I can chip in with a tried an tested "vessel progression". (For those who don't want to fight right from the beginning.)
<TL;DR>
Sidewinder ->
Cobra MK III ->
Asp Explorer -> The sky is the limit!
</TL;DR>
Elite Dangerous has a lot of different vessels that all have their advantages and drawbacks.
By all means, you should get and fly them all!
This is for early in the game, when you are low on credits and want to get to a good money maker without wasting too many credits.
When you start off in your
Sidewinder, fly data and cargo missions willy nilly to save up on credits and get good standing with you local factions.
If you get interdicted, run away. It's most likely someone sent by one of the other factions and blowing up those vessels will upset that other faction needlessly.
I find the minigame quite enjoyable, but the tactic stated above is very much valid.
Don't bother kitting out your Sidewinder, yet. Once you don't know what to do with your credits, yeah, it can be fun.
At 380kCr treat yourself to a
Cobra MK III.
Again, don't spend too much on kitting the vessel out, yet. Maybe a bit more cargo space if you find, you can't take those juicy missions. In general, continue to fly data and cargo missions like before. Now you can jump farther and take on more cargo.
Sooner than you may think now, you will have the 6.6MillCr for the
Asp Explorer.
Ah, the Asp Explorer *glee*, considered by many an "Endgame Vessel" and at some time or another you'll want one anyway.
Seriously,
watch the video.
Give it a name and kit it out whenever your credits allow (after insurance!) Fly it across the whole galaxy and admire the view from the (absolutely unsafe) cockpit.
This is my AspX, fully endquipped costing around 32MillCr.
You can do long range cargo missions or rare goods trading, if you are so inclined, and I use it for exploration, cargo missions and planetary scan missions a lot.
I wouldn't recommend it for fighting but the AspX will earn you the credits for that slick combat vessel in no time!
I hope this little guide will get you on your feet, quickly, and I'm looking forward to meet you in spaaaaaaaaaace...