Find a Car for Less Than $5K

Sure, a luxury SUV with Italian leather seats, panoramic sunroof and touchscreen navigation is nice. And who wouldn't love the feel of 500 horses under the hood of the slickest sports car in town?

But let's be real. For most of us, dream cars remain just that. In our more practical world, we're not always the first owners of our vehicles. We sometimes have to scour the classifieds for an older car that may have higher mileage, but a lower price.

So if you need a beater to commute to work or a third car for a kid heading off to college in the fall, start your search right here on Patch. Check out this selection of used cars for less than $5,000 from around the state, and take a look at the full list of affordable used cars on the AOL Autos website.

1. 2005 Saturn Vue — $4,995

The 5-passenger SUV features a 6-cylinder engine, power windows and doors, tinted window and a slit folding rear seat for more cargo space. The dealer does not list the vehicle's mileage. 
For sale at:

2. 2000 Audi A4 — $4,998

The 6-cylinder engine has 133,543 miles and gets an average of 18 miles per gallon. The car features a power moonroof, premium wheels, heated leather seats and traction/stability control.

For sale at: Scott Volkswagen, East Providence

3. 2003 Dodge Neon — $4,295

The 2 liter, 4-cylinder automatic has fewer than 100,000 miles on it. The dealer describes the car as "clean, all serviced and ready to go."

For sale at:

4. 2003 Pontiac Grand Am GT — $4,995

The 3.4 liter, V6 engine has 101,000 miles. Automatic transmission, chrome wheels, front-wheel drive, power windows, power steering.

For sale at:

5. 1999 Mercury Mystique GS — $2,888

The 2 liter, 4-cylinder automatic may be 14 years old, but it's been used gently, registering less than 78,000 miles. The car gets up to 34 miles per gallon on the highwayd and features a chrome grill, bucket seats, air conditioning and a cassette player.

For sale at: Frenchtown Auto Sales, North Kingstown