Lightweight dynamo with decent aftermarket? On par with Miata/Civic

The Miata and Civic feel too far common to do up. I'd be looking at something that can compare well with a '94-'97 NA or a '99-'00 Civic hatchback:

• Needs to have a manual (of course)
• have an aluminum engine or at least be able to cheaply swap to one
• Double-wishbones up front at least. Rear doesn't have to be IRS (gotta have rear discs, though)
• Newer than '95 and able to be found under $3500
• Would like to have an LSD stock, or at least a cheap option available

Miata with a body swap is the obvious answer here.

(aka a hat car)

Infiniti G20

Not sure about the aftermarket though. 

+2000 4 cyl Ranger.  Duratec is aluminum, front is double a-arm, I'm pretty sure you can get an lsd for it....

Otherwise, a second Miata, but to meet your requirements, it has to be an NC or later.

A arm and ls swapped Mustang?

Prelude or Integra really are the only others out there outside say a DSM or Neon. Dark horse would be a 2000+ celica but not a huge aftermarket there.

It depends what you consider light weight too. The E36 generation isn't that heavy and has a great following.

What is your goal with "to do up"?  Autocross, car shows, drifting, track days?  Define light, under 2,200 or under 3,300?

Dootz said:

The Miata and Civic feel too far common to do up. I'd be looking at something that can compare well with a '94-'97 NA or a '99-'00 Civic hatchback:

• Needs to have a manual (of course)
• have an aluminum engine or at least be able to cheaply swap to one
• Double-wishbones up front at least. Rear doesn't have to be IRS (gotta have rear discs, though)
• Newer than '95 and able to be found under $3500
• Would like to have an LSD stock, or at least a cheap option available

Does it also need to be rwd, wagon, v8 and get 40mpg city?

In all seriousness, you might be able to get into a Z or G35 right at the top of your budget. 

There are a lot of random requirements, but here is what I can think of:

V6 4th gen Camaro or Firebird.

Any small pick-up.

RX-8

Can I ask why you want the following:

• have an aluminum engine or at least be able to cheaply swap to one

An iron block is not necessarily heavier and can be a good thing if you are considering boost

• Double-wishbones up front at least. Rear doesn't have to be IRS (gotta have rear discs, though)

You are better with a good macpherson strut setup than a bad double-wishbone. For example: E36 vs Ranger

And that single requirement is really removing a lot of great choices

No Miata? How about a MX-5?

Your wants are going to make this very difficult if not impossible. The only choice I can think of is an older C5 vette that has been put on a strict diet

Slippery said:

Infiniti G20

Not sure about the aftermarket though. 

It has an SR20DE so aftermarket should be somewhat decent Im guessing. 

An Integra is kind of like a better looking and less common Civic.

The Toyota MR-S was pretty much a direct competitor to the Miata in its day.

While I'm all for running a less common vehicle, that clashes with your requirement of good aftermarket support that's close to what the Civic and Miata have. It's either going to be one or the other unless you're looking at other common vehicles like Mustangs etc.

There's a reasonable aftermarket for most enthusiast vehicles, but you have to be willing with less choice, higher parts prices and maybe parts quality that can be a tad off when you're only dealing with a single supplier.

Also, these cars don't tend to be as cheap as a Mivic if they have any sort of following that warrants an aftermarket.

What do you actually intend to do with the car? Looking at it from that perspective is going to be a easier than a list of seemingly random requirements.

Suzuki Cappuccino?

Ford Focus?

• Needs to have a manual (of course) Check
• have an aluminum engine or at least be able to cheaply swap to one Duratec 2.3, check
• Double-wishbones up front at least. Rear doesn't have to be IRS (gotta have rear discs, though) No but it handles good anyway. Rear discs, check
• Newer than '95 and able to be found under $3500 Check, 05-07 ST with the 2.3 can be had for under 2 grand
• Would like to have an LSD stock, or at least a cheap option available No but there's expensive ones available

In reply to sleepyhead the buffalo :

I fear what kind of Cappuccino you could pick up in the USA for $3500.

The requirements are tight.  E36 would be worth suggesting but it doesn't have an SLA front end.  3rd gen Camaro is too old.  C4 Corvette too old for the budget.  Saab 9-3 perhaps?

pres589 (djronnebaum) said:

In reply to sleepyhead the buffalo :

I fear what kind of Cappuccino you could pick up in the USA for $3500.

The requirements are tight.  E36 would be worth suggesting but it doesn't have an SLA front end.  3rd gen Camaro is too old.  C4 Corvette too old for the budget.  Saab 9-3 perhaps?

9-3 has struts in front. Iron block too, I think

Solstice?

pres589 (djronnebaum) said:

In reply to sleepyhead the buffalo :

I fear what kind of Cappuccino you could pick up in the USA for $3500.

The requirements are tight.

Yeah, most of them are over $10k?
 

Other thoughts:

'03-'11 Traccord and 4cyl 5spd '06-09 Sonata... although, I'm not sure about lsd into the sonata, and it's not really "lightweight", on top of the stigma they carry.

04-08 Acura TSX?  Not super light but ticks all the other boxes.

Late 90s Accords/Preludes for that matter, the Prelude might be under 3k pounds.

First generation Chrysler cloud car?!?

OK, good luck finding any intact examples, let alone with a manual transmission, although they existed and I can't imagine any stock cloud car selling for over $3500. But they do fit the stated list of requirements, and apparently their use of unequal length control arms was why Chrysler ran them in Super Touring instead of Neons.

slowbird said:

Ford Focus?

• Needs to have a manual (of course) Check
• have an aluminum engine or at least be able to cheaply swap to one Duratec 2.3, check
• Double-wishbones up front at least. Rear doesn't have to be IRS (gotta have rear discs, though) No but it handles good anyway. Rear discs, check
• Newer than '95 and able to be found under $3500 Check, 05-07 ST with the 2.3 can be had for under 2 grand
• Would like to have an LSD stock, or at least a cheap option available No but there's expensive ones available

Well, if you are going to omit the DWB/LSD requirement, almost every economy car made after '95 would qualify.

In reply to ProDarwin :

Sure, but the Focus is actually good. And has decent aftermarket.