J.R. 
1997 Nissan Sentra Sedan GXE 4dr Sedan
A solid, reliable, used car.
 Have had my '97 GXE for seven years, and it has been an excellent choice in a used car.  Just under 100,000 miles on it, and it delivers a solid 27 MPG in mostly city traffic and needs very little maintenance.  This is a commuter car, though, no doubt.  The 1.6L engine and auto transmission are pretty well paired and give good power delivery.  Seats in the 1997 models are lacking, particularly in lumbar support.  Spirited driving is definitely not recommended, as you'll quickly hit the limitations of a soft suspension and too-small brakes for the class.  Still, if you can find a '95-99 with low miles that hasn't been flogged hard, it's a good choice for a kid's first car or a station car.