im quite the car and driver enthusiast myself along with bike and rider. i belong to several different forums actually so i try to keep the participation level throughout them as level as i can tho it's a little tough and this one is my most recent joining. lol. but anyway, there are a lot of factors to consider when looking for a vehicle especially a used one as we all know. but overall, what are you looking to get? 4 door? awd? fwd? etc. are the winters harsh there? has anyone recommended a subaru impreza WRX STI to you yet? it is rated among one of the highest reliability vehicles out there (if it is taken care of and maintained properly). i think it's even top 5 with consumer reports. anyway, you cant go wrong with awd and a subaru. if it's not worth all of it's value, it's worth a lot more than what you actually pay for it. trust me. of course if your into modifying it, there is an endless list of opportunities to do so in many different ways.
best and only way to know which is the right car is by going with what you think is best based on ur need and desires. it's your investment.
other than getting car specs and sitting/driving in a few different ones, check the forums! you can read and ask before you consider buying and i guarantee you will have an answer from the right people.