Preferably a sedan,big enough for a family with 2 kids and is fuel efficient. I'm planning to sell my Big Body for a more powerful and a more recent one.
1996-1998 LXi and VTi civics go from 170-210 now... automatic/manual
1999-2000 LXi and VTi civics go from 220-280... a/t or m/t
going up the scale (and going up the fuel consumption too):
1996-1998 accord less than 250
1999-2001 accord less than 300
medyo malakas lang sa gas... parang naka adventure/revo. the good part is the interiors of these cars are so big your kids can play inside. fast and powerful engines too, at mas matibay ang pang-ilalim.
medyo beyond your budget ang 1st generation CRV... lowest i've seen is 310. eto sana maganda eh, compared to your old big body the interior is gigantic, at 4wd pa.
other cars you can get for 250 and less:
corolla lovelife yung pang taxi...180-250 (i own one, ang liit sa loob pero OK naman)
1996-1999 sentra exalta (lakas din sa gas pero sarap i-drive at ihataw)
1996-1998 nissan cefiro (parang revo sa gas pero anluwag sa loob)
1996-1997 toyota camry (lakas din sa gas, maluwag sa loob)