59: Ford Escort
The Escort was one of the best-selling cars of all time for the company but it also became problematic. It’s not a reliable car, and the cheap price tag on the used market makes it appealing. But even if you get an Escort for $500 that runs and drives, you could potentially spend thousands trying to keep it on the road (via Hot Cars).

The Escort had a lot of issues with the coolant system under the hood, as it would cause the car to overheat. The head gaskets on this car were also faulty and can cost thousands of dollars to replace. If you make it through all that, you might still face a snapped timing chain, which can also be expensive.