Get FAR away from Mazda if your looking for power. Unless you get a rex-7 bro. If your looking for good power with decent handling, go with the Evo or STI.
well the evo and sti are a little out of my budget, or should I say my wifes budget for me and my money . As far as power. I've owned a 99 prelude sh, 00 type R, an 01 s2000, then i traded the s2000 for the mp3 when I moved out on my own. Had to drop the payment, if ya know what I'm sayin.
So ya I've been missin the power BIG TIME. Still had the handeling just not the power.
What ever I get still has to be a 4 door, got a 6 month old little girl.
lets just say the rent-a-shitter the insurance company put me in is a F-in neon. I dont care how fast the srt4 is, I'll never own a neon. The thing is a pos.
My friend just got an excellent deal on a '04 WRX wagon, $4,000 of sticker. Should put it right in the middle of your price range if you can get a similar deal. Then if you ever wanted you have a lot more flexability to make serious power.