Depends a lot on the rules. Will the turbo engine have any penalty against it, and what type of engine swaps, if any, are allowed.<P>The Volvo 240 is good because it's a safe and solid car with a heavy duty rear axle (Dana 30, cheap LSD's), very good brakes, fairly strong transmission, and the turbo version can be tuned to 200-250hp. The weight balance is about 53/47, and almost 50/50 in the 245. Sway bars and chassis braces aren't very expensive, and the springs from a diesel 240 can be used to cheaply gain ground clearance. You could install a 4.10 rear end from a GT and an M45 or M46 box mated to a B230FT making 225hp, and have a very fast car. Be sure to find a car with no rust, especially none around the strut towers and rear suspension mounting points.<P>A 244 weighs about 2900-3000lbs., but you can get it down to 2500-2600. The big advantage to a Mk2 Golf/GTi will of course be the weight. With a high-revving 2.0L 16V engine, it could also be made very fast. Or you could do a 16V turbo, or a turbo'ed G60 motor, or a VR6 swap. I'd probably stick with a 4cyl. to keep the weight lower and more in balance front to rear. I'm not sure about what to expect from the chassis and drivetrain, as to whether it could hold up to off road rallying.<P>If I didn't already have a 240, I'd probaby go with an early Golf, but having driven my car for a while, it would be my choice as the starting point. How about a Mk1 Scirocco? I think they're about 1900lbs, but it may be hard to find.<P>