I'll add another recommendation for a Subaru WRX. They don't come in automatic, are available in a 4 door hatchback, and isn't too hard to find for sale used.
Might look on ebay as well. When I bought my WRX in 2009 I could fedex a car across the country for under a grand, open transport was around $500. Might be cheaper than buying local, but then you give up the test drive aspect. Worked well for me, but I bought mine at 1 year old with 10K on the odometer, and knew exactly down to the color what I wanted.