I have 303,000 on my '96 Breeze, and it's been as bulletproof as can be. 2.0L stick car, mid-30s MPG. Been a nice commuter, even in big snowfall with winter tires. More solid than the Japanese stuff of the same era. I would think the later generation Stratus/Cirrus would be just as good. That may be too old for the OP's buddy, though.