[fastfredracing]

I am with milt on this one, If you are looking for a budget auto x car, the GTI is the way to go. While a sorted 914 is a super fast auto cross car, you will spend a small fortune getting it there. Unless you buy someones already set up car. Stock 4 cyl 914's were pretty slow at our local auto crosses.
I hand grenaded my sc a while back, and while I was reassembling ( 2 years), I ran a 1991 16V GTI. I think I spent about $1500.00 on it , to set it up, and it was a blast to drive, easy to drive, and was fairly competive. I ran the snot out of it for 2 seasons, broke one motor mount, and ate one set of tires. I think my set up was real simple, H@R sport springs, koni sports, a large rear addco sway bar, lots of negative camber ( $15 crash bolts ) and victoracers. While I never FTD'd, I was usually pretty close to the fast guys, and this car was an absoloute blast . Add a limited slip, and you are really talking. Just my .02