Looks like we at least win two prize cars per license - one for all bronzes, and another for all golds. So I think I'll see if I can do those first. But if we're forced into buying a car first, I'll see how many credits we're given at the start, and see what I can buy, whether it's from the UCD or the new cars dealerships. I just hope we're not gifted a car from the get-go, like the Honda Fit in GT6 or the random car in GTS. I could definitely see myself getting a Toyota Corolla Levin, a Mazda Roadster NA, or maybe even something a bit newer like Subaru BRZ. That said, I'd love to get a starter car that isn't sporty at all, like the 2008 Fiat 500, or the Mazda Demio XD. Maybe I'll see how far I can get without each license, and then do each license when the respective necessity for each one emerges.
Otherwise, I plan to stick with my original course, where I get at least one of every car in the game, with the likely chance of getting two of each road car. In that case, I'd get one to leave as-stock in whichever OEM color strikes my fancy, and another to modify, both in terms of adding parts like a rear wing or custom wheels, installing internal stuff like turbo kits, and creating a custom livery. I don't plan to modify any of the race cars I get, either, though that could definitely depend on what sort of modifications are available - though I doubt most race cars will have extensive modification options on the level of the various road cars.