Sounds like you are looking for a mid-term, mission specific car and want it to be fuel efficient, maintenance friendly and comfortable. Look no further than a late 1990's - early 2000's Buick LeSabre (or one of the many similar types). 30 mpg on the highway, bulletproof 3800 engine, good availability of parts and maintenance and fairly cheap to insure. Also, have you checked the most reliable cars list lately? Buick and Lexus tie for #1.

__________________
1983 M-B 240D-Gone too.
1976 M-B 300D-Departed.

"Good" is the worst enemy of "Great".