Prices would be good

Bad idea to start with something cheap

Go with a Miata cuz it is really lightweight and is RWD.

Other rice rockets that people mod:
Eclipse
Pulsar
300ZX
Prelude
Civic

Personally I'd say your best off going with a V8 because it gives you more power to start with and you can build from there.

A Honda haha.

How about one of these: The Nissan 240SX could be a starter if u want to do a lot of stuff to it, but if u have about $10,000 or a bit more, say around 12k, u could try getting a Nissan 300ZX Twin Turbo or a Mitsubishi Eclipse GS-X. Both r quick & can be fixed up to be really fast. Here r a few:
http://autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.jsp?ct=p&car_id=244801830&dealer_id=62628449&car_year=1991&num_records=100&model=300ZXTURBO&systime=&make2=&highlightFirstMakeModel=&start_year=1990&engine=&keywordsfyc=&keywordsfyc=&keywordsrep=&keywordsrep=&certified=&body_code=0&fuel=&awsp=false&search_type=both&distance=0&marketZipError=false&search_lang=en&showZipError=n&make=NISSAN&color=&keywords_display=&page_location=findacar%3A%3Aispsearchform&min_price=&drive=&default_sort=priceDESC&seller_type=b&position=top&max_mileage=&style_flag=1&sort_type=priceDESC&address=28326&advanced=&end_year=2000&transmission=&doors=&max_price=&cardist=653

http://autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.jsp?ct=p&car_id=242334419&dealer_id=62385099&car_year=1997&model=ECLIP&num_records=25&adMake=MIT&systime=&make2=&highlightFirstMakeModel=&start_year=1990&keywordsfyc=&keywordsfyc=&keywordsrep=&keywordsrep=&engine=&certified=&fuel=&adBodyStyle=&body_code=0&listingPriorityPremium=true&awsp=false&search_type=both&distance=0&marketZipError=false&ct=u&search_lang=en&showZipError=n&make=MIT&keywords_display=&color=&page_location=findacar%3A%3Aispsearchform&min_price=&adModel=ECLIP&drive=&listingCounter=0&default_sort=priceDESC&seller_type=b&max_mileage=&style_flag=1&sort_type=priceDESC&address=28326&advanced=&end_year=2000&doors=&transmission=&max_price=&cardist=634

http://autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.jsp?ct=p&car_id=242836913&dealer_id=62436619&car_year=1995&model=ECLIP&num_records=25&adMake=MIT&systime=&make2=&highlightFirstMakeModel=&start_year=1990&keywordsfyc=&keywordsfyc=&keywordsrep=&keywordsrep=&engine=&certified=&fuel=&adBodyStyle=&body_code=0&listingPriorityPremium=true&awsp=false&search_type=both&distance=0&marketZipError=false&ct=u&search_lang=en&showZipError=n&make=MIT&keywords_display=&color=&page_location=findacar%3A%3Aispsearchform&min_price=&adModel=ECLIP&drive=&listingCounter=0&default_sort=priceDESC&seller_type=b&max_mileage=&style_flag=1&sort_type=priceDESC&address=28326&advanced=&end_year=2000&doors=&transmission=&max_price=&cardist=717

You might also try a Camaro Z28 or SS ('01 or '02 if u can find one), an old Mustang, or something else like that.
If you're concerned about fuel economy, then the Camaro or Eclipse GS-X r the best of those, while the 300ZX might be the worst.

Old Honda Civics. $2,000..