Tommy,
How about a legit GSR Integra?
Want to cross-over with CM, too? Then RX-7 GSL-SE is the answer!
You know you can get 2"x8"x10's in there, right?
Buy your Cooper S from the fat man at Family Auto Mart!
Do what Ben says and get the only FWD 'Yota worth owning.
How thick is your wallet when the CEL comes on?
Hmmmmmppph!!! 
WINNER!!!
I still think this is the the real answer.
This would be tempting...
$7-8k buys a quite a nice Viggen....
the viggen would be worth a look. Not too many people know what they are.
Also.. the 318ti is faster than you think. It may trap at 8.5 to 60.. but that is with two shifts.. it cannot get to 60 in second (unlike most cars) so that adds time. Til about 50mph, it is very close to the 325 in speed
In reply to Tom Suddard:
How about a $7k downpayment on new 500 Abarth? Other than the tragically awful shifter they are pretty cool. The low spec cars are like $22k.
I third/fourth (whatever) the RSX. They are now in the price range about anyone can finance one.
Any chance an early Mazda3 Grand Touring hatch is in that price range? Even without the turbo, the 2.3 has some get up and go. At the GT trim level, it should be pretty well optioned out.
I'll second this one.
$7,000 would net you a nice example and leave you with lots of cash left over for upgrades!
The saab is a really interesting choice. I would rock it! Probably the best interior of the bunch too. Don't forget that he wants a nice place for his ass!
I'll join the Focus SVT backers. It's one of the few FWD cars I've ever enjoyed.
mtn wrote:
I was talking with a Honda mechanic about these at the last autocross. He was saying that for about $500 you could have a frankenbuilt engine that had around 250hp naturally aspirated. That would be pretty interesting.
Is this truly possible? Can anyone add some details to this claim? 
My order of prefs:
Celica GT-S
Acura RSX-S
Saab Viggen
Focus SVT
Too bad the Volvo C30 isn't down to that price range yet. I love those things and they have premium written all over them.
midknight wrote:mtn wrote:I was talking with a Honda mechanic about these at the last autocross. He was saying that for about $500 you could have a frankenbuilt engine that had around 250hp naturally aspirated. That would be pretty interesting.
Is this truly possible? Can anyone add some details to this claim?
It's possibke if you read it at face value. You could put together a motor that will do it for $500. Probably couldn't tune it or do the breathing mods necessary, but you'd have a motor.
Swank Force One wrote:midknight wrote:Is this truly possible? Can anyone add some details to this claim?mtn wrote:I was talking with a Honda mechanic about these at the last autocross. He was saying that for about $500 you could have a frankenbuilt engine that had around 250hp naturally aspirated. That would be pretty interesting.
Yeah, keep in mind that this was from a Honda mechanic who has various engine bits in his (home) garage aside from that. So for him it would probably cost $500 to get it working; for most folks it would be a lot more than that.
Javelin wrote:Feedyurhed wrote: I think the GTI is the definitive hatchback, after all they basically created that category. That's what I think of when I think hatchback.Oh, hai.
That's a hatch alright, not so sure about hot though.
Actually I had a friend who had a Gremlin X with the OEM 304 small block available from AMC for a few years. Interesting car.
323 gtx? Straight up legit hot hatch.
Had a focus SVT, great car. All my friends with mini's are having issues with the electrical power steering killing their batteries and a few other reliability things I would not want to deal with. Plus known issues with carbon build up.
Fiat 500 Abarth I could not fit in it at 6"0 even with the seat all the way back I tried at the auto show
RSX or GTi. You can make over 300whp in the GTi by swapping to the K04.
400whp all you need are rods and injectors (well, I guess a fuel pump wouldn't hurt). IIRC, you don't even have to pull the motor to swap the rods (I sure didn't once, I know that as a fact).
And has there ever been an MK4 as a magazine car? If you can live with a mini, you certainly can live with an MK4 GTi. DO EET!
Mazda 3
I have always thought this was a good looking sedan.
4cyl, supercharged, 6 speed manual and an original epa rating of 21/25/31 sure seems like an intriguing combination?
As a reader, I just need someone to confirm if I am right or wrong?
http://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-sale/vehicledetails.xhtml?zip=32114&endYear=2014&modelCode1=C230&showcaseOwnerId=66949769&startYear=1981&makeCode1=MB&transmissionCode=MAN&sellerTypes=b&transmissionCodes=MAN&searchRadius=500&maxPrice=11000&mmt=[MB[C230[]][]]&listingId=338729049&listingIndex=5&Log=0 http://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-sale/vehicledetails.xhtml?zip=32114&endYear=2014&modelCode1=C230&showcaseOwnerId=66949769&startYear=1981&makeCode1=MB&transmissionCode=MAN&sellerTypes=b&transmissionCodes=MAN&searchRadius=500&maxPrice=11000&mmt=[MB[C230[]][]]&listingId=337498877&listingIndex=4&Log=0
There is a coupe/hatch too but I am not impressed with the lines/look.
The_Jed wrote: I'll second this one.$7,000 would net you a nice example and leave you with lots of cash left over for upgrades!
I third this. Cheap parts, fairly cheap to run and 4.9L of fury.
The Fox-body Mustang, while offering a hatch and all those other great things, does not offer a lot of space to haul stuff. And I imagine that's a big part of all of this. I also don't think there's a 302 powered Fox that pulls 30+ mpg on the highway.
Im voting for the saab or the 323 gtx. So basically the extreme ends of the spectrum.
mercedes SLK with a permanent hardtop. awesome accessibility in the engine bay for service, simple electronics for a modern car, manual trans option...
In reply to WilberM3:
I've heard nothing but bad things about the electronics in that car. Yeah, they don't have every feature a similar SLK might have, but they seem to have CAN data busing which most ChryCo dealers don't know how to deal with, etc etc. Something tells me a Painless wiring kit, a 318, and an A-833 would be a fun summer swap job though...
mndsm wrote: You want the thing to WORK, right? I'd be afraid of any 8k Cooper S.
My $1500 Cooper S works fine.
Tommy:
If you've got a hankerin' for a MINI, I say go for it.
I'm just getting rolling in mine (a couple thousand miles), but I am realizing there is some fun to be had not just in the driving, but also in the MINI culture.
People just LIKE 'em. 
It meets all your requirements, and it's just plain fun.
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