Get a 95-98 Hyundai Accent, cheap, reliable, easily modded, and when modded- a babe magnet.
Stay away from any Hondas with over 100,000 miles, because as they age they are going to need expensive repairs, things like worn brakes, coolant leaks, blown head-gaskets and both interior and exterior bits will fall off
A used '98 Daewoo Lanos should come easily under $6k, in NZ I have found Lanos' for as cheap as US$4k