Cars can be one of the biggest purchases we make, after buying a home. Some people chose to buy new vehicles and change them every year whilst others keep them until they are pretty much worthless. For many of us the second hand route is the best if not the only option and a car may simply be brought as cheap as possible as something purely to get you from A to B. There is no right and wrong way to go about car buying, it is simply related to your circumstances and what you can afford or what is important to you.
If you use you care often and travel long journeys then comfort and fuel economy is probably quite high up on the list. If on the other hand your car is something that you only use occasionally and is used more for pleasure than as a necessity , then it may well be performance and looks that influence your decision.