Rally beater GTS or RX7 (Help me decide)
 

I am a complete newbie. The forum search function is pretty weak and all the information on the internet isn't very complete. So please be patient with me.
I just went rallycrossing with my AE86 Corolla SR5 (Non GTS) this past weekend and I absolutely fell in love with it. I got more than 11 runs (more than 10 miles worth) in one day and I didn't have to work around the cones ... Solo II is kinda a waste of time for me now ....
Anyway ... now all I can think about is rallycrossing ...

I'm looking into getting a more competent rally beater than my SR5 ... which has about 70hp and no LSD. I was pretty set on getting an AE86 GTS (112hp, 2300lbs, LSD option, 30mpg), but then I picked up the Ancas' book on the RX-7's and read through the whole thing ... Before, I always thought that any rx7's lesser than the Turbo II's are rusted junk with thirsty, unreliable, no torque engine ... but the book really opened my eyes. I also have the 13b rebuild videos, but don't have a VCR to watch them yet.
Anyway, I just want to hear your guys' opinions on this and which year/model (1st or 2nd) of rx7's should I consider with my tight tight budget.
Thanks ...

86 base (2nd gen) or 85 GSL(1st gen)

i dont know anything about rallycrossing, but those two cars are probably the coolest ones you can find for the money (among rx7's)
i wouldnt own a 1st gen rx7 unless it was a gslse (gslse's had the bigger 13b engine as compared to the smaller 12a) but the 12a 1st gens are much more common and cheaper.

well, I'm a little biased here...but go with an Impreza! :)

I had a 2000 2.5RS which I got to rallyX a couple times, and I did a TSD rally, and went to a winter rally driving school (taught by US Pro-rally driver Tim O'Neil), and the car was a beautiful thing in those situations. I was running snow tires, not gravel, for the RallyX's and I was still very competitive.

Of course, if you're looking for a challenge, then the AE86 or RX7 will be for you. But if you want to have an easy time competing for top honors, go with the Sube. They're so easy to drive it's ridiculous :)

Try and find an old 323 gtx, can't beat awd turbo for rally :) Check out www.bensrallypage.com there's usually a good selection of rally oriented cars for sale.

323GTX would be AWESOME! But they are just too rare for me bash around the gravel roads ...
So can somebody give me a brief 1st gen vs 2nd gen summary?!?!
1) reliability
2) parts availability
3) cost of maintenance
4) cost of used parts
5) cost of modification
6) handling potential

n/a first and second gens are cheap
Very reliable
Parts are plentiful and cheap
Cheap to maintain
Used parts are cheap
Mods are average to cheap in price
They handle extremely well.

They are just kind of slow in a strait line.