[8695Beaters]

I was looking for a CRX before I found my 240SX. All of the CRXs I saw were rusty beaters, so I gave up on them. You're farther North of me, so unless you get really lucky, you'll probably end up with the same problem.

If you like drag racing, then the Eclipse would be a good choice. They don't handle well, so going fast and straight is about their only talent. Just make sure you find the GSX when you shop, because installing AWD and a turbo on one of the N/A cars is supposed to be a real pain.

If you want to road race, then the 240 would probably be your best bet. The rear drive platform will handle more power than any of the FWDs and they are farily light. Since you don't have any preferece on which model, I'd say find the S14. You can bargain a bit, because everyone wants the S13 (that's what I ended up with. When it runs, I will let you know how an SR20DET feels). Even then, a $700 240SX is going to come from a junkyard. The cheapest S13 I saw was for $1500, it was an auto and needed a tranny rebuild. Auto/stick swap is farily common in the chassis (and I think it's pretty easy), so if that's all you can find and afford, go for it. Just make sure there aren't any body leaks or rust.

As for the rest, I guess it all depends on what pops up. Civics are lighter than Integras, but I have never felt the need for less weight (just more power and VTEC). But I assume you know all this already...