Keep an eye out for a 99-04 jetta jetta wagon or golf 1.9l alh tdi with a manual trans. They pop up in that price range but they go FAST. Flat freeway he’ll get 40-50mpg. Super reliable and cheap to fix. Was a wagon like mine last week popped up for 5500$ almost went and got it to flip. Wagons are the holy grail and dont last but minutes on craigslist
Kicking myself over this right now. I had a '00 Civic burner (2dr EX 5spd) I unloaded at the beginning of the year. Had a sht ton of miles on it, but didtn't leak a drop. 30mpg with the A/C on. Sold it to a co-worker for $1500..