yeah with your budget you could not get a SI. So you need a new plan. I would agree you could get a hatch and do a swap or maybe an early sixth generation coupe( i like those better). I personally like the sixith generation civics better. Around me the sixth gen hatches go for 6500- 7000 if you can find them. That would leave you alot to refresh the suspension and do a swap. If i remember correctly none of the hatches came with anti sway bars. So you would need those and new springs and shocks and maybe bushings before the suspension with be any fun.
Next comes the swap question. You have a couple of different options. The popular swap is a B16 swap. It is a great engine but really popular right now so it is more expensive. One that is getting more popular is a B18b swap and then turboing it. With that swap you get the torque of the from the bigger engine and the turbo helps with the HP. You could swap in a B18C1 which is a GSR engine and build it up for a N/A engine with that one you get 170 hp right ut of the box and a 8200 prm redline(i think). Then you could swap in a H22(prelude) engine.With that you get 200hp and plenty of torque(for a honda). One of the problmes with this is i think you might need to give up your A/C because the engine is bigger then any civic engine. There are a couple others like Ls/vtec, Crvtec, a B20 swap and probaly something else i am forgeting.
Now that i have written way to much and probally more then you wanted to know i am gonna go back and watch the Bears have a good second half and beat the saints.


ronin