You could buy an SC300 and swap a 1JZ in for that kind of money as well. Sky/budget is the limit on that one too.

 

Merkur XR4Ti
Mustang SVO, etc...

 

89-94 subaru legacy turbo

 

Omni GLH(Goes Like Hell), Mazda 323 GTX, Dodge Spirit (turbo) and Dodge Colt Turbo.

 

I 2nd that.

Here is mine - 5 sp turbo in the works

 

4g63 is hard to beat for the money. Here is my 89 mirage turbo (originaly 4g61 turbo, now 4g63 w 20g)...the ultimate sleeper

 

mkII mr2 turbo.

 

You could get a lower mileage, good condition 300zx turbo (z31 - not the z32 twin turbo) for about 5 grand or less.

Some people hate how the z31 one looks, but it's cheap, reliable, comfortable and fast. The T3 turbo on those things is set stock at only 6 psi, just plug the POV and get a boost controller for an easy 30 whp above the stock 200.

 

I've got an obscure one for you.. Isuzu Impulse Turbo, 85-89 was rear drive with lotus tuned suspension, later cars were AWD.. I ran some high 14's on mine with minor mods..

Now I have a project car, 81 Datsun B210 hatchback which i'm either going to swap in a SR20DET drivetrain or a Supercharged V8

 

go get yourself a 92 tsi/gsx/laser rs all wheel drive. has the 6 bolt motor and 4 bolt rear end. make sure it was built before april of 92 I believe. You cant go wrong. Yes its hard to find one in good shape but if you take your time you can find one. These cars take well to mods. 4g63 powered. You can make a DSM reliable. You just have to take care of it.....

--^what he said.... ive had mine for like a year and a half.. boost the hell out of it... never had any problems... n bought it for $3k 92 tsi awd.. leather, 5 spd.. and BOOOST.... and ive had quite a few 200-300 mile cruise days... and i love the look on older guys faces when i leave theyre lincoln mk?(whatever), g35s, etc etc...... and you know thiiiisssss.... maaaaaaannn!!!

 

he speaks the truth, the 1g 7 bolt is crap.

00 golf 1.8t
other 1.8t
mustang 2.3 turbo
there are lots of random F/I cars that people can make fast for fairly cheap.
but I'd pick up a DSM because they're cheap, I paid $1400 for mine and spent anther 1g on extensive maintenance. It's almost ready to start modding.

 

you can also pick up..."Sport Compact Car" magazine. september 2005: Budget Bad Boys: Top 10 used cars under $10k. MR2 turbo, 240sx, z32 300zx, 200sx se-r, mx-5 miata, 1g or 2g awd dsm, integra gsr/civic si, 2g rx-7 turbo II/gtu, 98'-01' scoobie impreza 2.5rs, vw gti/corrado,jetta vr6... if you can find one... 85-87 carolla gts... theres actually quite a few cars that could be had for around $8k... you just have to look around...

 

this is the issue that made me decide on getting on a mr2 turbo got mine for 3900 with 150k miles on the motor, and it still pulls strong

 

silvia
gtir
s14
evo 2,3 gsr
honda lsvtec turbos
mustang turbos
etc...
all under that!