The Best First Cars Money Can Buy Under $3,000

For the vast majority of car enthusiasts who are purchasing their first ride, there is a little bit of a challenge there. You see, for a young kid who only has a little bit of money to spend on their first set of wheels, the options aren’t exactly always all that attractive. With maybe just a couple of grand to spend, a big portion of the market is probably going to be pretty unappealing for people with a need for speed.

However, with a little bit of creativity and a lot of digging around on Facebook Marketplace, there’s a good chance that someone could stand to find a diamond in the rough. Just because the budget is limited isn’t to say that you have to buy a boring car.

For those who may find themselves in this situation, let the research start here!

In this particular collection of cars from the folks over at Ideal Media, we approach the idea of fun to drive the first car for under $3,000. The criteria not only involves cars that are interesting but also accounts for things like reliability as well because let’s be honest with ourselves here, a first car that always breaks down is no fun and a formula for disaster with the limited budget factor.

By following along with the video below, we dive into eight of the best sub-$3,000 first cars for those who love cars. At the end of the day, $3,000 might not seem like a ton of money in today’s car market. However, with a little bit of creativity, it can definitely be one way to spell out a great time. After checking out this list, which machine do you think takes the crown for the best first car under 3 grand?