Get a Honda or a Toyota.
You know, given the importance of reliability when commuting the NoVa/DC area, I'd go for function over form. No, a Honyota is not a looker. But, they run. And run. Boringly reliable.
Anecdotal story: I bought a Corolla new in '85. It was during a trucker's strike, and I raised he!! over the fact that it had 1500 miles on it from transferring it from another dealer halfway across the country. They would not discount it, and I was bitter, but bought it anyway.
362,000 miles later, the odometer stopped working. I drove it for another year after that, then gave it to a friend, who drove it to Miami from E. TN twice a month for nearly a year. He then left it on the street in Miami with a note on the dash "Free car", with the keys in it, road-worn but still in running condition. For all I know, it may STILL be somebody's hoopdie down in South Beach somewhere.
It probably went close to half a million miles, and the only repairs I had were one clutch, one muffler, and front struts.
Get the 'yota. Be bored.
