^^^Yeah...lots of ok "vintage roadies" may be available if one knows what to look for, even with the possibility of finding an occasional acorn in the pigs**t - but most are "meh" and due to the rise in popularity of vintage bikes lately every shmoe who latches onto any old bike thinks he's found gold and wants to get paid like it is.

A guy with a budget like this OP has can easily find himself a really nice new bike that he can jump on & easily enjoy riding problem-free to work and everywhere else, and get into bike riding...