I'd go for a GT Forester....buy a nearly shagged one cheap cheap ($8k) & throw in a 207 + 6spd. Easily get a 99GT for $10 or so nowadays. 01/02 GT's tend to be about the $13k mark. A guy on ozfoz bought a clean 99 GT with a 'engine problem' for $3k that turned out to be just the oil return from the turbo disconnected.

Or buy GX Impreza, insert EZ30.