All I got to say is, Geo Metro four door. My friend bought if for 300 dollars. He gets roughly 43 miles to the gallon, and that is with us horsing around in it. We pull the E-Brake, and do burnouts or wannabe ones. I mean it has held up to the beating and with a tune-up every now and then will be a reliable work/daily driver! It is for him and me at least! 50 miles to work and back everyday!

 

My 98 ran great with 145k miles (4.0L OHV). I think the CEL came on once, for a loose gas cap. Otherwise, I replaced the IAC once for low idle/foghorn noise, plugs/wires, serpentine belts, etc. When I sold it, it would occasionally run on the weak side if I drove it immediately after I started it. After a similar (but worse) problem on the 97 Explorer (4.0L OHV), I believe it was the intake manifold gaskets. Sold the 97 with 110-120k miles I think. It also ran strong. Plugs/wires, intake manifold gaskets, IAC valve and EGR valve.

So I don't think I want to buy anything that doesn't run as it should (duh), unless I could confirm the problem first, and found it was something easily fixed.
The automatic worries me (a little but mostly I don't like driving them), and the clutch might worry me on the regular cab. If it feels okay, no problem. But I had the infamous hydraulic problems when the clutch/master/slave got replaced on the 98 ranger.

 

Eww. lol
I thought about finding a cheapo whatever econobox but I just know I won't want to drive it.

So for, first choice is a 97-earlier Ranger (manual). Second choice is a 99-earlier Jetta (manual, a few VR6's out there).
If I go for something cheap and boring it will probably be a escort/contour. Ugly, lame, but cheap and seem pretty reliable.
Fortunately I am in no real hurry so if I can have some patience (riiight) I'll wait for the right deal.

 

I looked at the regular cab...

What a piece!
The guy told me it was in great condition, and well worth 2800.
His friend is borrowing it for the week and met me to look at it. First thing I notice from a distance is that it has been rear ended. The hitch it pushed up into the bumper, the bumper is pushed into the tail gate. Tail gate is peeling back from it, doesn't open, rusted. The front bolts on hitch were pulled out of the frame from the wreck. As I keep walking around, the clear coat is gone everywhere, the left rear wheel has a lugnut sheered off, and the tires are bald. Not "need replaced soon", they are bald. I opened the hood (after pulling on it for a few minutes), the engine is NOT a 4.0L, it's the 3.0L. Everything under the hood looks rusted together. The oil is DARK BLACK, and air intake box is completely broken, doesn't even it on the air filter. The engine is pulling in un-filtered air.
I slammed the hood and told the guy sorry to waste his time, I didn't even feel safe driving it, lol.
I wouldn't buy that truck for $500. I probably wouldn't take it for free, honestly. The whole thing was a broken up disgusting rust bucket. I don't understand why everyone thinks their POS is worth so much money.

I hate people.

 

Welcome to the club, i asked a guy for a pic of the front driveshaft and the retard took me 3 pics of the rear people think whatever they have is priceless, but you should just give your sh*t away