http://www.popularmechanics.com/cars/news/vintage-speed/fun-cars-for-less-than-3kFun Cars for Less Than $3000
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.
Jeep's Wrangler is basically the same as it ever was. Like the CJ that preceded it, the Wrangler is a go-anywhere, do-anything 4WD vehicle that's as comfortable crawling over rocks on the Rubicon Trail as it is chauffeuring the dogs back and forth to the beach. From 1987 to 1995, YJ became the Wrangler's official model designation. The YJ featured front and rear live axles and a larger windshield, and rectangular headlights replaced the classic round headlights. The YJ was initially available with either a 2.5-liter inline four-cylinder or 4.2-liter inline six-cylinder engine (a 4.0-liter came later). Prospective buyers should look closely for rust, as Wranglers—like many capable four-wheelers—are often ridden hard and put away wet. The tires and undercarriage also tend to suffer abuse off-road, so check low for signs of abuse.
