After our last car died, we were able to get a 2011 Toyota Corolla for very cheap. I had never owned a Toyota before, and certainly not one that had 200k+ miles on it. However, this car is a real trooper. While the suspension is a bit bumpy, the transition isn't smooth, and the brakes squeak just a bit, the car works wonderfully. The heat and A/C work perfectly. The CD player is nice and works well. The interior lighting is great. The cup holders are convenient. There are even extra cup holders in the back! The windows are automatic, but the seats are not. It's obviously not high-end, but it gets us from Point A to B without problems.

My vehicle is nearly 8 years old and has only required typical maintenance to it - oil changes, new tires, wiper blades, etc making the operating cost about $0.03/mile. The vehicle itself has held up very well for its age and still is in very good condition - no rust, no engine issues, no door rattles, etc. It also is a XRS, meaning it has an improved engine over the standard Corolla trims - which means gas mileage suffers a bit, but it's more fun to drive. The radio is also slightly improved because of its trim line, however, I have replaced the back and front speakers due to some rattle in them. It'd be nice if there was an AWD option, but Toyota isn't known for sedans with that. Have only had issues with snow once, and that was with a very large snowstorm and lack of timely plowing in my condo complex.