Bought a 2003 Hyundai Accent hatchback last March with 74,000 miles on it and it now has 110,000. Basically, something that gets me from point a to b with good gas mileage is the most important...and surprisingly, it can carry quite a bit, as I am finding out renovating my new house down here in FL.
Also, do the bike thing quite a bit, but that is more for exercise/fun than it is for transportation...