Budget of 7k, any ideas?

My 2003 Camry’s engine sadly went out at 260k miles. I am looking to buy another car as my daily driver. I have 7k cash and that is my budgetfor now. I could MAYBE use it as a down payment, but I’d really prefer not to finance because I am a college student and I don’t want to be strapped down with a crazy high monthly payment since I will have to cut back on work hours once I start clinicals, and because my credit is not the best so I know my rates would be terrible.

I’ve been looking everywhere for a decent used car, I test drove two 2008 Toyota Solara V6s that seemed nice but unfortunately would’ve required $3000 in repairs before they would’ve been deemed “road safe.” The money for the car is being gifted to me by a family friend, so the car I buy is up to her discretion. $3k in repairs is not gonna fly with her so I had to pass on the cars, even IF I would’ve been able to haggle the price down to $3-4k.

I am pretty rough on my cars, I drive about 75 miles a day some days between home, school, and work. I need something that will hold up and it’s looking like an older used car is probably not gonna be a good idea, even if they are “known reliables.” I put 17k on my Camry just in the past year before it died on me, and it had pretty iffy maintenance before the car was given to me in 2024. So I know an older Toyota CAN hold up even if its been beaten half to death, but I need something I can drive off the lot in, without dumping thousands of dollars into it for repairs right off the bat. I am prepared to deal with the usual maintenance that comes with an older car but I’m also not gonna let myself get suckered into buying/driving something (again) that wasn’t properly maintained for its first 10-15 years of service either, lol.

So any suggestions on what I should be looking for in a car? I already spent about $300 between having pre-purchase inspections done on the two cars I test drove and I don’t want to have to keep dropping $100 every other day if I’m going to be test driving multiple cars, if that makes sense…. Like I said, I’m a broke college student. I prefer the $100 here and there to avoid costly mistakes down the line but I’d rather minimize that as well. I would love a Toyota Camry again (or a Solara) but I probably need something newer I guess. Maybe a 2010-2015?? Any suggestions on models and which years have the “least” amount of major issues? I know some of the newer gen Camrys have issues with pain chipping, seats tearing, stuff like that. I’m also open to other brands like Honda/Lexus/Acura, but I don’t have as much experience with those brands as literally every car I’ve driven has pretty much been a Toyota, except for one. (I am a bit biased.)

Thank you everyone! :)