Mustangs are a lot of fun, but I don't particularly think they're great first cars. If you want a reliable form of transportation, stick to a Honda or Acura. I'm not a huge fan of either, but they are super reliable. But before looking at cars, if you're set on going to college in SF, give some thought to not getting one at all. I live in SF and there are many times where having a car is more trouble than anything. If you do decide on getting a car in SF, then stick to something small and maneuverable. Maybe look at a Civic or something along those lines. One guarantee with a car in SF is that it will get lots of dings and you'll probably get parking tickets!