@VD15 @tk I think the term for stuff like the standard Impreza is "Sedan," at least here. I've also heard "Saloon."

Buying a new car for your first car seems ... inadvisable. I'd go with a used mid 2000s hatchback for $5000 or less for my first. I would personally recommend a 2005-ish Suzuki Swift, preferably the manual variant.
:menherasmug: I am absolutely biased, though.