You seem focused on horsepower. Why? High horsepower does not always equal a fast car. Not sure if it is still the case, but back in the day I remember 800hp Supras that couldn't make it into the 11's. Dyno queens. 280 RWHP in a coupe with a properly set up suspension and gearing and some attention paid to weight should be a quick street car. Throw the 100 of 150 shot on it and you get a car that requires care to drive to it's full potential (and some good tires).

The lesson I have learned (and it cost me tons of money) is that high horsepower cars are difficult to make reliable on a budget. An unreliable high horsepower car that constantly breaks down gets old quick.