You can get a Hyundai Accent for about $10k. The car has a 100,000 mi engine
and transmission warranty. At least some PA dealers are throwing in an
additional warranty (insurance) to go to 200,000 mi. (The warrant expries
when you sell the car). If you buy one, you're good for about 2 1/2 years
without a major repair (assuming 25k mi / yr or 40 mi each way x 5 times per
week + 5,000 fun miles) and at least another 1 1/2 years without a major
enginer/transmission repair. You'd have to take out a loan, but this might
be your best bet.  And you should get around 33 mpg which is just 12 gal.
per week going to and from work.

Or you could get a $15,000 Honda Fit. Maybe $3000 in maintaince in the next
6 years, for $18000 for six years. You sell it for $3000, you pay $15,000.
So about $2500 per year.

If you finance the whole thing, the loan payments would be around $250 or
$375 at 7% for 48 months. The other thing to be aware of is that your
insurancee would be higher.

$2700 for the Accura seems to be a fair buy. According to kelly blue book,
the car is worth around $3500 (the condition seems to be between fair and
good). For repairs and maintanince, your talking maybe $2000. So, for just
under $5000 + gas and insurance, you get transportation for maybe two years.

Personally, I think if you can swing it, the Fit is a better deal in the
long run.

Jeff