Also to have 3k to spend on a car is not very needy, but I suppose, one mans riches is anothers change :)

Also if you research the car you want, often they hakve reviews, in those reviews you will be told what to look out for, like the bmw tourer always needs new shocks and the rear diff goes on them so you are told to listen out for humming.

google is very helpful if you are persistant enough with your searches.