If you go the VW route, do yourself a favour - make sure you get a bullet proof extended warranty, particularly if you buy an automatic. I will not give any more info other on the matter. I'm in the used car game and have dealt with and driven over 22,000 cars in this current career I'm in.
If it were up to me, my number one choice for your daughter would be a car that's Japanese made, or made by a Japanese manufacturer in another country such as Thailand. 'V.I.N numbers' starting with 'J' indicates 'made in Japan'. '6' means Australia, 'M' Thailand, 'A' is Africa, 'W' Germany, '1' USA, 'S' Great Britain, 'V' Viva La France, 'Z' Italia, 'Y' Sweden - I could go on baby.
Secondly, make sure the car you pick has no timing belt - these are major factors when it comes to servicing and repair costs; if one were to fail then it's take out a loan time - get it! 2002 onward Corollas don't have T/Belts - they use chains, so do Echos, Yaris, Tiidas, Pulsars (1992 onwards), Astra convertibles (they use Saab engines don't ask me why), Mazda 2, 3, 6.
Getting to the Astra convertibles - these have 15,000k service intervals which is way too far in between. As a result, the oil pick up clags up with sludge which starves the engine of precious oil pressure, causing rapid wear of the timing chain tensioner assembly - there's usually no warning, just a loud bang when the chain skips a few teeth - that's all!
Some of the Corollas and Focuses are made in Africa. They use the local generic brakes of that nation - from what I know these models have rapid brake wear issues including disc rotors.
One European model I have really warmed to of late is Peugeot. The 207 models made from around 2006/2007 onwards don't have timing belts. There's some where the whole roof is of tinted glass! But what I like about them is the look and feel is a cut above anything else in the price range. There's a certain level of class, style, boldness, panache that's missing from others - I'm talking about the good looking interiors. Black leather with quality aluminium trims - it just looks good where it grabs you. Like a French handbag or an Italian pair of shoes - there's no mistaking quality when you see it/touch it.
Of course, if you want trouble free motoring and don't want to be annoyed when it comes to service time - go the Japanse/Thailand no timing belt route.
Lastly, Hyundai has made a massive impact on the market simply because the quality if its products has leaped beyond all expectations. The i30 is great, and even the last Elantra is a really nice car to sit in. These have timing belts but are not notorious for breaking and look easy enough to replace when scheduled.
