How much car can you get for $350 per month?

Monthly payment: $315
$19,995 with $2,000 down, 60 months at 1.9 percent

The Ford Focus is smartly styled and affordable, and it gets up to 36 mpg with the 2-liter 4-cylinder engine. The 5-door is the way to go with the Focus, since the hatchback offers maximum utility and lots of cargo room. Plus, Ford throws in the voice-controlled Sync system as standard. We've put only 10 percent down on this deal — nice bargain.

2013 Ford Focus

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Monthly payment: $354
$26,280 with $6,500 down, 60 months at 2.9 percent

To get this BRZ even close to $350 per month, we had to put down almost 25 percent of the cost of the car, but we'd trade in our own mothers to own this athletic, rear-wheel-drive coupe. The BRZ is light, incredibly nimble, fun to drive and totally impractical. It's the best excuse we can think of to bend your own rules.

2013 Subaru BRZ

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Monthly payment: $348
$17,445 with $1,700 down, 48 months at 2.9 percent

This all-new variant of the Elantra has slick styling and tons of standard features for the money, and it gets up to 40 mpg. Plus, look at the terms you can get for $350 per month. We put only 10 percent down, and in four years the Elantra coupe is paid off — with six years left on the warranty.

2013 Hyundai Elantra

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Monthly payment: $334
$19,565 with zero down, 60 months at 0.9 percent

If you just need a basic pickup to move stuff around, and you don't feel like fronting a single penny, you can get a pretty stupendous deal on Nissan's basic small pickup, the Frontier S. The cabin doesn't have a lot of frills, and the base 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine isn't going to pull any boats or trailers, but you don't have to pay extra for an extended cab.

2013 Nissan Frontier

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Monthly payment: $348.17
$23,190 with $2,300 down, 60 months at zero percent

Yes, you can get a Silverado for less than $350 a month. But you will take a performance hit to do it. You'll have to settle for the base model, which comes with a small standard cab and a 4.3-liter 195-horsepower V6 engine with 260 lb-ft of torque. We suggest a $945 bump up to the 4.8-liter V-8, then do what you can to combine some cash-back offers with cheap financing and you'll have a truck that can tow something.

2013 Chevrolet Silverado 1500

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Monthly payment: $332
$19,500 with zero down, 60 months at 0.9 percent

MINI is shoveling its 2012 stock out the door with long-term, low-interest loans to make room for the 2013 models. The hardtops and soft-tops both have peppy handling and quirky styling, a fun interior and plenty of options. We managed to get the monthly payment on this baby to only $332, with no money down. Feel free to splurge.

2012 MINI Cooper

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Monthly payment: $349
$23,150 with $3,000 down, 60 months at zero percent

When we checked in September, Mazda was giving away free money for up to 60 months on the Mazda3. We're not ones to turn down a five-year interest-free loan, especially on this car. The Mazda3 handles like a dream, and the Grand Touring trim has leather seats, a sunroof, a Bose surround-sound system and a 2.0-liter Skyactiv engine that gets up to 39 mpg.

2013 Mazda Mazda3

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Monthly payment: $344
$24,475 with $4,800 down, 60 months at 1.9 percent

The Optima is the brand's midsize sedan, with a sleek look and front LEDs that evoke Audi-like futurism. At our budget and with 20 percent down, we can afford the EX trim level, which brings power-adjustable leather seats, alloy wheels and push-button start. Plus, when we checked, Kia is now offering $500 cash incentives, so you might even put that toward a few options such as a Uvo infotainment system.

2013 Kia Optima

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Monthly payment: $270
$16,200 with zero down, 60 months at zero percent

The Fiat 500 is first and foremost a style statement — the 101-horsepower base engine isn't going to win you any drag races — but a pretty slick statement it is. Because of the merger with Chrysler, Fiat buyers can now take advantage of the company's zero percent loans and walk away with one at a ludicrous price.

2013 Fiat 500

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Monthly payment: $226
$14,350 with $1,400 down, 60 months at 1.9 percent

How low can you go? We figured we'd end the discussion by getting the lowest monthly payment we could muster with 20 percent down and a 60-month loan. A few cars are cheaper than the Kia Rio — the Nissan Versa is only $10,990 — but none as good. At this price, the newly redesigned Rio is a revelation. Not only is it a looker, the Rio includes features such as air conditioning, tilt steering and a stereo with iPod interface.

2013 Kia Rio

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For more information on any of the vehicles featured in this slideshow, click the links below:

-Ford Focus
-Subaru BRZ
-Hyundai Elantra
-Nissan Frontier
-Chevrolet Silverado 1500
-MINI Cooper
-Mazda Mazda3
-Kia Optima
-Fiat 500
-Kia Rio

Sam Foley is a Connecticut-based automotive journalist who has written for GQ, Forbes, USA Today, the New York Post and various other publications.