your question needs to be more specific. asking which make is better is like asking kelloggs or post cereal? it leaves a wide range of answers. but if you break it down to frosted flakes or grape nuts, you can get a more specific answer.
any car you buy around that price range is going to most likely be old, falling apart, and have high miles, so you will need to be expecting to put it into the shop with in the first 6 months to a year and probably a good 1000 dollars worth of repairs. i'm speaking on experience. all the cars i have ever owned have all been used the mileage no lower than 74,000.
do some research at edmunds.com for any specific cars, the make model and year, you are looking for and read the customer reviews.,