[00 SS]

It's been a while since I've considered buying a little car just to go from point A to point B but I find myself needing one. I have a few requirements.

1. It must be capable of at least 80 on the highway without being right at redline.

2. It must get at least 30 MPG on the highway.

3. It must have enough room for 4 people or 2 people and 2 big dogs.

4. It must be competent in bad weather and snow.

5. It must be cheap because I plan to pile miles on it and replace it in a couple years.

6. I'd preffer sometheing newer to keep maintenance costs down.

Any suggestions?

[nape]

I've got a '96 Beretta with 135k miles that makes a great beater. You should be able to get them for under $1500 all day long and some even cheaper then that depending on the looks.

There are a few downsides to these cars [Beretta, Corsica, Century, etc] though: crappy brakes that warp front rotors within 1000 miles from new, some have leak problems so you get a soggy interior (primarily solved with a few 1/4" holes in the floorboard courtesy of Mr. Dewalt), and strange mileage. I get 22-24 MPG whether I'm beating the crap out of it stoplight to stoplight or doing 75 on the highway.

That said, I put 23k miles on it last year and it's been fine for the most part other then putting brakes and tires on it because they were worn out. Hopefully, I'll get at least another year out of it.