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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.