I've had two cars that were excellent buys. One was a 2000 Camry. That car went to 275k miles before I sold it. It cost me very little maintenance - two timing

I've had two cars that were excellent buys. One was a 2000 Camry. That car went to 275k miles before I sold it. It cost me very little maintenance - two timing belts and two sets of tires, plus oil changes etc. Camry has a non-interference engine so if the timing belt breaks, you won't damage the engine (Hondas mostly have interference engines and if the timing belt blows, you're screwed). Now I have a Miata, 1997. This car has a non-interference engine, decent on gas, resale values are good, and the thing is bulletproof. I've used and abused this car and it takes it like a champ. The Mazda 323/protege used the same engine but is FWD, those things are bombproof as well. They don't get sexed up like Civics so you can find them dirt cheap as well.