I am a norwegian, and way back when I was a kid a Manta was considered, by those who didnt know better, a fairly hot car BECAUSE WE COULDN'T AFFORD anything like a Mustang!
Get it?
Jeezus... why would anyone buy a Manta when you can pick and choose from an abundancy of rwd cars with a proper V8 for next to nothing?
Sir, you deserve a beating just for thinking the thought.
Now if you are dead set on a european 4 cyl performance car at least go for something like a Ford Sierra Cosworth or an Escort Cosworth - but not a Manta. Its a GM product anyway, and not a good one - though I suppose some may say its good looking in a way. Well, it isn't. And its slow as hell.