Whether you are a first-time car buyer or just looking for something affordable, there are plenty of used cars for sale that you can get for a cheap deal. When it comes to buying a car for a bargain-basement price, you walk the fine line of buying a car that’s on the brink of falling apart or buying a reliable vehicle that’s worth your money. For $3,000, there are a surprising amount of sedans you can get, but like when you purchase an older used car, you risk expensive repair costs that end up costing in the end. Vehicles like the 2005 Toyota Corolla are known to go well over 200,000 miles with essential maintenance and repairs.

A used Toyota Corolla is still a reliable option

A 2005 Toyota Corolla might be pretty far from the modern luxury sedans we’ve come to know and love. They don’t have all of the latest safety features and tech, or the latest and greatest designs, but that doesn’t mean they don’t have a lot to offer. A quick online search will probably reveal more than a couple of 2005 Toyota Corolla options, which does more than give you options to pick from.

When you see an older car still on the road consistently it speaks to the car’s reliability, and you probably see more of this generation of Toyota Corolla than you realize. Sure, they don’t stand out from the crowd, but they also won’t leave you stranded on the side of the road, either. The 2005 Corolla can go for hundreds of thousands of miles according to some owners, so it’s a great car that you can get for $3,000 with a lot of life left even for the age.

The practical, affordable choice

The 2005 Toyota Corolla offers a comfortable and spacious interior. While it may not have all of the high-end luxuries of newer cars, many people have taken to affectionately updating the infotainment system for a few hundred dollars. They are inexpensive to maintain as well as repair on the occasion that something goes wrong.

These safe and reliable sedans are ideal for a first car or even a daily driver. They aren’t so nice that you’d be concerned about adding mileage or general wear and tear. Owners report an average of 30mpg which is great for a long drive or saving money. They have enough backseat space for car seats or extra storage, and the trunk provides an ample amount of cargo capacity for such a small sedan.

Overall the 2005 Toyota Corolla isn’t overly exciting, but for $3,000 you can get one in good condition and relatively decent mileage. They might lack a lot of the modern safety features and technology of newer cars, but with such a low cost there are so many reasons to buy. Even better, they are readily available on the used car market, meaning you have a ton of options to pick from for color combinations or trim levels.