looking to buy my first car

[damnitsfrancis]

yeah guys thats right. after taking a drivers class earlier in the summer i finally recieved my certificate to take the roadtest for my license, which we all know i am going to get so to cut the story short... i need to buy a first car and i barely know anything on how to look for a car, same goes for my friends. so im a bit in the dark here, i herd the auto auctions i see on tv aren't so great, but i dont know. the problem i have is that my parents dont want to pay for my car (its sad, i know) so i will end up having to pay for all of my car, and most likely most of my insurance so now i need your help on the search for my first car. after months of pleeding and annoying my mom, she finaly caved and said she would take out the bank loan for me, since im only 17 and do not have any credit yet, but only if i keep the price low...maybe about 3 to 4 tousand. so now im wondering what car can i get for that kinda money and how i should look for a car. sadly i dont believe i can afford a rx7, my dream car

help me out guys!