I got my coupe for $800 out of the local paper. Has like 2 months rego on it at the time.
Ummm... Perhaps go to the OZdat website and put in a 'Wanted' add in the classifieds to see if soemone has one just lying around or something, that they have been too lay to get rid of and their mum/wife/girlfriend wants them to get rid of.

Couldn't hurt. And hey it's free.
MAyeb get up early Saturday morning and ring people out of the local paper before anyone else does.
Look for cars around the $1000 mark and just talk the people down. See what needs to be fixed and list these things to them when you haggle...

Lobster sleep now....