If you read a lot of car news, you’re well aware that everything seems just a bit too expensive these days. Some new cars are so pricey you might as well take out a mortgage on them. Even used cars still seem just a bit inflated. However, if you dig deep enough, there are still some cheap gems to be found. Bottom-dollar cars are out there and they can be a ton of fun. What under-$3,000 car have you been drooling over? And why do you want it so much?
As many of you know, I am on Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist every day looking for the next deal. Having drinks before Thanksgiving dinner? I’m taking a quick scroll through Facebook. Is it ten minutes before bed? I’m cuddling my wife … while looking through Facebook. It’s ok because she’s also looking for her favorite cars at the same time. I’m half sure (semi-sure) I look at Facebook listings in my dreams. I’d probably look for cars while having an intensive surgery, too.
Anyway, my unrelenting persistence to find cheap cars has scored me some good deals in the past, such as my free 2005 Smart Fortwo, another $1,400 Smart Fortwo, my $2,900 Volkswagen Jetta SportWagen TDI, my $5,000 Volkswagen Touareg V10 TDI, and $8,500 Saturn Sky Red Line. Often, I’m one of the first people to message a seller, and I hit them with just one question: Will it make it home?
If the seller is confident enough the answer is yes, I race over there as fast as I can. That’s what happened with the above Touareg V10 TDI. I purchased a plane ticket and flew 2,000 miles to Seattle based only on the promise that the brute could make it back home.
I’ve been on the prowl for a few cars lately. I’d love to bring home a Volkswagen Eos VR6, a Toyota Century, a BMW Z3, a Smart Fortwo Cabriolet, a BMW 750iL, or some Kei car. These cars do exist, but I’m a cheapskate and want to pay well under $5,000. A week ago, I thought I found just the car, a $3,000 BMW 750iL that is said to run and drive. After my wife does her usual negotiations, who knows how much cheaper it could get.
Why this car? The 750iL was BMW’s flagship product, pairing the best technology BMW could muster with a beautiful 5.4-liter V12 making 322 HP and 361 lb-ft of torque. It’s one of those legendary cars I could never afford new, but can now enjoy several years later. The power doesn’t really matter. I love cars with relatively uncommon engines, lots of weirdness, or a good story to tell. It’s part of why I cherish my V10 TDI. A buttery-smooth V12 would be dreamy. As the world electrifies, cars like these will eventually become relics of a different time.
I may be crazed, but I’m not crazy. I’ve been burned by two-decade-old luxury cars before. My Volkswagen Phaeton was a total cluster. So, when I look at this ad, I see terrible pictures and clear faults the seller didn’t mention in the description. I’ve been hesitant. I don’t want to drive to Michigan to repeat The Phaeton Disaster. Yet, I was preparing to do just that this weekend. Someone else had the gumption to give it a go as well because the listing just sold. Whew. Now, it’s time to look for another 750iL.
So, what sub-$3,000 cars have you been looking at? How long have you been studying them? Why do you want it?
A couple of months ago, I bought a Fiat 500 Abarth. Thanks to a burned exhaust valve in cylinder #3, it was pretty affordable. Now that I have begun disassembly it has become clear that it has as many parts under hood as a bigger car, but in half the space! I have already picked up a good cylinder head from a 500L – just have to swap it in. Oh, and fix the other stuff that’s wrong with the car.
Under €3K beaters I’m keeping tabs on?
€1K 1980 green Renault 5
€800 1988 gray Renault 21 Nevada
€800 1993 purple Renault Twingo
€350 1981 beige Renault 18 Break
I mean, my entire list barely breaks €3K.
I find myself looking at vintage watches on eBay a lot lately. Maybe too much…
If its a mechanical chronograph you’re looking for a modern Chinese Seagull is a nice cheap way to scratch that itch.
Been looking at Smiths Empires and Waltham 53’s from the 1950s. Finding I like a textured dial. I’ll check out the Seagulls, thanks for the tip!
Sure. You can read a bit about it here:
https://www.thewatchcompany.com/blog/watches-buying-guide/seagull-1963-a-guide-to-every-reissue-available/
The Seagull ST19 movement is a modernized (and improved) Venus 175.
I have a few of these and my favorite is the black dial ED1963. I also prefer the 38mm dials as they are truer to the original vintage.
Another option would be to pick up a Russian Strela chronograph, modernized (and improved) from the older Venus 150/152 chronograph movement design:
https://strela-watch.de/watch-company/strela-watch-history/
They’re a bit more expensive but still considerably cheaper than a fancy Swiss built chronograph.
Oh wow, thanks a lot buddy, just what I needed. I’m sure my wife will love to learn about these watches too.
I may have to scratch the itch with a fake Seagull 1963 from AliExpress.
That’s a quartz movement, not a mechanical which is absolutely fine if what you are after is only the dial aesthetic. Quartz is more reliable, requires a lot less maintainence, much, MUCH more accurate and a LOT cheaper. In every practical way quartz is superior to mechanical movements…. except its not mechanical.
The plus of the mechanical is you get to see the thing work. Lots of tiny, precisely machined little parts all doing their thing. That’s why most mechanical chronographs today come with sapphire windows on the back cover. You wind it up (about once a day) and watch the main spring unwind to power the complicated gizmos and doodads. That’s where the very word “complicated” comes from, timepieces with features more than hour and minute hands.
So it’s your call, the dirt cheap modern quartz appliance (no disrespect, quartz is wonderful) or the pricier, complicated mechanical classic that puts on a show.
Or Hell, why not get both?
Oh for sure, I’d only be scratchng the aesthetical itch here. I do understand the fundamental difference, a mechanical movement has infinitely more allure to it. But these Seagull 1963 are just really beautiful watches, and to be honest I like watches more as an actual aesthetic piece than as a conversation starter. I have some decent-looking cheap quartz replicas that I’ve been asked about and immediately said they’re sub €50 replicas.
I would absolutely go broke with mechanical watches if I made a bit more money.
Perfect! I saw the low, low price and really had to focus to see it was a quartz, even though it was right there in the title.
Honestly, it’s funny you ask, cause my brain has allocated the same amount for a kei car all week. Ever since that cab over screamed by me at full till, I’m hooked.
Nothing, thank God.
OK maybe another bicycle. Or two. Or five.
Hmm $3,000 can buy a LOT of used bicycles.
If I’d have scored a job in a snow place, I’d have started looking at like, piece-of-crap New Beetles to ice race and drive during salt season. I need a new rallycross beater anyway, though. Maybe I need a piece-of-crap New Beetle regardless.
Also, Gambler Catera. I need to make Gambler Catera happen.
Wait. Mercedes, I’m 100% serious, would you be interested in my 2001 Z3 2.5i, 5-speed (of course), in Atlanta Blue? I’ve been toying with the idea of selling it, because of *waves vaguely* life changes. But I’d want it to go to a good home, like The Autopian…and you like cars with stories? Get this: it formerly belonged to a retired flower farmer outside of Portland, OR; her husband bought it new for her as a surprise, because decades prior, when they were dating, she saw the wife of the mayor of their small town in a Mercedes convertible and told her then-boyfriend that she, too, wanted to zip around in a luxury German convertible some day. He remembered. She sold it a few years ago after he passed. I’m the second owner.
I keep it garaged, and drive it regularly on club drives and road rallies. It doesn’t leak oil. It’s completely stock. I still have all of the original paperwork and maintenance records. Let me know if you want pictures.
Is this offer for all Autopians? If so, my wife wants pictures and a ballpark price. We’re in Milwaukee, where are you?
Sorry for the delay – couldn’t figure out how to navigate to my comments again. I’m in San Diego. Feel free to DM me on bimmerforums (username: zthreepio) or email me: archive_trifle0m@icloud.com.
Sean, if you send the offer to ‘tips’ on the bar at top, I’m sure Matt or whoever reads it will pass it on to her.
not trying to jerk the rug out from under you, MATTinMKE, but Sean did address Mercedes in comment.
Just bought mine. 1999 LS400 with 190k miles and a smashed front fender (no structural damage) for $2k. Runs like a top and has been well maintained, but needs a PS pump, timing belt job, and a cruise control fix in the near future. I already replaced the smashed fender with a good enough replacement (same paint scheme!) from the local junkyard for $70. I am too poor for dedicated project cars, so this will be my daily.
Sweet find! I looked after a 96 with around that mileage for a few years a decade back. Impressed me enough that, if I hadn’t already been into 80s diesel Mercedes (with you know parts cars & tools & FSMs, etc) I would have been actively looking for one. Tough beasts, and great cruisers. Replacing all the suspension bushings took some effort, but well worth it. Loved how —like my 123s &-6s—they were built to be serviced
At the moment, for the first time pretty much ever, I am actually pretty satisfied with my fleet. Got my ‘96 K1500 daily, my ‘99 K2500 tow pig, my ‘97 Ranger farm chore truck, my ‘68 Dart project, and the wife’s ‘21 Silverado. I suppose if I had $3k burning a hole in my pocket, I could actually use another old 40-50hp tractor so I’m not constantly having to unhook implements during hay season. As far as vehicles, I dunno. I’d like to find a manual Aerostar, but those are rare and probably not in that price range.
You and I couldn’t be further apart in vehicular choices till I read manual Aerostar. Funny how this community works. 🙂 🙂
I saw a pair of mr2s on sale for 4k on facebook the other day. One is red and automatic with a ticking engine and the other is a manual black one that currently has the drivetrain and interior taken out of it. Wish I had the space and time to take that project on. Mr2s are pretty rare around here, out of all the 80s mid engined cars Fieros are all that really shows up for sale lately.
That’s an amazing find. Can you post a link????
Sure, they’re in Wisconsin.
https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/104330906071018/
$3k is about what I paid for my trucks – $800 95 Chevy K2500 454 and $1300 94 Ranger 4.0 5spd, plus a few hundred in parts to get em going. Both between 110-120k on the clock when I bought them.
Chevy does big truck stuff at work, but at an optimistic 8 mpg I realized a mini truck could do about 80% of the truck stuff I need on a daily basis.
The Ranger is a much more manageable 18ish mpg, so that’s the daily that keeps the miles down on the 440i…
Three come to mind. A datsun 510 wagon(preferably a ’68), a bullet side datsun pickup, and at least one more R53 mini. I’m going to try to put that last one together for my daughter so I have a few years before it gets critical.
The correct number of R53s is n+1
So the sense I’m getting here from the comments is: buy a Pontiac Vibe RIGHT NOW, because they’re at the sweet spot between depreciation and decrepitude, and nobody knows it’s a better Toyota Matrix yet.
I was going to say Vibe as well. I saw a nice example in my area just the other day for under $3k.
I daily a Vibe. Check the driver’s seat before you commit. It is incredibly uncomfortable for some body types.
Other than that the only potential negatives are: 2wd doesn’t have great traction so get good tires, rear visibility backing up isn’t great because of the high beltline (camera or just estimating carefully fixes this though), and the HVAC bulbs tend to go out at some point (once, not routinely) and they can be somewhat difficult to replace without losing them in the dash.
Otherwise a great car. Cheap because “American”, reliable because essentially a Toyota Corolla hatch, and carries an absolute ton of cargo because of fold-flat everything, poppable hatch, and roof rack. Not to mention it’ll fit into any parking space or traffic opening and gas mileage is very livable.
Just bought a 2003 Subaru Forester; $900, and it… runs.
Everything works, even the AC
BUT has leaky head gaskets, per the seller.
Bought it just for the driver side doors, to swap out with my ’04 forester. Probably will attempt head gasket replace & flip, wish me luck.
I just snagged a $900 Ford Ranger. I do dirty things (recyclables, lawn/leaf, buildy stuff) and it all either doesn’t fit in wife-o’s Highlander or I don’t want it in my GX…or some combination of the two.
The axle was toast, but the pick and pull 5 miles from me had one. I already swapped the bed on it, as the last one was held together by hopes, dreams, and bailing wire, and will have to replace the driver’s rocker panel. I am debating how serious a fix I want to employ for a crusty rear crossmember.
But I’m still in for less than 2k for a task truck, which I’m fine with.
Any manual falcon… or a special auto one… but those never pop up right place/time for that kinda money
Ford? US? Is that a stupid question?
Ford Australia… isn’t a stupid question… but a stupid statement to begin with… I always forget the rest of the world missed out
Not in the market, but thought I’d check Craigslist and see what’s around:
Several small early – mid ’90’s trucks also in there. That’s a lot to choose from after s casual look through the listings – I had no idea!
Hah! 3 grand is fancy car money for me, because I am a Poor.
The average purchase price of all the cars I have ever owned is under $500. $3k is a seriously nice car.
I would like to snatch up the “german” looking second version of the Citroën C5 station wagon from 2007 on. Probably a dirty diesel.
Oh that’s nice!
A tempting choice but i’ve seen what they can do.A friend owned one- a genuine lemon.
Better keep some money in reserve just in case!
Yes, they do seem overly complicated. But I’m guessing a 300.000 km one that works aren’t going to come up with new faults all the time, if I try and keep everything nice and tidy and serviced. Not afraid of the hydraulics, if any, own a 1967 DS also.
I bought one of the last 1st generation C5 at 285000km now 300000 1 year later. Good condition, good engine (2.2 hdi bi turbo). Supremely confortable (I have almost only driven / been driven in Xantias since 1996, I’m spoiled for life). It is an excellent highway cruiser, starts every time and doesn’t drink oil, almost. I am not sure about the last gen but it is the small things that are infuriating. Window / dashboard switches, cruise control, airbag light. I am quite scared by the suspension too besause it is more complicated than the Xantia’s. I can’t even check the fluid level witout a special tool made by Facom. Well if there was a bit of diy documentation, maybe it wouldn’t be that bad but that generation is very unloved, there’s a whole internet desert about it contrary to the Xantia. The french internet is a gold mine of tutos and even homemade spares ! Maybe the better looking ‘x7’ is better in that regard. I hope so because I’m dumb enough to replace my c5 with another one. That 200hp ultimate evolution of the 2.2 sure is tempting… Don’t even mention that magnificent 3.0 hdi and its oil starvation problems. Cheap. V6. TWO Turbos. Look at me, I have convinced myself to forget the C6 to not go bankrupt and here I am.
First generation C5 just looks like a big stupid whale, so never going to be that one, no matter the price.
Loved the Xantias too! Owned two high mileage station wagons of those! But my “barn” wasn’t big enogh to stash some of those before they were all scrapped..
I agree ! I loved my Xantia. No good ones where available and I just wanted a very cheap car waiting for the market to calm down. That big whale sure is ugly but it ticked my boxes. A gen 2 Renault scenic was on my list too, that’s how desperate I was. When test driving it I got litterlay blinded by the excellent 2.2 hdi 170 and the suspension I love.
Seriously, there’s something very odd about the idea of a “beater” that cost more than all the cars I’ve ever owned (save one) combined.
DT has covered this before but I’ve had my eye on some 5spd Saturn Vues. They’re very solid cars that make for a good beater. Under 3k is easy because no one cares about them.
Like another comment says: manual Jeep Patriots are almost in range at this point. Maybe another year or two
These are getting increasingly hard to find but first gen Kia Sportages with the Mazda designed engine. Their failure modes are well known and it makes a good off roader if you replace a few crappy components
The market steal right now is the Pontiac Vibe. They almost always are cheaper than the Matrix that is a wagony-hatchback version 9th gen Corolla.
Usually the Vibe will be at or around $3K for easily rectifiable stuff. Scuffed up interior, O2 sensors, basic exhaust issues, worn tie rod ends, etc.
Had a friend in Ontario just pick up a totes fine 9th gen Corolla (an 07) for $5000CAD, or about $3400USD as basic transportation, and thing absolutely has another 15-20 years in it without much aside from replacing what wears out. Though he knew from previous experience that a Matrix or Vibe would’ve been better, but they’re so sought after that you have to act at a whip’s crack to snag them before someone else does.
My ideal Vibe is a GT manual with the sun & sound package. Sadly those seem to hover between $8,000 and up in Michigan, even with high mileage.
If you want to see bad, look at clean Matrix XRSes, and especially the Corolla XRS. Corolla XRS is surprisingly neutral though, and between that, low numbers, and an actual good sound, has deserved its prices.
It is $30,000 not $3,000, but there is an IMMACULATE 1965 Chrysler Imperial near me that I cannot get out of my head.
https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/658463679195044?ref=search&referral_code=null&referral_story_type=post&tracking=browse_serp%3A7e2f775a-097d-46fc-8b80-90e0520629a0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uwTi1EpgIa0
$3k is my budget for a *nice* fixer-upper or even good car. Ideally, I tend to look under $2,000 or better yet, under a grand. What do I surf for online? D2 Audi A8s with a good transmission (I know, good luck with THAT), Jaguar XJ8s or S-Types with the 4.2 engine. Corvairs, fuselage Mopars (and mid-60s full-size Mopars), Lexus LSes, Boxsters and/or beater BMW Z4s, late 90s/early 00s full-size GM cars (Park Ave, etc.), and the occasional search for a Thunderbird Turbo Coupe. OTOH, Saabs practically keep showing up on my doorstep–had to turn down the offer for a FREE C900 convertible project in the past couple weeks, as I’m outta’ room at Paul’s Home for Wayward Saabs and other Euro Trash.
I’ve bought two $2,000 Saabs this year already and the pain of fixing them has dissuaded me from looking in the under-$3k section.
Ya know, for now.