As someone who has survived being born and raised in the Detroit area (and lived to tell about it), I am a hard-core firm believer in Japanese motor vehicles.
Mrs. E drives her 2000 Honda Accord, 5-speed, 4 cylinder. Paid for.
I drive our 2004 Toyota Sienna mini-van. Paid for. I've heard people abhor mini-vans (unless soccer moms have to schlep around a whole damned battalion of kids) because they look teh ghey. So they run out and buy an SUV because it doesn't look teh ghey.
Sorry, I don't understand that.
I'm after reliability, excellent engineering, fit, form, and function. I don't give a shit what it looks like nearly as much as what it can do for me and what it takes to keep it running.
I am extremely pleased with both cars. I have the scheduled maintenance done when it's recommended and have never needed to do anything other than the 90K tuneup, tires, brakes, and rear shocks for the Sienna. (Struts for both cars are still kickin'.)
Both cars have in excess of 130,000 miles and they're still going strong.