Being DIY types with our hands tight on our wallets, we've always been enthusiastic cheap-car purveyors. And as a result, we've gotten far more fun than we paid for from inexpensive used cars. So we thought we'd pass along our favorite budget used cars. If you don't pay much for the car, you're less inclined to worry about it, and consequently, you'll have more fun. We picked $3000 because that is about the floor for a fun-to-drive car that will probably have high mileage but not be three feet from lunching the gearbox. As with any used-car purchase, do your due diligence.

Mazda Miata



The Miata is the gold-standard fun-to-drive car. For three grand, you're probably looking at a first-generation edition (1989–1994) with the 1.6-liter four-cylinder. Mazda built tens of thousands of them, and many folks who bought them barely drove them, so plenty of low-mileage examples exist. They're enormously fun, with a lithe feel, telepathic steering, raspy engine note and one of crispest gearboxes in the industry. They're tough, too, as evidenced by the number plying road courses every weekend—they're the most raced cars in the country via the Spec Miata class. Get one with a rust-free body, as the mechanical bits are easily sourced and reasonably priced. With only 120 hp, you won't win any drag races, but you'll never fail to enjoy time spent behind the wheel.

BMW E30 3 Series

Admittedly, finding a decent 1984–1991 3 Series for three grand might be tricky, but they're worth the search. We'd hold out for six-cylinder version, as the silky-smooth inline-six is a stand-out engine, especially among other cars from the Eighties. If you find one with "i" at the end of the badge, grab it. That denotes a more powerful version, with 168 horsepower. The chassis is the main draw, however, as these rear-drivers (yes, they made an AWD version, but good luck finding one for under five grand) had near perfect weight distribution and eager handling. Inside, the cabin is airy and surprisingly roomy considering the compact exterior dimensions. As with the Miata, there's a healthy enthusiast following for these cars, so aftermarket parts are plentiful.

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