Trying to decide on my first AF SLR...

I am looking for an entry level film SLR that has a fast focus and auto bracketing for shooting slide film and has good quality consumer lenses. I used to do all landscape stuff, but now I'm getting into action and sport photography like bicycle races and outdoor BMX events. I'm considering the following:
1. Canon EOS 5 (from KEH, excellent condition, $205),
2. Nikon N80 (KEH, excellent plus condition, $205),
3. Canon Elan 7N (KEH, excellent condition, $205),
4. Canon Rebel T2 (KEH or B&H, new, $185),
5. Canon Elan 7 (KEH, excellent condition, $180)
6. Nikon N75 (KEH, new with rebate only $145),
7. Minolta Maxxum 70 (ebay, new or used, no clue)

The above list isn't in order of preference because I haven't held any of the cameras in my hand yet. I have been using a Minolta XG-1 (manual everything SLR) with Rokkor-X primes (all metal but for rubber grips) for the past 5 years and have gotten really good results. My old ('82 year model I think) is partly metal and the lens mostly so, so I don't want to go a camera that is completely cheap feeling. I mean, I have no problem with an all plastic camera if it feels like it can put it in a backpack and hike some with it and not worry about cracking something.

The most important thing is the results with the consumer level zooms. I mean lenses around 250 bucks. I've heard good things about Minolta AF short zooms (like the 28-100mm) but couldn't find much on the Maxxum 70 body. I want a 24 or 28 to 80 or 105mm zoom as a primary lens that I can do most outdoor shooting with. I mean lenses that open to around f3.5. I plan to have a 28mm prime for indoor shooting so speed of the zoom lenses aren't critical, just sharpness.

I've missed some shots because I didn't focus fast enough, or I had the wrong lens on, or in a panic I forgot to cock the shutter and am hoping to kiss those days goodbye with a nice AF SLR.

Which camera should I look into more, or have I forgotten one that I should look at? I've read a lot of post on this discussion and the consensus seems to be that the entry Nikons are more expensive and better built, while the Canons focus faster and feel cheaper.

Did I post in the wrong forum or is this more for digital consultation?

Sorry - no, you didn't post this in the wrong area and there are a lot of film shooters here. I started to type a reply last night but got busy with something else...

I guess first I have to say that the N80 is the only one of the group that I have any experience with. My Fuji S2 is built on an N80 body. It's got full manual control including spot meter, but can also be used almost as a big P&S camera with full automation. The on-demand grid lines in the viewfinder are nice, too. As far as AF speed goes, it's not stellar, but not bad either. A used F100 would be in the $500 or slightly less range ($USD for a good used one) but will have much faster AF in general, and more accurate AF in low light. Whether or not you need the extra speed really depends on a lot of things. I've shot cars racing with my S2 and had good results, however cars move (hopefully!) in predictable patterns which is easier for AF to track. Shooting a football player from the sidelines is a different story.

The N80 is plastic and doesn't have the feel of an older metal camera, no way around that point. The F100 feels more solid, but at the expense of cash and weight. If your hands are fairly large, the N80 might seem a little small too - again, something you can tell easily by picking one up but not by trying to explain it! :)

Best bet is to try as many of these cameras as you can get your hands on to see what "fits" best for you. I'd probably stick with Nikon or Canon because they have the most complete systems, but Pentax and Minolta are both worth a look too.