First car

My first car (I bought) was a Skoda Octavia 1.8. It is not the best car to drive but I can tell you the driving experience is pleasant. In general, Skoda, is a good car in both parts and experience you get. It is cheap and almost anybody afford a second hand one. VW would be a good options as well with the Golf 4, Passat and Bora. Bora actually has the cheapest parts from all of them.

Of course, if you had the money I would recommend a Mercedes-Benz. That's a car with a great driving experience. If you want a car that has a good MPG I would recommend a Volvo, starting with 4l/100 kms.

Bottom line: all cars are good, it's about what you afford and what you are willing to sacrifice to buy one.