My wife and I purchased our stick-shift '05 Chevy Aveo LS Hatchback from a neighbor with 40,000 miles on the odometer back in September of 2011 for $5,200. She's definitely still economy transportation personified, but she was a major upgrade from our 2000 Chevy Metro coupe at the time.

Aside from minor niggles such as the lack of cruise control, power ANYTHING, cornering abilities that rival those of a drunken sailor, and the incessant rattling of the dang carbon fiber interior door arm rests which have always been loose, she's been a dependable ride and doubles as my hunting vehicle.

I've overhauled all four brakes, put new tires on her, and replaced the timing belt at 60,000 miles (including water pump, serpentine belt idler pulley, thermostat, and thermostat housing), but that's been it aside from the usual oil changes. Still going strong at 65,000 miles and a champ in the snow during our Michigan winters!