I woulda told him to get an E36 M3 but it doesn't look like he wants to spend more than 5 or 6 grand on the car...so that's out of the question. At least with watever non-M E36...you get RWD, leather seats and disc brakes as standard. I know my civic came with drums on the back.
Why don't u test drive both integra and prelude and see what u like...