Please some help....Any Would be appreciated.

Ok im new and hopefully we can spare any flame wars or derogatory remarks.I would just like some help deiciding between two cars.This could go in the buying car section but I deicided to ask here.

I've had the same car for quite a few years now and the car is finally wearing down to where either I can put lots of money ot it or go for something new. (My current car is an 86 mercury cougar). My top choices right now for a car to get is either a 2000 Honda Prelude (4 cyl. 2.2L Vtec 5 spd) or a 2002 Toyota Celica GTS (4 cyl 1.8L 6 spd).

Ok here is the scoop.I used to driving automatic but have enough to show me to be more acustom to driving a stick.I was gonna go for the 2002 toyota celica gts with the sportronic auto transmission but im finding that they arent easy to find and its rather pointless.What Im really wanting is a decent reliable street car (I dont need something thats gonna be on a professional circuit,heck I live in arizona afterall).Something preferably 2000 or newer.I can go up to the 15-16 thousand dollar range.2 door.Something sort of dark with a stock sport looking body because its gonna take some time for me to start adding kits and other mods.And of course a good/fast motor.

So which would be the best out of those two and if anyone wants to suggest some other options it would be appreciated.I know im not very knowledgable and im not gonna be acting like im some bad ass street racer.But I want something good to start with and slowly add mods to make it my own personal car.Oh and if it helps any.Im a *freak* haha so I dont know if that makes any differences in preferances.Thanks anyone who helps.

Celica all the way. More sporty (i think) and has more aftermarket parts than the prelude. If not i highly suggest a 96 and higher Mitsubishi Eclipe (GS-X is best). Just my two cents.......

I would go with the Honda Prelude, with its ATTS (automatic Torque Transfer) It can out handle a Celica around bends. When a front-drive car hustles around a corner, its front tires have to transfer power to the ground as well as steer the car. That - plus the pronounced forward weight bias that goes with having all the powertrain stuff up front - is why front-wheel-drive cars such as the Prelude are more prone to understeer than rear-drive cars. Automatic Torque Transfer makes the car easier to drive quickly and helps reduce understeer. (Understeer describes a car's resistance to turn-in. The faster the entry speed to a given corner, the more the car wants to go straight ahead.) ATTS addresses this trait through a clever set of mechanical functions that automatically transfers engine torque to the outside front wheel, while increasing its rotational speed. Transferring as much as 80 percent of the power into the outside front wheel, which typically bears the heaviest load in hard cornering, compensates for the extra load and restores balance.

2000 Subaru Impreza 2.5 RS all the way. Then I'd use the spare money for mods. What else do you want? It's good looking, got AWD, lots of aftermarket, and is cheaper than the WRX or even the STi. It's not as powerful of course, but they ( the 02+ up Imprezas) are all 4 door sedans.