I'd shy away from any VW/Audi product with the 1.8L engine. There's a pretty darn good reason why those cars depreciate like old milk. The VR6 motor is a workhorse and cars with that motor get much better mileage than the EPA advertises. My Passat averages 27mpg combined and I live in a huge city with congested expressways. I've never gotten less than 450mi per tank of gas. One of the best cars I've ever owned...no BS.
The one car I haven't seen in this thread is the 3-series. The 330ci has a small premium since it's a coupe, but they can be had for under $12k with very reasonable miles. It's a car that's DIY friendly...except for a few bespoke tools. As far as driving it, it's a hoot. Don't let the low HP numbers fool you, it's a quick car and handles...well...like a BMW 3-series. It's been the industry standard decades. I'd be shocked if you didn't get 200k miles out of it with only basic maintenance.
Mazda's are very reliable, quite durable too. They hold their value reasonably well and you'll see why when/if you drive one. The Maza3 w/the 2.3L is a blast, even w/a auto trans. Feels like a go-kart compared to larger sedans. It has a great feel to the steering, good brake feel, and is a real nimble car. It's a little noisy at speed, not quite as refined as some others, but it's a great drive & is super practical. Another fun one would be the Protege5 (wagon). Not sure you need the cargo space, but that's a great car. Slow, but still a good car. The Mazda6 has the refinement that the 3 lacks a bit of, but isn't as 'flickable' or fun. Nor is it really bigger...just heavier. [get the 3]
I'd stay away from GM products (incl SAAB, but for other reasons). Mechanically, they're very sound...but the Delco electronics are notoriously crappy and the interiors are not nice places to be. Poor seats, everything rattles, and not very durable. You may find a good one or you may find a turd, buy from a private seller. Oh, don't expect a great drive either. The transmissions in these things are either the textbook definition of 'slush box' or they give you whiplash between the 1-2 shift. You can test 2 identical models and the trans will shift different. You can thank the Delco electronics.
Chrysler was owned/operated by a financial firm that wanted to make money by financing cars. That should tell you enough. If the salesman shows you a Dodge/Chrysler product with the 2.7 engine and follows up with "great car" or says anything positive about the engine - punch him/her in the groin. Even if I have to lose a sale, I won't take a trade in with that engine.
Ford stuff is usually quite good. The FWD cars from the early 2000's have few issues and the Focus and Taurus would be the most reliable. The interiors suck and most FWD Fords you'll find cheap will be ex-fleet vehicles, so beware. The Taurus gets crappy mileage too.
A $10,000 Mercedes does not exist. They're steaming piles of maintenance costs, flashing idiot lights, and **** that will break the second you leave the repair shop. These cars will haunt you in your dreams. You want to love it, yet it will make you miserable and drain your bank account. Run from them.
Honda/Toyota; not much can really be said about these cars that isn't obvious. Reliable [except auto transmissions in V6's, they can have issues], hold their value, but by God are they boring. Toyotas drive like you're on top of a beach-ball and Honda's have, I can't really explain it other than a 'cheap feel' to them. Test drive a Mazda3 and then hop in a Civic - you'll see what I'm on about. The Corolla is a mystery to me. There's no room in the front, there's less room in the back, it turns like an ice cream truck, the door handles ALWAYS break, the dash is cheap, and it's butt-ugly...however Toyota sells every single one they make no matter how many of them are beige. People LOVE this car...as much as I try to understand it, I can't.
They're 'good' cars on paper, they just don't have any personality or really 'great' traits that make you say "I have to buy this car." You might like the Toyota or Honda, but you won't love it. A 3-series, a VW w/the VR6, or a Mazda; those are cars you'll find something about them you'll adore when you drive. But a base model Honda? A beige Corolla? You'll forget you even owned that car a year after you trade it in for something else.
I haven't mentioned Nissans, my only experience with those cars would be V6 models (Altima/Maxima/Murano). I prefer the funkiness with Mazdas, even the 4cyl models. Nissans sure do move, the V6 is a great engine and they're overall pleasant cars to own but would not be my 1st or second pick. You might think differently, check em out. The 2.5L in the Altima? Blah...
Subarus are a PITA. Ugly, noisy, horrifying interiors, and not very fuel efficient...but for some reason; Dave Matthews Band fans, history professors, lesbians, and boys who wear their hats on backwards flock to them. I don't get it. AWD isn't 1/2 of what it is cracked up to be and those cars do not drive well enough to justify the price. And despite all the PR, they're nowhere near as reliable as you'd think. A Subaru with 130k miles is starting to get tired while most cars still have their pep well past that number.
Mitsubishi = junk. I wouldn't be shocked to see them & Suzuki completely pull out of the US market. Their sedans are 2 rungs below the competition in style, durability, reliability, performance...you name it. Even their badge engineered cars are sub-par. The Evo is cool, but you'd be awfully brave to buy one of those 2nd hand. Everything else is pretty much garbage.
Here's another insight; the time to buy is right now.
September is a slow month for auto sales for everyone (both coasts, midwest, south, everyone) and dealers are itching to get rid of older inventory. They either send it off to auction or whore it out to make room for new models.
The only thing going bad for you is your location. Used car values have been rising lately b/c of Cash for Clunkers. The biggest increases would be trucks/SUVs, but small cars have increased a little too. But in your neck of the woods, exporters are bidding up a lot of cars...sometimes over book value. Even mundane stuff can get expensive for dealers b/c of exporters bidding them up.
This basically means dealers have a smaller selection of profitable cars to bid on and these costs are passed to the consumer. The best deals you'll find would be old inventory or trade-ins. Popular cars that sell quickly? Dealers buy those at auction and they're priced accordingly...so don't expect any great deals.
Be smart, don't shop with your eyes, and be prepared/educated when you go to a dealer. Despite all the shopping, porn, and malware; there's still a lot of information on the 'net. Know what to look for and what to spend before you make your 1st appointment to speak to a salesman. And CALL, don't just show up. People who call and do not low-ball over the phone are treated better than everyone else. Seriously, dealers get stroked all the time by clowns trying to kill some time on a Saturday. Don't be that guy. Be upfront with what you want and what you can spend, but don't be a pushover.
It's probably best to get financing BEFORE you start shopping and do not fill out any financing paperwork despite what anyone says.
I hope this helps you out a bit. I'm a small-time dealer, one-man-band really, and I still have a lot to learn about the industry. What I wrote above is no BS and I'm really picky about what cars I buy. At the end of the day, it's your money and you'll be stuck for the next year or so with your decision - so make it a good one. The specs on a car, the safety stars, MPGs, and all of that don't mean squat - it all comes down to the driving experience. When you're stuck in traffic, MPGs do not make the cars in front of you part nor does the safety rating make the seat you're in more comfortable. Go with your gut, not the feature list taped to the window.
Good luck!
edit:
I forgot to mention Korean cars. For $10k, you don't want one. You'll either be in the market for a very low mileage entry-level or a higher mileage premium sedan. The entry-level korean car will be a POS. The mid/high end Korean car will be a POS. And when you're driving around in a rental b/c your Kia or Hyundai is being repaired, you'll see someone driving a slightly older 3-series which looks nicer, drives nicer, isn't breaking weekly, and think to yourself "I should have bought that car instead...boy was I stupid."
New Kias & Hyundais 'supposedly' are better cars. But it's hard to see how they could get any worse. Don't let the huge warranty, the MPGs, or any other ratings/review fool you - these cars suck ('08 and older) and any used Korean car will have a mile-long warranty claim history. The owners are generally clueless while mechanics & dealers have nothing but horror stories with these things.
