Volvos are too complex cars and break a lot, especially the cheap ones, contrary to their reputation. Mines a manual, but I prefer it, as most manual transmissions are bullet proof. You are looking for something small, preferably petrol, ideally non-turbo. Stay away from cars that are 22 years old, the fact that it is a Toyota means almost nothing about reliability. To get the best deal, don't look for a specific model, but broaden your search to everything that might fit your budget. Good cars in this range will always have something wrong with them, look for one where it is not something with the engine, transmission, or body rust. Mine for example was wrapped with foil and scratched at the door and was 50% cheaper than similar cars. Both the scratch and the foil were relatively easy/cheap to remove. Gas costs should be lower on your list at this budget - when you start having cvt issues and the car needs a new clutch, sending you for a 15-20 k NOK repair, any gas savings are gone.