It is an ok, STS car..EF HB fodder, but it can be competitive locally, all the way up to the divisional level, I'm perennially locked in an STS battle with a fully prepped EF HB, Civic Si Coupe, '97 GS-R and a DA9 integra.

The EK9 hatch is too long, and too heavy to be competitive in STS, with enough money you can get into the prepared categories and do ok...also you could take the MR2's into STS2, and they migh be ok, but the Miatas and CRX's have a huge advantage on ya there.

For Stock Class...the cheapest you'll find are either the MKII MR2, or the 94-97 Miata 1.8s as mentioned above, which are both in ES. If you get lucky, you *might* find a well taken care of 89 C4 Corvette for under $10k. Any other class and you'll require something new/expensive