I would buy a nice used Honda Accord or Civic Sedan. They are fairly cheap, reliable, and easy to work on. Just sold my 1991 Accord with 240k on it last year. Would have kept it but it was rusting to pieces...damn Ohio winters. Wife talked me into a newer mini-van, it is nice but I hate having a big car payment again and it drinks gas like my old F-150. If I could do it over, I would do exactly what mello dude does.