Thanks mits. I cant really say either option is better than the other. I was thinking more along the lines of modding on a budget. My option should leave him with a car that handles and stops decently, with about 5k to spend on go-fast goodies and supporting mods. BUT having an already stout platform to begin modding isn't a bad idea either, only flaw I saw in that was that if he drops that 7-10k on a better condition DSM, he's going to be left with a stock DSM in the end. And lets be honest with ourselves here...210hp vs. 3100lbs doesn't exactly make for a fast car, stock suspension and brakes leave plenty to be desired. And honestly, if he's in the market for a used DSM, there's a good chance it's going to require most of the maintence previously stated regardless, so why not start with something he already owns and knows the history of? Like I said, neither option is a bad one, After rereading my post I realized I failed to mention wheels. I think the original post stated he had two bent rims. Figure out how much you want to spend on wheels and tires, and go from there when looking for a style that suits you. I'm a big Rota fan, only because they offer the quality of high end wheel..but at a knock-off brand price. ADR is another cost effective alternative. NO 18's!!! Find a nice set of 17x8 an a decent 235/45/17 tire. (KUHMO ECSTA MX???) and you should be happy until you start making big number long down the road. You can realtistically find a wheel tire combo that will preform well for around $1200. Still leaving another $3000 to play with
