Acura Integra. It's built better than the Honda Accord. And seems to be trouble free. The only thing my Integra needed was brakes and oil changed... oh and a set of new tires. Do you need more?

 

Older Lexus ES if your friend can afford the fuel for it. Or of course a Camry/Corolla.

 

No one mentioned the mazda protege

 

If you want something cheap and reliable and all you need is transportation, you're going to have to look for a low-mileage car that nobody else wants. A stripped minivan, a mud-ugly econobox, or something else that will make you a social pariah. An Aztek comes to mind. There is practically no market for these cars, but if you are looking for low-maintenance, reliable, cheap-to-insure transport simply as a grocery-getter or a commuter car, they might be the answer. Just be sure to park on the back of the lot where nobody can see you.

Don't even THINK about a ex-fleet car. A friend was once the Captain of the Motor Pool for the Houston PD, and a fellow gearhead. He used to say when the City is through with a car it doesn't have ANY miles left in it. They are thoroughly thrashed and trashed. About the only ability they have left is to leak oil on your driveway.

Stay away from luxury cars, even Lexus. because they are overly complex. They require skilled technicians to repair properly and the costs for that service are astronomical, compared to a lesser marque that can be serviced with a pipe wrench and a crowbar. The old theory that the more power equipment and electronics, the more there is to go wrong - and often these failures can leave you immobile when you least expect it. Find something with a solid drive train, good electrics, great HVAC, and put a decent sound system in it for entertainment if necessary.

Don't worry what it looks like. Really ugly paint colors, scratches, and dings save you money. You know why it's called a "beater", don't you? If you really can't stand the peeling paint and the bashed fender, replace parts from the junkyard and learn to do the minor body repair yourself (at least you can't make it worse and it's good to learn a new skill), handle the surface prep in your driveway, and get the cheapest paint package you can negotiate from your local paint shop.

Surface prep is labor intensive. If you DIY it, you can save a bundle. Don't be intimidated by the paint shop telling you that without their own magical prep process they won't guarantee the work. They won't guarantee it anyway.

 

Amost any lower-level vehicle from Toyota, Honda, or Nissan would be a relatively safe bet. If you need winter traction, consider a Subaru Impreza....but avoid N/A 2.5L pre-2003 models, with their head-gasket issues.