[HydroJim]

Here's what I'm doing.

I bought a 1993 geo metro XFi rust free with known mechanical problems. I'm putting about $3000 total into it and rebuilding just about everything on the car. I'm going to completely strip the car down and fix/clean everything. It will be like a new car when I'm done.

A geo metro is about the only car that you can do this on with your budget. Civic VX or HF might be had that doesn't need all that work, but it won't be like brand new.