Is it possible to find a reliable /working car for $2,500?

[HoughMade]

And my experience with an 01 Malibu. 3x lower intake manifold gaskets and front wheel bearings to the point I knew how to replace them.

Best vehicle i bought with best best bang for the buck, 1999 jeep Cherokee. Bought off co worker for 2,000 with 148k miles.

A few alternators (product of off road in mud), brakes but I did them myself, and other minor thing mechanical I fixed but nothing major. Ended up putting over 5k in tires, lift kit and things before I sold it.

I had the 3.1L and never had the lower gasket issue. Maybe it was done before I got it. I got it with 50,000 miles. I got the dexcool out of it, flushed it and ran "mixes with any color" coolant the whole time I had it. I've heard that the first generation dexcool may have been an issue with the intake gaskets, don't know.

I replaced both front hubs, then the left front again. My time dropped from about 4 or 5 hours to under 2 by the third one.

Other than that, the car was fine.