I shortened the question:

" Philipb
New User | Posts: 4 | Joined: 5/20/2007 Posted On: Yesterday 08:58 PM
Okay i'll take the advice from "hondasav" and shorten my question to the main key points and i'll forget about drifting for now since I know it's expensive and I don't got that kinda money. Okay so here it is:

I'm new to working on cars but I want to learn so I need a used car I can purchase for no more than $5,000 preferably less. And I want to build it up to more of a performance vehicle that I can take to the track. That about sums it up so please reply thanks"  

ok I didn't read your entire thread becomes I am lazy, but here is my opinion, don't get into drifting off the start buid a EG (92-95 civic) and do some autocross and track racing. I find that drifting is just a fun thing to do if you have the cash to throw away. if you want a better response just give the main points and your overall goals that you want to achive.
good luck
peace  

Okay i'll take the advice from "hondasav" and shorten my question to the main key points and i'll forget about drifting for now since I know it's expensive and I don't got that kinda money. Okay so here it is:

I'm new to working on cars but I want to learn so I need a used car I can purchase for no more than $5,000 preferably less. And I want to build it up to more of a performance vehicle that I can take to the track. That about sums it up so please reply thanks  

if u want a car u can really work on get a 98 ex u can do alot to that car mainly performance wise u could get an engine swap for and h22 engine wich pushes llike 200 hp stock and 161 torque so if u lookin for a honda that would be it  

you want somthing for the track eh.. well everyone knows the best honda for the track is the 1992-1995 civic hatchback. if you can try and get the CX model, its the base and is just over 2000lbs.
ok here is my recipe for a awsome track car
you will need
92-95 civic hatch CX or VX
b18c1
sway bar kit
lowering springs
integra rear disc brake conversion
16 inch rims
1 or 2 racing seat( depending if you want them for daily driving
strip that interior
aluminum door panels ( I build these my self so if you want to buy some msg me
racing steering wheel
cold air intake
2 1/4 inch exhaust.

there is alot more you can do but if you can get a civic  for about 1000 dollars, the you will only need to add about another 6000 on top and you can have all of this..
TIP sway bar kit makes a bigger difference then lowering your car in the corners.
also get slotted and drilled front rotors



have fun
peace  

yeah get an eg or a rex and swap motor or boost it.  

,  

Oh, sorry another question, what makes the hatchback a better track car than the other models? I would think that a smaller version would go faster than a hatchback

I'm having trouble finding the CX or VX(why these models???) except one CX for $3,000. There's plenty of LX and EX? Any other suggestions of vehicles that are more common to find? what about the CRX? I've seen one (if I've identified it right) that lives near by, but...it looks like *** by that I mean it doesn't have a paint job. It looks like primer but its been there for a while and one tire is on a block, I don't know if it's running, or if it's a standard but if you guys think it's good I'll check it out. Plus if they sell it'll probably be cheap, but I think I want it painted first. It doesn't look so good, I'm thinking it'll be to much work for a beginner. So should I check it out or not?  

good luck with the rex there ugly but light, i;d take up the hatch cx. thats what im doin right now actually.  

if you want to build a track car, especially from bottom up i hardly doubt 5k is going to cover 75% of what your going to need to make this work.  it requires not only alot of time but work too. maybe a DA integra is appropriate or an eg hatch.  i wanted to run a dc2, but totalling out the finances it was way over 7k.  but who knows.  those two cars are probably appropriate for what you are looking for.