Stop by the local bookstore, pick up a Consumer Reports Used Car Buyers’ Guide, and let the data be your guide. Look carefully at whatever you find for evidence of abuse, neglect, accident damage, or somethiung that just doesn’t look right. If you take the time to look, it usually becomes obvious. I looked at a car for a friend a few years back that was 10 years old allegedly had less than 50,000 miles. The steering wheel, the shifter (automatic), the pedals, the seat, and even the side of the console and the kickpanel clearly showed that it had far, far more than the mileage presented. You cannot wear the shifter or the steering wheel bald and shiney in 50,000 miles.
Then have whatever you choose thoroughly gone over by your mechanic.
I posted a thread of what people would include if they built their own car. I was truely amazed at the wide variety of preferences, needs, and desires. What might be perfect for me would be totally wrong for others. For this reason I refer people to CR rather than make specific recommendations. We’re all different, and by very wide margins.