[scheides]

Check out hughes's project thread. I think he got that car for around $2k, and he's put some money into it, but its been basically reliable. Just buy a $4k car and keep some cash handy for when it breaks. Find a well maintained 2G that hasn't or won't crankwalk (i.e. has a 6-bolt), has the T25 done away with (runs a 14b or 16g of some kind) and has some basic mods to keep it solid. I'm sure you could find something well under your pricerange, and have $$ to hang on to for an emergency fund.