Neons, Cavaliers, late-model Ford Escorts. Ford/Merc Tempo/Topaz.
These vehicles sold in huge numbers, and provided decent transportation.
Huge amounts of good spare parts out there in the junkyards. Repairs are cheap and easy to do - most any mechanic that can spell his own name can fix these straightforward vehicles.
If I were down on my luck and had to have a car, I'd look toward these.