Right now I'm looking for a good car under $4000 (preferable under $3000) so I can actually get around. I'm not planning on modifying it or racing it, just something that's reliable and easy to mantain. Any suggestions?

i'd say your looking for a japanese or korean car like the accent, rio, corolla,or civic which has many trims to consider. think japanese or korean though

Civic

Nissan Sentra. Best car in it's class in my opinion.

i second the opinion on the civic.

If you find a 4 grand Civic, Sentra, etc. - make sure the car has been cared for and serviced properly by its previous owner. Parts for these cars are pricey. My daughter's Civic had a cracked exhaust manifold - almost a $1000 repair at a dealer. My son's Nissan Sentra pucked its distributor last year - dealer wanted almost $800 to replace it with a rebuilt unit. I finally found one for $250 and put it in myself. These cars can be a money pit if you're not careful.

Regards:
Oldengineer

Toyota Camry really lasts. Find one that has been maintained well, and you could have it a long time. Depending on where you set you expectations, a Tercel might be even better. One with mechanical locks and windows will stay road-worthy and trouble-free until Bob Dole is president. I presume regular oil changes and never having been over heated.

if your not going to modify it then i think a sentra or altima is a good bet.