[kaisen]

"$4-5K" and "never gonna need to fix it" are mutually exclusive expectations, really. You may get lucky, but you can't count on it.

Nothing wrong with a Miata, they're good little cars, fairly simple, easy/cheap to fix, and I wouldn't worry too much about the year or miles. Buy based on condition and how many clocks have been recently reset (timing belt/water pump, tires, battery, top replacement, etc.)

With most other choices, you'll be competing with every other budget-minded non-enthusiast that only wants to spend $5000 on a good reliable car. So the "usual supects" will be stupid expensive for what they are . Anything with a Honda or Toyota nameplate, followed by Mazda and Nissan, you can bet won't be a great value. So buying something off the Consumer-Reports-Kool-Aid radar will net you a better car for the money. A Miata fits that bill pretty well. Hyundai and Kia, Saturn, some Fords, some BMWs and Mercedes, etc.

For example, Denis (speeder) has a 1989 Mercedes Benz 190E 2.3 with under 90K miles and in beautiful shape that will be well under $5K. They were simple cars that were built to go the distance. It was once owned by a celebrity too....