If you're still looking at the 2002 "SX8" City, I'd definitely recommend it especially if you're not too tall. I'm 5'8" and I fit well in the car. I drove one for 6 years (although mine was a 1.5L M/T) and it was very, very reliable given proper maintenance. Runs like clockwork.

Much roomier than you'd think, too...it's just that the driving position isn't perfect due to the late-1980s-style dash (the 1996-2002 SX8 City is basically a resurrected EF Civic from 1988-1991).

To this day absolutely NOTHING beats it for visibility - well maybe a convertible. If it's a first car, I wholeheartedly recommend it as a trainer because it's just so easy to see out of and park - it has almost zero blind spots.