They're still out there, thoughyou just have to put a bit more effort into find them. First- and second-generation MX-5s can easily be found for under five grand, and for that price, you're getting one of the best, most smile-inducing driving experiences on earth. The Vauxhall Corsa has always been popular with driving instructors, so its only natural that many people will pick one up as their first car. They're a little tough to find for sale, but when they do pop up, prices hover around $5000, for the most part. The Baja Turbo used a detuned 2.5-liter turbo version of what came in the Impreza WRX STI. Our pick Citroen C1 1.0 VTiUsed deals from 5,495Monthly finance from 0*. However, the Citroen does tend to be cheaper on the used market, so if you're happy with the looks, it's worth comparing Citroen and Toyota deals. But, they do come with useful USB and auxiliary inputs, electric windows in the front, and a 60:40 split-fold rear seat. An example we found in California with 186,000 miles had the optional Bose audio systemwith a cassette and CD playerand a sunroof. Clifford Atiyeh, Understandably, this suggestion could contradict everything we said in the last slide, but hear us out. It was also available with a five-speed manual transmission. It might not come with the most impressive list of standard equipment, butentry-level models are offered with electric front windows, air conditioning and a leather-trimmed steering wheel as standard. Optional final payment to buy car: 2,923. Looking for a nicely-styled, reliable, sporty GT car? Here's one in fair condition for sale on Facebook Marketplace now. Our pick Toyota Aygo 1.0 VVT-iUsed deals from 5,600Monthly finance from 0*. Toyota crafted a V-8 just for this car, gave it a sumptuous interior with features that premium customers demanded, and then priced it at $35,000. Whether you're looking for a first-, second-, or third-generation MR2 to add to your garage, you won't have much trouble finding one for under budget. Our car experts choose every product we feature. It has a totally different look, but packs a Corvette-sourced LT1 V-8 under the hood. Check out our list of the most fun cars under $10,000. For that you get a high-revving mid-mounted three-cylinder engine and a convertible top. The Citroen C1 could be perfect if youre looking for a funky French supermini for less than 5,000. Itll happily deliver fuel economy of 54.3mpg but its leisurely 0-62mph time of 13.3 seconds may be a little too sedate for some buyers. Mechanically, the S70 is identical to the 1993 850, but the cosmetic changes soften that car's 1980s-era edges to make it feel fresh 20 years on. In today's world of SUVs, however, the Lexus looks low and small. Our pick Fiat 500 1.2 PopUsed deals from 6,299Monthly finance from 0*. If you're looking for a different sort of fun, why not consider a Wrangler? They're not especially common at that price, but I was able to find this one on Facebook Marketplace with little effort. Our pick Fiat Panda 1.2 Easy 5-doorUsed deals from 7,495Monthly finance from 0*. Just don't expect it to be perfect. Ask science. Road & Track participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we may get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links to retailer sites. The Touring model was equipped with a subtle trunk spoiler and aluminum BBS-mesh wheels. From new, the i10 is accompanied by a five-year warranty, as it stands, it's difficult to find a new enough model to make the most of that at this price range, butif you can find a three-year-old example, you'll still have a couple of years' warranty left. The Cherokee's a hero because with proper maintenancenotably preventive measures to address potential oil-leak and cooling issues as well as rust it will outlast your children and go anywhere while doing it. TheHyundai i10 serves up a tempting blend of cheap running costs, a comfortable, roomy cabin and a surprisingly grown-up ride. Because so many were built, prices remain low. Stick to the classifieds in the south to avoid body panels that look like Swiss cheese, but not too far south as 4x4 models are less common in areas where theyre not needed. If you find a well-worn gem, know that it's probably been cared for, loved, and driven like hell, just as BMW intended. It also had double-paned side glass, adaptive dampers, and near silence at highway speeds. Sure, you won't find a late-production six-speed for under $5000, but early cars can be had within budget fairly easily. The Skoda Fabia is a roomy supermini thats both cheap to run and comes well equipped. Here are the most fun cars you can buy for less than $5000. You'd struggle to find one for under $10,000, but you can get naturally aspirated versions of the first two generations for under $5000. Eric Stafford. Weve found a good selection of Feel models for less than our 5000 budget with around 50,000 miles on the clock. These trucks have rugged good looks that have aged much better than their contemporaries. Mini Concept Aceman revealed: price, specs and release date, Drag race: Ford Mustang Mach-E GT vs Ford Mustang V8 GT, Mercedes EQXX review large-range EV cruiser tested, Drag race: McLaren 600LT vs Lamborghini Aventador SVJ. But I have better odds of winning the lottery than finding an M-badged BMW in good running condition for less than $5000. While your chance to pick up an Integra Type R for cheap have long since past, there are still other fun small FWD Hondas out there for little money. Bonus if you can find a yellow Ranger Splash with the decals intact. 6x6 Ram TRX Flies Head-First Into a Mound of Dirt, Here's What Happens When Brakes Fail at 120 MPH, The 2023 Ford Maverick is Getting a Tremor Package, Corvette Prototype Burns to the Ground in Spain, How Chevy Is Training Dealers to Sell Z06s, 1996 Chevrolet Camaro Z28 (Fourth-Gen) - $4700, 1988 Chrysler Conquest TSi / Mitsubishi Starion - $4000, The Best Cars at Bonhams' Monterey Auction in 2018, This content is created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page to help users provide their email addresses. Have more money to spend? When talking about cheap fun cars, it's hard not to mention the Miata. The Citigo's appeal lies in its surprisingly comfortable ride and neat handling. Austin Irwin, Nissan never sold a four-door 300ZX, but the Infiniti J30 is pretty close. If you're struggling to find a car you like, you may need to consider increasing your budget, or you could instead consider a car finance deal. David Beard, No one makes compact pickup trucks anymore. Find a Laureate car and you'll also have air-conditioning. If the E30 is a bit too old for your tastes, consider its successor, the E36. Just be on the watch for rust, however. Theyre near-identical, except for the way they look. Believe it or not, the first-gen SLK has depreciated under the $5000-mark. This is how pickup trucks were for almost a century, before every guy had to drive Bigfoot. The Nissan 300ZX can check all of those boxes for you. Thanks to its popularity as a drift car, it's getting harder and harder to locate a nice 240SX for less than $5000. Newer ones will take years to depreciate to under $5000, but examples like this 1997 model can be reliably found for good prices. Here's a 325e for sale you can own right now. Watch videos of C/D editors browsing used-car listings to find the best (and worst) deals. These get electric windows, air conditioning and bluetooth connectivity as standard. With some diligence, it's not difficult to find a decent truck equipped with a V-8 and four-wheel drive. You may be able to find more information about this and similar content at piano.io, Fun Convertibles for $30,000: Window Shop with C/D, Honda Targets Used Car Shoppers with More CPO, European Road Trip Cars: Window Shop with C/D, Cars We Missed Out On: Window Shop with C/D, Ford Used-Car Website Adds 14-Day Test Drives, Best of Cars from Songs: Window Shop with C/D, Cars to Convert Non-Enthusiasts: Window Shopping, GM Launches 'CarBravo' Used-Car Sales Website, The Best-Selling Car the Year You Graduated, Winter Beater Challenge: Window Shop with C/D. It's no Fiesta ST, but the Focus SVT is still a hell of a hatchback if you're seeking cheap smiles. BMW didn't import any wagons for the 2004 or 2005 model years, nor did we ever get an M5 Touring. And as inflated as the used-car market is right now, there are still affordable full-size trucks to be found. The good thing about cars of this age is that they have already lost a great deal of their initial value, so bargain prices are really quite easy to come by, but a car that's been well looked after should feel pretty much as the same as it did when it was new. While every Pathfinder of this vintage features a seemingly bulletproof 168-hp 3.3-liter V-6 and a multilink rear suspension. Though prices are on the rise, it's still easy to find a good E30-generation 3-Series for under $5000. It's also a prime candidate for an overlanding setup. Alternatively, for around 500 less, consider the previous generation Aygo. It might be the cheapest way to maximize an entertaining track day. It wasn't cheap, either. Stretch your budget a little further and range-topping Titanium models might come into reach, with all the gadgets and gizmos you need on a small car like this. The latest Vauxhall Corsa became the best-selling new car in Britain in 2021, and the previous-generation version is also available at very low price with BuyaCar. This was back in the days when an S-class with six cylinders started past $50,000. Check out our handy guide on what to look for in a used car for more information. Read our handy used car buying guide or head over to our car chooserif youre not surewhich car is for you. After a little digging, we found a number of 2013 models in Move Up trim with approximately 50,000 miles on the clock for less than 5,000. These cars prove you don't have to spend a lot of money to have fun. If the Corvette isn't really your thing, maybe you'll like the Camaro Z28. Its secret to a long life? Unlike the WRX, the Impreza 2.5RS does not come with a turbocharged engine. Like a gourmet grilled-cheese sandwich, the Acura TSX was an ordinary luxury. The Crown Vic isn't exactly sporty, but it is durable. (Other wee pickups from this era, like the Toyota Tacoma, are more prone to frame rust.) Though it may not be rear-engined, it still drives like a Porsche, and has the same wonderful build quality. The TSX was a snappy entry-level sports sedan for its time, and it came with standard features other cars in its segment didn't offer, including 17-inch wheels and a Bluetooth stereo. I'd look past its hopelessly outdated infotainment system. Although similar in towing capacity to its Tahoe and Expedition competitors (6500 pounds in two-wheel-drive form), the Sequoia offers 10.6 inches of ground clearance. For less than $5000, however, you're most likely going to find a gasoline 5.2- or 5.9-liter V-8. The Sandero is cheap and cheerful, lacking some of the features that you might expect if you go for the most basic versions, but offering considerably more space than city cars like the Citroen above. Weve put together a list of the 10 best pre-owned cars that could be yours for less than 5,000. As long as you know what to look for, used cars are perfectly safe and can give you years of trouble-free motoring. The Outback wagon turned truck only stuck around for three years, but it has always been a quirky favorite here. The Conquest TSi (also know as the Starion) packs a turbocharged engine under the hood, and like the similarly-styled 944, puts its power to the rear wheels. Top-shelf options add a 12-disc CD changer in the trunk and a head-up display. This one is in need of some love, and it's listed for sale on Facebook Marketplace right now. But where the other two models only come with a three-year new car warranty, the Aygo has five years cover, making it the better used car buy - get a three-year-old model and you'll still have two years' manufacturer warranty remaining rather than nothing. The only things you'll have to deal with are the questionable looks and relatively high maintenance costs. Although it offered more than 400 miles of range on a single tank, the Insight wasn't offered with cruise control. This being an older Swedish car, the S70's cabin heater is its strongest and fastest-moving part. The NB2 chassis, made from 2001 to 2005, is the most desirable because it carried improved projector headlights, additional chassis support, and an engine with higher compression and variable valve timing. Mid-level SE trims have a driver's seat with lumbar support and height adjustments, remote keyless entry, a roof rack, and tubular steel step rails. In the days before backup cameras showed us the way, the antenna-like bars would emerge to help you see the back of this giant sedan. BuyaCar is a credit broker, not a lender. This one can be yours right now for just $2500. You could go the Foxbody route, or buy something like this reasonably priced SN95 Mustang GT. Cash buyers should note that all BuyaCar vehicles include a finance incentive that's not available if you are purchasing outright. Is there VAT on used and second-hand cars? This one is clean, and it's for sale right now. As long as the timing belt is changed, and the starter doesn't failit's buried in the heart of the enginethe LS400 should soldier without fuss for years. A second-hand VW Up could be the perfect used car for buyers looking for a more upmarket supermini that wont break the bank. Youll find the Panda is a roomy and undemanding little car with great visibility, lots of handy storage solutions and a large boot that expands thanks to a sliding set of rear seats. Our pick Dacia Sandero 1.2 AmbianceUsed deals from 5,700Monthly finance from 0*. Life in the slow lane: do 20mph speed limits work? So something like 600 percent of it was made of aluminum. It doesn't need running boards or tailgate steps because it's not seven feet tall. K.C. The rate you are offered will depend on your individual circumstances. Here's a sedan you can own today. by Built in Indiana, the 2005-plus first-generation Sequoia is the best of the bunch, thanks to its vastly improved drivetrain. Best of all, they're shockingly easy to find under $5000. Austin Irwin, It's a dream of mine to own an M car. That kind of money can get you a ratty 325is, or a four-cylinder 318i in good condition. If you want a nice, running V-8-powered Mustang for less than $5000, you have a few cars to choose from. These cars come equipped with central locking, DAB digital radio and a height-adjustable drivers seat as standard. Air conditioning, alloy wheels, electric front windows and even parking sensors all come as standard on this high-spec Spanish supermini. Car chooser, December 03, 2021 Besidesair-conditioning, you won't get much else. We found plenty of Sting models within the 5000 budget, and these get some snazzy alloy wheels and decal kits. Unfortunately, our budget doesnt quite stretch to models fitted with the updated Dualjet engine but the standard 1.0-litre unit can still return a fair 65.7mpg. You can roughly double those numbers to account for inflation. A grand, leather-wrapped living room that cossets during urban errands and long-legged interstate runs is braced by surprisingly dynamic handling through B-road sweepers. We found a selection of SZ2 models that had covered as little as 30,000 miles from new within our budget. This 68hp three-cylinder unit is a chirpy little enginethatll not only return 67mpg, but makes the Picanto fairly fun to drive, too.For added peace of mind, the Picanto comes with an industry-leading seven-year warranty thats transferable between owners. Its68hp output is enough to get this minute Suzuki from 0-62mpg in 13.5 seconds slightly faster than an entry-level VW Up. Don't get too excited, as the used-car market is yet to list our favorite for less than $5000. You may be able to find more information about this and similar content at piano.io, You Can Own Michael Schumacher's First F1 Car, Live Out Your Tarmac Rally Dreams With This E30 M3, You Can Buy the Custom McLaren 765LT R&T Cover Car, There's a Mercedes SLS Electric Drive For Sale, You Can Buy the One C4 ZR1 That Ran at Le Mans, There's a Rare Aston Martin Lagonda Taraf for Sale, The Perfect S2000 Is for Sale, But It'll Cost You, You Can Buy a Rare Nissan R32 GT-R Group N Racer, this Ultra-Rare Disco Volante Spyder Is for Sale, The 27 Most Fun Used Cars You Can Buy for Under $5000. It's light and fun to drive, the parts are cheap, and it has a number of aluminum bits to defend itself against a rusty death. Our pick Skoda Citigo 1.0 MPI SEUsed deals from 5,950Monthly finance from 0*. Ford Fiesta (2008-2017) used buying guide, Drag race: Audi RS Q e-tron Dakar car vs Audi RS e-tron GT. Its not the most glamorous car in the world, or even on this list, but it does offer great value for money and a surprising amount of practicality for such a small car. But don't sweat it if they do; there's a tool for every job. Here's a second-gen car for sale for just $3500. One thing to be wary of, however, is that the Panda's long life also means it's now nowhere near as safe as newer small cars. For this price, youre most likely to find the least-powerful 60hp petrol engine, which is quiet and makes the Skoda nippy enough for town driving. While this rear-drive example is down on power versus the M45, the rest of the winning formula is there, and it's worth appreciating the Infiniti's ability to switch from calm to "Woah! Its 251-litre boot is big enough for a few large bags and there are plenty of useful cubby holesdotted about its well-built cabin. There are some great used car bargains out there if your budget cant quite stretch to a new model. Our pick Vauxhall Corsa 1.2 ExciteUsed deals from 6,500Monthly finance from 0*. At this price, cars will likely have racked up a bunch of miles or be old enough to have been around before ads on YouTube, but that's par for the course. Colwell, The Subaru Baja is worth pointing out and admiring if spotted in the wild. Our car experts choose every product we feature. The vacuum-actuated four-wheel drive can be finicky, but the engines are relatively simple with readily available parts or replacements. It used the same 205-hp 3.0-liter V-6 found in the non-turbo sports car, but it also shared the same fantastic multilink suspension that gave the luxury sedan sports-car control. The Ranger is basic and frugal. It shared much of its bits and pieces with its cousin, the Honda Accord, but the first-generation TSX had more where it counted. Its neither as roomy as the Skoda Fabia, nor can its 290-litre boot carry as much luggage. The Aygo uses the same mechanical parts as the Citroen C1 and Peugeot 108, so all have the same amount of interior space and are similar to drive. It hurts, but not enough to keep me from shopping older Toyota Sequoias. It isnt the most involving car to drive but its diminutive size makes it easy to park and a breeze to manoeuvre through tight city streets. A mid-range used Ambiance model features a radio, along with a USB port and Bluetooth so you can connect your phone wirelessly. If you know what to look for, it should be easy to get yourself behind the wheel of something good for the right price. Examples with the legendary high-output 4.0-liter straight-six introduced in 1991 are preferred among Cherokee cognoscenti, the later 1990s models especially. Jonathan Ramsey, Although the Acura Legend was the first Japanese luxury car in space, the Lexus LS400 was the moon shot. That warranty stays with the car, so even shopping for a four or five-year-old model will leave you with a couple of years of cover, not bad for such a low price. All of these cars, including the Bangle-styled E61 Touring that offered all-wheel drive and came only with the six, are uncommon in our wagon-hating country. This blue one listed on Facebook Marketplace can be yours for just $4000. A six-cylinder 300SE started at a touch less than $70,000 in 1992 dollars, and the 389-hp V-12 was more than $120,000. Entry-level Pop models dont boast particularly impressive levels of standard equipment and taller adults may find the rear seats rather cramped but, if youre looking for a charming supermini thats both cheap to run and comfortable around town, the 500 could be ideal. Clifford Atiyeh. The striking Citroen C1 is closely related to the wacky Toyota Aygo and the plainer Peugeot 108. It left our shores for good in 2009. It's a great choice for people who don't want to spend a bunch of money at the dealership, the gas station, or the parts store. You're more likely to find the cheaper 1.2-litre engine at this price, which has steadier acceleration but is likely to be just as economical in real-world driving. We think the sweet spot is the second-gen SW20 model shown here. Here's one for sale now. This one is in good condition, and it can be yours. But for reliability and resale valueespecially in New England, where old Volvos like mine sell within 24 hours for thousands of dollarsI promise you can't do better.