my first car had 145 horse but 215 ft-lbs of torque. I had more fun with that car than any of my hondas, (96 accord ex and integra gs-r) the car topped out fast, but it would pull a patch off the line like crazy, even as an auto

IMHO i think you should buy a crappy beater car for cheap. they are the most fun because you dont care about the car, it also allows you to worry about driving and not about the car

(i know one girl who crashed into a store because she was a new driver and dropped her drink on her new cars seats... i know a few guys who have done multiple equally stupid things)