I drove a geo for a little over a year. Those are cheap to run. The tires are 12" so all those adds that say "4 tires, mounted and balanced for $99.00" actually apply to them. Mine was pulling 50mpg (with minimum fuel saving mods, Intake, custom exhaust, kept it tuned up) And when you needed plugs or wires, you only needed 3 of 'em.
I was a part time worker, part time college kid, paying rent and college. That lil bastard was still afordable.