For a few years, I taught driver education to teenagers; first in a 1996 Geo Prizm, then a 2000. They were both SO reliable, needing nothing but occasional oil topoffs, and oil changes. I personally liked the 1996 better - it had a 4 speed transmission and was pretty peppy. The 2000 was cheaper feeling, and if I remember correct, it only had a 3 speed transmission. Either way, the 1996 had 300,000 miles on it and still ran great.