into V6 Mustang. Two birds, one stone. This will be your daily driver.
Swap 5.0 into Focus, again with the two birds thing. This will be your 'shock and awe' for your buddies not in the know. And maybe some advertisement for your shop. Stick it out front with a vinyl wrap and hit a couple of car shows, with the hood up(!), during the summer. If you do this right, you might be able to claim this as advertising and do some clever tax deductions (consult a CPA).
I'd stay away from the 3kGt unless you're doing a complete gut of the shell and redo ev-ery-thing. The TT probably a little less. I'm not sure about the newer ones but the whole early 2000s for Audi/VW have a sour taste in my mouth. In full disclosure, I've never owned a 3kGT or a TT but my 2000 A6 2.7 BiTurbo always needed little things fixed constantly. Of course it was 9 years old with 140k miles...
I'm not sure about Corvettes. They might make me drive too much like a d*bag. I know my A6 did. My Miata calmed me down with it's low power and momentum-driven antics. I like to drive at full throttle and huge horsepower doesn't allow you to do that much, especially on the street. I don't do HPDE or autocross... nothing.
The previous statements are just my thoughts.
C5 Z06 or LSX swapped FD. Both start out quick and have massive potential. I think the FD would be cheaper to mod at first, and it's smaller and lighter, but when you get into more serious mods there will be obscure parts and even custom work needed, while anything you can imagine is available off the shelf for the C5.
In fact since you're doing all the work yourself and are a masochist I think the LSx FD is the best option.
The Focus over Merkur floor pan thing is still one of my goals for the future.
However, once you drive a C5 Z06, I don't think you'll want anything else. Personally, I find it quite manageable around town. Those seats that are "horrible" in the ways of lateral support are almost like sitting in a recliner. Interior room wasn't horrible, either. Keep in mind, I drove one on a nice day, so no experience in foul weather. However, I can tell you that I'm a bigger guy (6'4" - 260 lbs or so) and still have quite a bit of room.
The FD would be similar I'd bet. A close second in my eyes.
The most simple solution is is existing Cobra driveline into the existing 94 Mustang. Get all of the Griggs Racing (or similar...there are catalogs full of stuff for this car) bits and have a very capable and fun-to-drive DD'er.
You essentially spend nothing on the car, because you already have it/them...so 100% of your budget is for making it better/stronger/faster. The "Steve Austin" Mustang, if you will.
TheDeafElectrician wrote: Being the guy who almost picked up a fiero modena replica recently, I approve of this post.
Details with pics ASAP
TheDeafElectrician wrote: Being the guy who almost picked up a fiero modena replica recently, I approve of this post.
Details with pics ASAP
In reply to TheDeafElectrician:
SN95's CAN handle VERY VERY well.......it just depends upon what parts you put into them. Might as well even change the rear end to the cobra IRS.....but that isn't completely necessary.
In reply to TheDeafElectrician:
If I had your budget, I'd just buy either an E46M or a Z3M/Z4M coupe......the latter two being something that most likely won't drop below what you pay for them. S54 equals similar speed to the c5 vette, and its pretty much a wash as to which handles better.
I would avoid the 3000gt unless you are hoping to go 500+hp street racing with your next car. VR4s are basically good at ONE thing: making and hooking up 500-1000hp in a straight line. And, you have to make enough power to justify the AWD. At 300-400hp i would rather have the z06. But if you really never plan to go on a road course or autox and want to make OVER 500 hp, the VR4 is good at that.
negatives on those particular cars
Z06 - salvage titles make me nervous, as does front end damage that warrants them
other vettes - not Z06s
The subie - The shot in the desert makes me wonder how it's been treated. 148k on a boosted motor is a lot if it's been badly abused, particularly a subie motor. (ref recent magazine experience)
The 3000GT - I don't trust DSM for any sort of reliability, but no personal experience to back that up, take it with a grain of salt.
TT - see 3kGT comment, sub Audi for DSM. Seen some expensive maintenance shenanigans through friend-of-a-friend connections.
All of which means bupkis. Until you go drive em there's no real data. You gotta find what speaks to you.
Mazda787b wrote: The Focus over Merkur floor pan thing is still one of my goals for the future. However, I can tell you that I'm a bigger guy (6'4" - 260 lbs or so) and still have quite a bit of room. The FD would be similar I'd bet. A close second in my eyes.
You've never driven a FD have you? My friend who was 6'3" had to slouch constantly in mine. He couldn't find a comfortable seating position and he tried for about 18 hours worth of road tripping.
ultraclyde wrote: The subie - The shot in the desert makes me wonder how it's been treated. 148k on a boosted motor is a lot if it's been badly abused, particularly a subie motor. (ref recent magazine experience)
Plus how those carbon doors = flying razorblades in the event of a side impact.......Not recommended.
Also, don't pay $10k for an abused FD......when you're buying an FD, buy one that is actually NICE. It seems that well over half of them have been touched by retards.....granted I lump in LSx swaps into that group.
In reply to TheDeafElectrician:
At 5'11" and 200lbs it fit me wonderfully, over 6'3" and you run out of headroom fast.
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