Originally Posted by DETriment
240 or a 2nd gen rx7, or a mk3 supra, all are decent platforms, rwd which should definately be a priority, they handle ok stock (the rx7 being the best handling of the bunch) all decently quick, not fast, but they can be. you dont want fast as a first car, you will either kill yourself or someone else. start out slow.
I would vote for what DETriment suggested or a Fox body. All of them are cheap and like any RWD car has a shatload of potential as you have more money to spend on it...