I think Mazda Proteges are the best 2k cars around. I bought a couple of them for my teenagers and I use one in my business. They are indestrucable. My kids abused them in every imagineable way, and they had no worse a repair record as my easy driven 98 Camry. Parts are plentiful and cheap in the junkyards, tires are cheap and the five speed manuals get phenomenal gas mileage. If you want to really cheap out, find a Ford Escort made between 90-93 - they are actually Mazda Proteges, and they have lower resale because they carry the dreaded Ford Escort badge. Don't buy any made after 93, because the cars are rebadged Hyndai, Kias, etc and are pieces of ****. The 90-93 are identical to Mazdas made those years. I picked up an 93 Escort wagon I use to haul computer parts for $1000 bucks, I have run up 50,000 miles on its still running like a top. Saturns, I know little about them, but I have heard they are good cars that don't like abuse. That might not be a good choice for a kid.