Honda all the way. My first car was a '90 Honda CRX. Bought it used with 86,000 miles on it, drove it till it had well over 110,000, then sold it when a 2-seater was no longer advantageous (best mileage ever though, and you could park it anywhere on Chicago streets) Then bought a used Chevy Cavalier that was the biggest nightmare of all time. I hated that car for the entire 18 months I owned it and I hope it's burning in hell right now. Then bought a brand new 2003 Honda CRV and I love it. Gas mileage is pretty good for a small-sized SUV (around 22-23 mpg) and it's plenty big enough for the family of 4 plus groceries. Plus, Honda's have great resale value and the engines go forever.