Beno Rubin did it properly with the NASA car be just bought. It was a car that apparently had a good reputaion (finishing and finishing well). He shopped around and found a good buy on that car.

For you FWD guys out there, the NASA Honda Challenge cars seem to be available inexpenively and the prep levels appear to be very nice. For the others, the SRX7's are such a good deal it is hard to refuse. $3500 seems to get a good SRX7 with spares, ready to race. There are cheaper ones and more expensive ones, but the ARRC champion for a year or two ago was for sale for $6500. That is hard to complain about in the real of race cars. Granted with the SRX7 you have to learn about the ideosyncrancies of the rotary, but there is pleanty of support for that.