Which cars offer reliability, good mpg, and protection(crash safety rating not size)?

I'm trying to buy my first car with about $2000 cash on craigslist. I know that isn't much but I'm open to opinions because I have been really looking into Toyota, Honda, Chrysler, Acura, Volvo, Chevrolet, Ford, Mitsubishi, and Hyundai. If there are any other car companies (besides Nissan because I know they are expensive to fix) that I left out that are good and offer more or less inexpensive repairs, please state it in the comments below? I'm being very open minded about this.

Could I use this spray paint on my old canoe?

http://www.halfords.com/motoring/paints-body-repairs/car-spray-paints/halfords-ford-tango-red-car-spray-paint-300ml?cm_mmc=Google+PLA-_-Paints+and+Body+Repairs-_-Car+Spray+Paints-_-195274&_%24ja=tsid:60494%7Ccgn:GoogleShopping%7Ckw:195274&istCompanyId=b8708c57-7a02-4cf6-b2c0-dc36b54a327e&istItemId=xwltwxl&istBid=tzwt&_%24%24ja=cgid:16790764204%7Ctsid:35522%7Ccid:214996084%7Clid:48916278015%7Cnw:g%7Ccrid:52119061324%7Crnd:7048390280220055194%7Cdvc:t%7Cadp:1o1%7Cbku:1

I've sanded down the kayak and washed it down with alcohol. If the paint is good enough for a car surely it'll do for the top of my kayak right? Any advice

Yes or no to complete platform updates for these SUVs?

Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F)'s Lincoln Navigator dates back to 2003. General Motors (NYSE: GM)' Cadillac Escalade supposedly dates back to 2001 (model year 2002). And Daimler AG (ETR: DAI)'s Mercedes-Benz G-Class dates back to 1979 (!), or 2001 (model year 2002) for the North American-specification models. Maybe this isn't the case for trucks but for crossovers and cars, right?

Added (1). Off-topic, but I DO know why Mercedes has two (!) flagship SUVs… Because GL-Class rivals Q7, GX 460, the upcoming X7, and the likes. G-Class (or G-Wagen, for you Germans) rivals QX80, Navigator, Escalade, LX 570, and the BOF SUV likes.

Rear collision who's at fault?

Driving my sisters to go get dinner I'm following a car about 20 yards behind. The car starts tapping their brakes on a green light for no reason so I slow down but the space between us slowly closes, and then the car slams on their brakes as soon as the light turns yellow. Their car being a newer model stops on a dime while my older 2000 ford kicks on abs and slams right into the rear end. Later when we both pull over, it Turns out the car driver was a friend of my sister and recognized my truck which explains why she was hitting her brakes before. But who is at fault. I know typically rear ends are the back cars fault but if the forward car was already hitting their brakes for no reason and then slams on their brakes to avoid going through a newly turned yellow light leaving me no room to stop or move lanes because the car behind me in the other lane went through the yellow with plenty of time to avoid running a red light. Who is really at fault?

Ford GT as first car? 2004 or 05 model?

So I'm a orthodontist and just got out of college a year ago and I have been working since then and I need to buy a new car as the old car my parents got me is dying out. I want a car that will also compete with the looks of my co workers cars too. (They have sports car and huge SUVs) I never drove a v10, but have been taking driving courses with a v8 so I'm fairly good at controlling a big engine.
I also am open to any other suggestions on cars you guys have, want a low to the ground car with a moderately wide stance though