Auto-X guru's input requested

[Disrupter]

After doing some track days on my motorcycle (having a gentle low side this past summer), I want to try auto-x out and maybe do some track days/HPDE. I have been looking at good starter cars recommended by the SCCA and other forums. Here are a few cars that I have found locally, they don't have to be perfect and set the car buying budget to $1500. If you have experience with said cars please chime in, if you have other recommendations please let me know. I am a complete noob with this stuff and have been slowly reading up on expenses and other related things. Just like I did with my motorcycle with no previous experience (scooters don't count), I purchased it super cheap, took it apart and put it back together, modified it and did all the work myself.

1. AW11 MR-2 w/ 4age silvertop swap
- Runs great, low mileage swap, lots of parts cars locally
- Needs rear bumper (dont really care)
- For those who don't know the 4age is a high revving 20v motor out of the toyota levin/sprinter with ITBs, and is a common swap for the AW11

2. Mazda MX-3 w/ KLZE swap
- Runs great, milage unknown and was swapped by previous owner
- Comes with extra set of rims
- KLZE is out of the MX-6 and is a 2.5L V6, which provides a lot more grunt than the stock 4banger.

3. 94+ Mazda Miata is always the answer?
- A few cheap ones locally, but are starting to rust

4. 89 Honda EF/CRX
- A few high mileage stock cars still around, some also suffering from some body rot.
- Really have only seen some nice 1.5Ls, the rest are beat to shit or kitted out.

There are a few more I have looked into, but I just got into work and should probably start doing some lol. Again looking for good cheap starter car that would be good to learn auto-x on and at the same time easy to learn on. All cars mentioned above have very active forums.

[B-Man]

If you want to compete, you need to look up classing for the events you want to run. Engine swaps in a lot of regions put you in ridiculously high class.

[2fnloud]

What BMW is Chris Patterson alway looking at for road events?

[Disrupter]

Just like my motorcycle track days, I am not there to compete but to learn as much as I can. Just want a good foundation, and to maybe one day become competitive. I am fine being a slow guy lol.

[DocWalt]

Drive your VR-4 then. No need for another car.

[Disrupter]

too much care for the vr4... also I forgot to mention, but this is something my cousin and I are getting into as a hobby... another reason why I don't want someone else beating on the vr4 lol. Got a few last pieces to install (suspension and breathing), and can go and get a final tune and finally enjoy the bitch.

[DocWalt]

The Miata and Honda would be the cheapest to run and mod. FWD or RWD your preference?

I'd personally pick the AW11 just because it's cool, lol

[Disrupter]

The Miata and Honda would be the cheapest to run and mod. FWD or RWD your preference?

I'd personally pick the AW11 just because it's cool, lol

Yeah I am liking the aw11 with the high revving 20v.

[93STLTH]

Mini Cooper would be a good choice, but finding one in your price range would be tough.

[anyonebutme]

I love me the E36 BMW chassis, it's forgiving but allows you to have fun. With the AW11, I just feel after the 10th or 20th spinout you might get discouraged by the speed in which it swaps ends once you get fast enough to start sliding it around. That and MR cars just rotate weird to me, I like to feel my butt slide out, instead of getting pushed into the turn when the car spins, lol.