13. BMW E46 3-Series Touring
One of the most unlikely driver’s cars you can get at a bargain price is the 1998 to 2005 BMW E46 3-Series Touring. If you’re unfamiliar with BMW model designations, this is the station wagon version of the old 3-Series from the late ’90s and early 2000s. The trick with this car is that the E46 chassis is one of the best in its class with 50:50 weight distribution and perfect handling.

Add to it a rev-happy six-cylinder engine with 230 HP and six-speed manual transmission and you get an immensely capable enthusiast wagon. It comes with decent space and great performance for just around $3,000. Importantly, the maintenance should also be much less expensive compared to those more modern BMWs.