velocityg4 :
Make sure it uses R138a refrigerant. Which I think is used in any car 1997 and newer.
R134a - but yes, everyone was using it by 1997, and a few here and there as early as 1995 if I am not mistaken. Also, it's not uncommon to see older cars retrofitted for it (I have a 1987 Ford Crown Victoria that the first owner retrofitted for R134a)
In general agreement with most of the others, Civics and Corollas are excellent vehicles. The ONLY downside is that their popularity can sometimes inflate their price.
HOWEVER - There are reliable American cars out there that are reliable; the perception of them being unreliable is a holdover from the 70s and a little into the 80s.
These would be older, but I've found that the "downsized big cars" from GM in the late 80s to early 90s, if you can find one clean and low mileage, are darn near indestructible. Specifically, the 1988-1991 era Olds Eighty Eight Royale, Buick LeSabre, and Pontiac Bonneville (all three are the same car underneath). The 1992-1994/5 ones which got bigger and a bit more aerodynamic are also solid.
I've had a few of them - the 1988-1991 versions (1986 and 1987 sometimes had transmission issues) seem to never rust, and I live in NJ where rust is a way of life. I had a 1989 Olds 88 with 203K miles on the clock, and there was some physical part that broke, the part was no longer available from GM - and even the company that had taken in all their older parts no longer had it available: I would've had to go to a junkyard with a specialized tool (which I didn't have) to get it.
If not for that, I would've still been driving it for the next several years. My dad also had one, and my brother had one as well (interestingly, we all bought them used at different times, but they were all the 1989 model year).
Sometimes it's easy to find these in low mileage and great shape because they are quite literally "the car the little old lady down the street" owns.
EDIT: Though, to be fair, just about any vehicle that was senior owned and infrequently used is probably a good idea.
EDIT 2: Also, if you have a friend who has any kind of expertise with vehicles, BRING THEM WITH YOU.