Toyota Corolla Levin GT-Apex (AE101 - 1992) with the 20valve 4a-ge engine in.

Mine is bog standard and it'd rape a standard 205gti, XR2, RS2000, RS1800, etc around a track.

The spec is amazing on them, basically track spec as standard (they raced them in Japan in pretty much standard spec). 1.6 na with just shy of 160bhp and 120 ft/lb's of torque. Excellent handling, mine has Superstrut suspension which is basically a double wishbone system, no body roll what so ever. The ride is rock solid. Good braking, discs all around, with decent front callipers. Short ratio gearbox, throttle bodies, 4 into 1 manifold, 7,600 rev limit, 5 valves per cylinder and variable timing.

Mine cost me £750 (no MOT).

They are quite rare and a fucker to get parts for, but as a bog standard car, you'd struggle to find anything for similar money that'll come close.