10 Really Cheap Cars

Just exactly what makes a car cheap is in the mind of the beholder, and here is what we think are 10 really cheap cars. We are thinking in terms of cars between $3,000 and $5,000, which might be a 10 year-old car with 100,000 miles or more on it, but with careful shopping you should be able to get a car with a few years of life left for this price. There may be some cars priced even lower, but they will be older and would probably be less reliable. That might be an option if you are a good mechanic, but if you  are not, then something not too terribly old, yet old enough to be affordable, would be the best option.

1. Toyota Corolla heads our list of  10 really cheap cars. These are not the cheapest new, but with 10 or more years and some mileage on them, you can find one cheap here and there. Often owners of Corollas hang on to them, so it will take some patience and searching to find one, but they live up to their reputation of being a solid and dependable car. Corollas are known to last 300,000 miles or longer if well maintained.
2. Mazda Miata from the late 80's into the early 90's. There are a lot of these small sporty 1.6-liter  four-cylinder cars around because a lot of them were made and sold. This is a fun car to drive, especially for the price. It gets good gas mileage, though perhaps it is not as fast as you might hope overall. These are tough little cars, which is why there are so many around.
3. Older BMW cars are also an interesting idea. In particular cars from the mid 80's, which as the E30, 3 series. These cars can be hard to find, but when they are sold, they are usually sold at less than $5,000. Even though it is old and still has a lot of miles, it is still a BMW, and you still get that quality.
4. The Volkswagon Rabit GTI from about 1985 is another option. This car can be hard to find, but they generally sell fairly cheap when traded in. The GTI has a 1.8 liter, 90-horsepower engine. Along with a tight gearbox and steering, this is just a fun car to drive.
5. The 1984 to 1988 Pontiac Fiero had a short lifespan, but it was a good ride. The mid-engine coupe packed a lot of power into its 2.5 and 2.8-liter six-cylinder engines that got up to 40 miles per gallon. The 1988 model, the last year, was the only one to have a true sport-style suspension system, so keep that in mind when shopping.
6. There are some quality American made cars and the Ford Probe is one of them. Look for the second generation, 1993 to 1997, with the 2.5 liter V-6 engine. This package provides a sporty car, though the ride is not smooth, but it remains a quality car at a good price.
7. The mid 80's Ford Taurus was popular as a low-priced no-frills car when it was new. The popularity means there are still a lot of them out there, and you can still find one very cheap.
8. The Hundai Elantra is a relatively low-priced car new.  It makes sense then, that used ones are even cheaper. An early 2000's model can be had at around $5,000, and they are good reliable cars that are also fun to drive.
9. Honda Accord is another car with a great reputation. This car would be higher on the list, but they are hard to find. Owners tend to hang on to them forever because they last forever. If you do find one, buy it fast.
10. A Mid-80s, fourth generation Chevy Camaro is an interesting car to consider. These cars can be found at around $3,000, and if they are not too worn out, will still have a good bit of sporty fun left in them. You have to be careful though, to not get a car that has been beaten to death or mistreated.