HELP! What to buy

I have had a truck for 5 years, and its on its way. It's a 96 Chev fullsize....with about 230K on it, so I am thinking I can get about 10 for it. I cant afford another truck(sigh...) so I am looking at buying a little car. I dont know much about smaller cars, so I was wondering if I could get some all around advice. I want to get something newer...2000 or more...What do you suggest is better? Cavalier, Sunfire, or Focus? Or is it worth the extra cash for a Grand am/Grand Prix? I am just looking for something small, that will not have a ton of problems, and has a little more balls than a go-kart....heh....thanx!

If it makes a difference.....I'm in the cold cold north....So thats Canadian $! :bandit:

I would probably go for the focus...I don't usually like fords, but out of these three, this would be it. I have a '91 cavalier, and it hasn't had any mechanical problems to date (except for the usual complaing chipmunks) so I don't have any qualms with it, I would just rather the focus. I would automatically discount the Sunfire, due to the fact that it is horribly ugly, IMO. The focus also has a bit of an aftermarket, if you would be interested in that.

btw...go-karts have a ton of balls. I just bought a 125cc shifter kart that will get 0-60mph in 4.5sec, pulls 2.5 g's on the skidpad, and tops out at 135mph (the previous owner did this on the banking at Daytona, on the road course layout.:D

I appreciate the help! I am looking for something with some aftermarket appeal, however school drains any spending money I have, so its not really a key factor. Anyone heard much about the 2000 Chrysler Neon's? A lot of people I've spoken with say the Sunfire engine is pretty shotty, so I'm counting that out.

Instead of a neon you should look at the new SVT FOCUS @ $18,000 U.S.. Add a limited slip and a turbo aftermarket and you will have yourself one fast little car. Not that a sunfire or cav is a bad chocie either, I like the new aftermarket parts that you can buy from factory, a step in the right direction. A neon you will probly have to spend a lot of money on after market parts to get it to run and look the way you want it to, but that is just my opinion.