I'm 27year old F, new driver. How much should i spend on my first car?

Okay, I have $27k saved up. Don't want to buy a new car or spend more than $10k.
I drove car couple times recently, i think I will be a average driver or not so bad driver.
I have been looking to buy a car (I need a car real bad to go to work).

which one do you think i should buy?
2008 honda civic ex coupe with 66000 miles on it in very good condition for $9k?

or

2009 smart fortwo with 29k miles on it for $6k

Your opinion and guidance will be truly appreciated. Thank you.

IF YOU HAVE TIME:
1].california registration fees is too much, i don't want to keep spending on buying and selling cheap cars + registration fees= good car, one time investment for long period of time.
2]. Car should be good on gas, and safe to drive. My life is important than money
3]. In city and highway (if renting for a long trip is a better option to owning smart fortwo)?
4]. If you are working how often can you go on a long drive so that you need a big vehicle?
5]. Smart fortwo is not safe to drive on highways

6]. Great deal on honda civic with only 66k miles, kbb value is $12k. A very good, safe and reliable car
7]. OMG just love this CUTEEE little smart fortwo car, a car that I always wanted. With 34/39 MPG.

these are what making me undecissive.

I'm a professional driver work for Lamborghini training? My opinion Toyota and Honda are most reliable cars don't go for other brands? To start off i would recommend a 2001-2005 honda civic lx or ex. Or Toyota Camry 2002-2005 they can last up to 400k miles and run good. They are cheap on insurance registration tag.
Remember any 2 door car is always known as sport even if there not they will cost a lot of money in insurance and registration

The Civic is a great little car but I would highly recommend you buy a Honda Accord instead. Much more comfortable, more room, rides much better, is quieter, and will get almost as good mileage. You will pay slightly more but not much. Either is a good choice but the Accord is just a nicer car to live with day to day unless you only drive in the city. $10,000 will get you a nice Accord.

Kelly blue book shows the 2008 civic ex coup being worth more than 9K at a dealer(12Kish). I don;t know the details of the car but make sure, if the car is coming from a dealer, that the title is OK and not a salvage title. And check Kelly Blue book and Edmunds for the fair price using the car's details.

If I were you, I'd look at rental company sales cars. They're usually only a year old with low miles. You might have to bump your cash up to 12 or 15 thousand, but that beats something 8 or 10 years old.

Been driving for many years owned a dozen cars. No esitation go full speed ahead with the civic, in order of value I would give a 10 to the civic versus just 2 for the other alternative.