While going through the thread , I found you pretty much with occupied mind. It is hard to advise people specially young who does not have any tolerence and positiveness. Once you post something you will get veriety of answers. Try to ingonore for your own shake. Do not open you mouth wide to hurt others, but indirectly you are hurting yourslef.

If you judge the car by looks it may not reveal it's actual performances. So my saying is as for books, do not judge the books by it's cover, same theory applies in real life.

Some one already advised you to look at craigslist.org and narrow to your location.

Once I asked you do you drive standard car??? If makes little difference in perofrmance, they will go up 200,000 miles ( engine). But must japanese car will go over 200,000 depending upon the driving habbits, who and how the car has been driven. But not all American car.

As all Sajha user, my recommendation is go with japanese car. If you can choose a standard one. The economy is down and the price of used cars are high due to high demand. You may be attracted by the price in comparision to American car.

Keep in mind you are buying a used car and it soley depend on the previous owner , how she/he was treating it. If abused they may need to replace the enging even in less than 10000 miles. 

Bottom line Japanese car but you have to pay more. So you remember this saying " sasta roye bar bar, mahanga roye ekbar". I wrote about that fellow who is driving accord ex with234K miles, he paid damn good money and drving since last 10 years with minimum maintenance. But all can not be lucky as he is. Because the car was handled nicely by previous owners.,