buy a new car and save up for a house.. sounds like you plan on burning your candle at both ends. scale down a little, unless you are filthy and rich..
be content with a used (o sige.. pre-loved) car. and unless you are ready to swear off MTs for the rest of your life, i recommend you not start off using an automatic..
i agree with the above.. get a good, used toyota. altis or vios.. their reliability is the envy of the automotive world (or so some believe, including me).
large car or big car? with your (non) experience, it wouldn't matter.. you have no basis for saying one is harder to handle than the other..