It'll probably be different in the US, but here the basic low down is that:

Japanese cars tend to hold higher values, have high reliability but this if off-set by more costly parts and often tend to be over-complicated mechanically.

European cars (VW, Volvo, etc) have good reliability, we get cheaper parts being on the same continent and tend to run to average prices.

Ford and Vauxhall (Vauxhall are owned by GM) are the most common cars here, they're cheaper because they're mass produced, parts are cheap but you tend to get poorer quality on the build and the parts. The lose value quick because of the sheer numbers of them. Oddly out of the 9 cars I've had 7 have been Vauxhall - they're easy to work on and I don't mind the lack of longevity of the parts as I do my own work.

Personally if you're going to give GM a miss then I'd opt for a Euro maker rather than a japanese, VW would be my choice that being the case. The Golf (Rabbit I think in the US?) has been in production for a hell of a long time and is very popular here as a solid little car.

Thanks for all the info; I looked into the Rabbit; couldn't find much; mostly 80s models but I'll do a bit of research on the VW cars. Everybody I know with a Volvo loves them =)
I want a golf cart ^_^

Ali's brother likes his volvo's, they're well known for being tough cars - but gawd they're so bland looking! the older ones look like bricks on wheels.

The new mini's are BMW made so I'd expect the build quality to be solid.

I have a Honda Civic. I love it!
The only gripe: sometimes I get bad pick up (I really have to push to speed up on the highway).
Other than that, its a lovely little car and its more environmentally sound than many other cars. ;)

Mine is named Silver so I can go Hi O Silver, Awaaaaaaaaaaay!

Bwahahaa that's hilarious. My mom had an old Cougar that she named...Penelope ><
That's an okay name but for a Cougar? She also had an old Nissan wagon which I dubbed Ol' Put-Put; I loved that car.

We've had our Nissan Maxima since I was 16. It's a '98 I believe. It's got tons and tons of miles on it since my brother takes it to the other side of the state and back a lot and I took it to Baltimore and back last summer. It's still kicking pretty damn good. We've also had a Volvo, it was a tank and lasted a long time too. And...well...I'm biased but Hondas are teh sucketh.

I believe the Maximas are the most top of the line for Nissan, that's just what I heard at any rate. My mom had a Nissan Maxima wagon (ol' Put-Put) for years and years. She got it in 1985 and she gave it to her work in 2002, it was still running but the people there completely ruined it (it got cubed *sniffle*)

My mom drives a 2003 Honda CRV and she loves it. I like her CRV but the wheel is very sensitive which I do not like ;p
Also, my brother had a little red Honda that saved his life so I do like Hondas. =)

I want a car that can take me up the coast at least twice a year and I know that Nissan Maxima's will do that...maybe I'll look into that car...

I've never had one, but I hear from just about everybody that Hondas = GREAT.

NEVEREVEREVEROMGNEVER buy a Ford. Especially a used Ford. The only thing they can make is trucks (sorta), and their cars are SHIT. So NEVER say OMGWTFTHISISTHEBESTDEALEVER. Because you will put more into that car than what you bought it for. I've done that with two Fords now.