I might actually go for an Ibishu Hopper. That car is insanely capable and unreasonably durable. It gets up a lot of hills I used to struggle with before the Hopper was released. Sometimes I roll the Classic version while racing through the desert just for fun and usually it doesn't affect the driving at all.
I would take the Covet as it lookes WAY better than the car it seems to be based on. Old Pessima, I-Series, Sunburst and Bolide are up there too
With my budget, I'd be lucky to get a covet with a working engine Having said that the real life equivalent of the Covet is going up in value like crazy because classic car.
Realistically, I think I'd either get a mid level pessima (late model) or a base 200bx, because I'm a logical economical person, however, Unrealistically, I'd get an 800 series. It's fast, can carry a bunch of people, and has lots of space, it's also "safe".
Rusty D-series. I've been needing a 600$ work/yard truck for a while now, I usually just use whatever is around but it'd be nice to have a dedicated yard truck. It doesn't need to be pretty or perfect, just enough to haul junk and cable-tow cars around the lot.
No car in game is within budget, a used diesel pigeon might be close but a car like that probably wouldn't even be street legal here let alone common. A beat up LeGran would be plausibly within budget possibly.
Realistically, I'd get a little Hopper with the indestructible 4.0L straight-six and 5-speed manual transmission. I'd throw it on a set of 31" Nardelli Mud-Terrains with White 15" STX wheels. It would be cheap, reliable as hell, fun, and good in winter. Unrealistically, It would be virtually the same, except for lower gearing, the crawler T-case, and 35" tires.
Realistically... I'd buy a used 200BX or a lower-end used I-series. Then, I would hope to save up for a lower-end probably used SBR4
My personal 300BX (called 200BX Type-3 because 200BX 300BX doesn't make sense), with a 3.0L I4 and sport parts, making it very spotty but easier to control and inexpensive.