I started out with a Volvo 740 -88 when I got my licence, not much of a chock when being swedish. But they run well and relatively cheap to repair and own. But could not afford it on the little student funding we got when I had to pay around 5$ a gallon (it cost about 8$a gallon now).
At the moment i have my SAAB 9000 -95 and my V8 powered TVR Tasmin 350i -84 (UK Spec) for those hot summer days.