An already built, RELIABLE car. At your school you will be so busy you will have a hard time finding the time to put gas in the car.

Pass on the Miata and buy a built car that has a good history. There are plenty of people on this board that can help you out in looking at a car no matter where it is in the country. I bought my first car for $4000 and did NOTHING to it for the first two years other then put tires on it and change the oil. I did not even change the pads.