I used to hate the first gens and wasn't that fond of the second gens. But then I drove second and third gens back to back for work and I really liked the way you could see the edge of the hood on the second gens, and the second gen interior seemed more spacious (the dash was flatter, and more forward, in my opinion) than the third gens.
Then I bought a cheap first gen and loved the simplicity, even compared to the seconds. So now I would say first gen is my favorite!