[ronmcdon]

I'm in a similar situation myself.
I also have a S14 with far too stiff suspension for comfortable daily use (or even casual autoX for that matter)
Only I'm going to try getting softer springs first before resorting to getting another car in addition.
Softer suspension isn't necessarily a bad thing, as long it's set up in accordance to your driving style and preferences.

With Beaters,

common factors to consider:
-cost to purchase/finance/lease
-cost to insure
-mpg
-risk of getting stolen
-fun to drive.

Used to daily drive a CRX Si and it was my fav beater of all time.
cheap to buy, cheap to insure, cheap on gas, cheap on parts, and lots fun to drive stock.
I didn't live/work in a place that was prone to theft, so it was ok for the most part.
after i sold to some lady who lived in a part of town with more theft, it was stolen in less a moth.

2nd place was a 08 civic Si sedan.
fun car, but kinda expensive to finance.
put 5k down on that car, and had to finance for 370 @ 5%-ish APR for 60 months
eventually crashed the poor car out of foolishness.

Right now, wouldn't mind leasing a 135 for 360/month.
unfortunately, my credit is trashed.