What kind of used car can I get for $2000?

I’ve never bought a car before, so hopefully you guys can give a few pointers. What I’m looking for is a no-frills, reliable used car.

I’d prefer to pay cash, but a car loan isn’t out of the question. My credit is pretty bad, but one of my relatives would be willing to co-sign on a loan. I’d prefer not to do that because they’ve already helped me so much in the past. (One of my family members is letting me use her car to drive to work.) Buying my own car would be a big step forward.

Whatever I buy, it’s really important that it’s reliable. I live miles from the nearest public transit. In the next year, I’ll be looking for sales jobs with a wholesaler in my industry, and for that, you need a good car.

I just want something that will run well with reasonable maintenance. One of my friends bought a car at this price, and it breaks down all the time. How do you look for a reliable car? Is paying cash reasonable with my budget, or should I try to finance something more expensive?