All I'm going to say is this, in the sub 3K price range you WILL NOT find something that does not need work. Now that we have that out of the way, let's look at prices to repair cars...stay away from European cars....the worst ones in your price range PERIOD. The Japanese cars will be crusty around the edges, be ready for their 2nd timing belts, leaking or burning oil and in general will need work, but parts are readily available and reasonably priced.
American cars in your range will be likewise condition as the Japanese cars with less mileage, the GM cars will probably need engine performance maintenance, if you go V6 expect coolant issues, if you go 2.4 route expect timing chain issues since people with these cars do not maintain them in this range.
As far as safety, well look at what people drove back in the day. My first 2 cars did NOT have airbags '89 Ranger and '87 Fiero GT. If it has airbags...good. I was fully aware that they did not have airbags in them and to be honest, and I also appreciated that it was my parents car and not mine. So at any second the car could be taken from me.