First (used) car in California in 1989

Setting: San Francisco Bay Area, California, USA, 1989/1990

Searched: "popular used cars 1989", "used cars 1989", and variations thereof; browsed 1980s and 1970s automobiles categories at Wikipedia

My 16-year-old female character, who is the younger of two kids in a middle-class family, is in need of her first car. Well, actually, she's already in possession of it. I just don't know what it is, and that's where I'm hoping you can help me.

Ideally, the car would be at least five years old by the time she got it, but not something of the Oh, God, I'm embarrassed to be driving this thing variety. Her friend drives an 1985 Pontiac Fiero SE, which she thinks is a lot cooler than her car.

What might she drive that fits this description? Alternately, if you or your friends or siblings got your first car in the late 80s or very early 90s, what was it? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.