[Rustys14]

Whats your mechanical ability? Its unlikely you will find a sr20 swapped chassis or boosted ka in your price range that isn't a hacked together money pit. Even a stock 240 is going to require a good bit of maintenance just due to the age of the car.

Honest opinion, don't get a 240. If you save a little more you can get something much newer and nicer like a 350z, base boxster, rx8, is300, etc.

If your dead set on a 240 the best option would be to buy a clean stockish car and throw a decent set of coilovers and some battles on it. Boom! good looking car that you'll be proud to drive and should be reasonably reliable. You can always do a swap or add a turbo down the line. Your daily driver should never be a project. Only do a swap or buy someone's project when you have reliable daily and keep the 240 as a "fun" car.

Edit: DJ 21o3 beat me to it.