The 9 Greatest Cars You Can Buy In America For Under $3000

There's nothing more satisfying than finding a car that's fun to drive but doesn't cost you the Earth. Here's our collection of the greatest cars you can buy with a low, low budget of $3000
The 9 Greatest Cars You Can Buy In America For Under $3000

10 years ago you could buy a halfway decent used car in America for $1000. Then came the global recession, and suddenly people couldn’t afford new cars. Used car prices went up, but sadly, the quality of what you could buy didn’t change.

A few weeks ago Alex talked about the 11 greatest cars you could get in the UK for £2000. Presently, that translates to just under $3000 and these days, that’s a realistic number for shoppers seeking a fun-to-drive car that runs properly and doesn’t look like a failed getaway car. Sticking with relatively modern cars will help eliminate age-related issues, so we’ll keep our gaze within the last 20 years. And that’s just fine, because there are plenty of neat cars available to American CTZens. Here are nine to consider…

Lincoln Mark VIII

The 9 Greatest Cars You Can Buy In America For Under $3000

Of all the cars on this list, the Lincoln Mark VIII is probably the most surprising in terms of performance. That’s because there’s a ripping 290bhp DOHC V8 driving the rear wheels. It also rides on fully independent suspension, and being a Lincoln it comes with quite a bit of luxury. At 3800 pounds it’s heavy for a smallish two-door coupe; that and the four-speed slushbox dings a fair amount of the engine’s power. But it can jump to 60mph in under seven seconds, it handles fairly well, and it’s a great grand tourer with a devoted enthusiast following to help keep it on the road.

Mazda Miata

The 9 Greatest Cars You Can Buy In America For Under $3000

You don’t buy a Miata because it’s fast. You buy it because you enjoy the act of driving; keeping an engine on boil while pivoting through corners on a warm, sunny day. If you’re a guy and are steering clear because you think it’s ‘a chick car’ then you’re missing out - there isn’t another car for under $3000 that can provide the kind of elemental driving experience the Miata offers. The first-generation cars have bottomed out around $3k for a decent example, so they won’t get any cheaper.

Nissan Maxima

The 9 Greatest Cars You Can Buy In America For Under $3000

It’s not hard to find the earlier fifth-generation Maximas with the 222bhp 3.0-litre engine for under $3000. But the really exciting cars are 2002-2003 models with the 255bhp 3.5 V6. They are a bit harder to find at this price point, especially with the six-speed manual - Nissan enthusiasts are holding on to those with fervour. If rowing your own gears isn’t absolutely necessary, scoring an automatic is easier. Either way, the 255bhp Maxima is quite the stout front-wheel drive sports sedan with a decent reliability record.

Ford SVT Focus

The 9 Greatest Cars You Can Buy In America For Under $3000

Ford’s hot Focus for the early 2000s is dipping to the $3000 mark. For that price expect to see over 100,000 miles on the odometer and perhaps a few dents and dings on the outside. Mechanically speaking, that price should get you something reasonably well maintained so immediate repairs shouldn’t be a worry. With 170bhp they weren’t the quickest compacts of the day, but the six-speed manual makes the most of the power, and its go-kart handling can carve a corner like a boss. You won’t find a better hot hatch in America for $3000.

Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptor

The 9 Greatest Cars You Can Buy In America For Under $3000

You can buy standard Crown Vics for $3000 all day long, but take a bit more time to source out a former Police Interceptor from the early 2000s. They will have stronger suspension bits, 239bhp from their 4.6-litre V8, and they will have been well maintained for most of their lives. It’s a big car that’s not terribly fast or the least bit nimble, but it’s an old-school muscle car that you can grab by the neck and wrestle with reckless, fantastic abandon. If you want more power, there’s plenty of aftermarket for the 4.6, and you can even find conversion kits to swap the automatic for a six-speed manual.

Buick Regal GS

The 9 Greatest Cars You Can Buy In America For Under $3000

From 1997 through 2004, Buick ran the same 240bhp supercharged 3800 V6 as the flashier Pontiac Grand Prix GTP. Depending on who you talk to, some say the Buick was even faster. Call it the sleeper of choice for this budget list, because the Regal could get to 60mph in about 6.5 seconds while looking as boringly average as every other Regal of that era. Suspension tuning is a bit stiffer on the GS, but it will never be a satisfying back road bomber. Instead, its joy comes from anonymous power, good reliability, and a strong aftermarket for the V6 that makes 400 horsepower easily attainable.

Ford Mustang GT

The 9 Greatest Cars You Can Buy In America For Under $3000

If you want a bona-fide American pony car, the only thing available at the $3000 mark is the mid-late ‘90’s Mustang GT. Even then, expect the ponys at this price point to be ridden hard, but functional none the less. Their 4.6-litre V8 only makes 215bhp so they aren’t that fast, but that’s still enough to be fun with a five-speed manual. And few things are as ‘Murican as zipping down a road in a rear-wheel drive Mustang convertible, listening to a V8 soundtrack booming out back.

BMW E36 3-series

The 9 Greatest Cars You Can Buy In America For Under $3000

You won’t find any of the M3s pictured up top for $3000, but you can dig up a 328is for that kind of cash and it’s a damn good car to have fun with. The I6 sings that iconic BMW growl and still delivers 190bhp to the rear wheels, which is certainly enough for spinning donuts on demand. Of course you’ll need to coax the car into such antics since the E36 is such a boss in the corners. Maintenance can be expensive, especially if you aren’t the hands-on type. But they aren’t that tough to work on, so if you have wrenches and the will to open the bonnet, few cars are as rewarding to own, maintain and drive than an E36 BMW.

Saab 9-3

The 9 Greatest Cars You Can Buy In America For Under $3000

Saabs in the States have always suffered from depreciation due to iffy reliability, and that became even worse when the Swedish automaker filed for bankruptcy in 2011. But keeping these cars on the road is really a non-issue - parts are fairly commonplace and though reliability can be a concern, the 9-3 is quite entertaining to drive. Performance is spirited, but it’s the quirky Saab styling and features that makes these cars so endearing to own.

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Comments

JackinGoose

What would be the best option in your opinion?

01/23/2016 - 13:00 |
2 | 2

miata

01/23/2016 - 13:10 |
4 | 4

Well I’d have a 1996 Ford Mustang GT but I haven’t 3000 dollars to spare + I’m working on my 1991 Ford Ranger XLT.

01/23/2016 - 13:15 |
4 | 0

The Lincoln Mark VIII. It’s something you don’t see everyday.

01/23/2016 - 13:44 |
2 | 0
Thomas B

Saab, buy one. Awesome cars, the 3 doors are quite spacious (the boot is huge), confortable, you can get good power out of them and of course DO NOT buy a diesel.

01/23/2016 - 13:16 |
14 | 0

We didn’t get diesels in America. So that’s not a problem. I own a Viggen and a 9000 Aero, and love every minute.

01/23/2016 - 22:23 |
2 | 0
Mr.PurpleV12

I have the older Crown Victoria Ltd 5.0 haha , picked up for 1200$. Honestly a steal.

01/23/2016 - 13:22 |
130 | 0

Hubert :) still a good name

01/23/2016 - 17:19 |
2 | 0

We had one of those. To this day still my favorite car we’ve ever owned.

01/23/2016 - 21:22 |
0 | 0

Don’t forget the Ford Taurus SHO. Got mine for $2600. 3.0 NA V6 that revs to 7300rpm, bullet proof motor and fast as stink. Mine was fully loaded with all the creature comforts and still hauled. 0-60 in 6.6 seconds with amazing flat conrnering.

01/24/2016 - 01:31 |
22 | 0
ramses rizal

How much an 93 Honda Accord cost in the U.S? Just curious.

01/23/2016 - 13:35 |
0 | 0

Well my dad used to have a 91 accord dx and we needed to replace the ac unit so we sold it for $500. Excellent car tho

01/23/2016 - 14:04 |
0 | 0
Anonymous

I can honestly say that the mustang would be my choice, I love the miata but you can’t beat the sound of that V8, after everything I’ve done to mine I’m just under 300hp and about 330torque, I love this car.

01/23/2016 - 13:38 |
54 | 0
Anonymous

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

mark viii will walk all over that and sounds meaner with exhaust

01/24/2017 - 00:00 |
0 | 0
Kyle Sanborn

I actually find the Miata on this list a little untrue. When I have looked around for miatas I have only found ones that cost $5000 and over because people think they can sell a twenty plus year old icon at $8000

01/23/2016 - 13:43 |
8 | 2

I have seen many for $2000

01/23/2016 - 17:40 |
0 | 0
Delightful Citizen (Classic Truck Squad)

In reply to by Kyle Sanborn

It really all depends on where you live. I hear people saying you can pick up old WRXs on the cheap but people want an arm and a leg here in Missouri.
On the other hand, I saw an ad last night for a 140k miata for about $3000.

01/23/2016 - 17:49 |
2 | 0

You must live in the south. In the north they are very cheap because of the rust issues

01/23/2016 - 18:19 |
0 | 0
Fad Hill

You forgot this

01/23/2016 - 13:56 |
70 | 0
🎺🎺thank mr skeltal

In reply to by Fad Hill

$1,996 in the 1970 would equal about $25,000 when calculating inflation.

01/23/2016 - 14:19 |
44 | 0

Mine was only 800$

01/23/2016 - 15:01 |
4 | 0
Owen Tiernan

I had an SVT Focus before. Had some power and handling upgrades on it. Loved the car.

01/23/2016 - 13:57 |
2 | 0
voltrash

You forgot the Nissan 300zx

01/23/2016 - 14:09 |
2 | 2
gheed

And a 740 if you live in Sweden..

01/23/2016 - 14:45 |
0 | 0