focus would be best because that can run in a showroom stock class. you need to read up on the rules to see what you can run though.

fyi neither of those cars will ever be in a "major" series though. or even close to a major series for that matter...

sounds like you have extremely limited seat time and stupid friends if I'm going to be completely honest. You should have at bare minimum in the high hundreds of hours of seat time before you go racing...if not thousands. I spent 4 years doing 30-40 days a year at the track before I actually went racing. Had at least a thousand hours... plus the 3 years that I raced in karts when I was younger and the 2 years running 2 different clubs seasons as well. You don't just say "I want to go racing, lets do it." and then do it. It takes tons of preparation, time, and money. And I don't see why your friends want to chip in money. With either of those cars there is NO money to be made out of it... just tons to spend.

Sorry if you think it is harsh but I am a realist.