I would wait 30 more years and would buy myself a 1999 Magestic Blue Nissan Skyline R-34 GT-R Vspec-2.
But really if I would have 18 grand I would go with something new and something that is good on gas milage. I would go for a 2003 Nissan Sentra SE-R Spec V. Its a really good and reliable car. Ofcourse its smaller than 4th 5th and ofcourse 6th gen maximas but its still good. Or get a 99 model of Nissan 240sx. Those are really nice. Im pretty sure you can find a used late 90s Nissan 300zx.