What to buy for a 1st timer like me?

[dr. d]

Herd mentality or just the lack of better information, Doc?

a little of both, siguro.
plus, personal experience with the brand.

folks may criticize this type of thinking, but in my opinion, toyota did its job so well years ago, that even today, it is, to the envy of the automotive manufacturing world, still reaping the fruits thereof.
i think the term "so boringly reliable" was coined for it.
and even as some of its products today are showing cracks, its reputation is still something to be reckoned with.

of course,
this is my opinion only, and i am confident there are those out there, who will dis-agree.