I've had my licence for 9 years but this will be the first car that I will own.

I know very little about car maintenance, or what costs are involved in driving in the UK having recently moved here. I am trying to decide between buying a new car (therefore with a better warranty in case things go wrong) or a second hand car.

If buying second hand, I would want to go through a reputable dealer who still offered some sort of warranty for at least the first 12 months.

My driving will be mostly to and from work each day, which is about 20 miles each way along motorways, but I live in the city so a good city driving car would also help me.

My question has several parts:
1. Could you recommend any good dealers for new and second hand cars? They would need to be close to Manchester, where I live, as I currently do not have a car to get out to remoter locations to look or to test drive.

2. Could you recommend any good models for my kind of use? Budget would be up to £10k for new, probably aim for up to £5k if going for second-hand, and as mentioned it will be mostly motorway driving to and from work and city driving. My main objective is a car that is least likely to break down, although fuel efficiency is also important and, since it will be my first owned car and therefore I do not have a no claims discount for insurance (despite being over 25) the insurance band will also be a factor.

3. Could you give me an idea of what costs would be involved? I know the price and insurance will be the main, but general running costs, what road tax is likely to be, and anything else I haven't thought about.

4. Also, if you have any suggestions about the choice between new and second hand that would be really helpful. Living city centre, I don't want something that will be a target for theives, but also as mentioned, with my lack of knowledge about cars I really want something that will be reliable.