2 years before cash for clunkers, I bought a 97 PLYMOUTH neon for $100.00. It had 150,000 miles on it and I drove it for 2 years and when I sold it it had 230,000 miles on it. In that time I replaced.. 1 windshield - $0 covered by insurance 4 tires - $100 for all 4 (found them hiding in stock room at work) 4 struts and springs - $80 found all 4 brand new at a pull a part. 1 radiator repair - $45 1 alternator - $100 1 brake line - $20 Less than $500 into this car and drove it for 80,000 miles. It had a SOHC that I ran 20w-50 in to keep the valvetrain quiet. It was a manual transmission that required only the clutch for starting and stopping. It never left me stranded and only almost killed me when the break line went out but that's why I had a working hand brake. But sorry dude. After cash for clunkers there are no cheap cars worth a damn anymore. Oh ya I drove it back and forth from Akron to east Cleveland 6 days a week for 2 years. And would co stantly get 40mpg and sold it for $1000.