Looking at the variety of ships you can purchase on CPM, what are people's thoughts on good fleet composition? Certainly fighters and capital ships, but also freighters? Which ones would you put together?
Depends on what kind of fleet you want. Quick response hit and run, or do you want to win a slugging contest? Best bet for slugging contests' are probably Kaloth's. Hit and run, try and find faster fighters with good weapons and a carrier to move them around.
I generally use my C-3 with the Horizon in that, and a Deathseed in that. Speed and sensor coverage, with moderate firepower.
However I also like my YV666 loaded with a YT1300, Sprint, JM500, PES and an ETA-2. This offers me variety of speed, armament and passenger count while I cruise the space lanes.
In the end it's as Mr. Carinae said, "Depends on what kind of fleet you want" and what suits your needs.
Also I'd say more on what you can afford. Sure some of the shuttles like ATR-6 is pretty good but you can get like 10-15 YT-1300s for that price. And then I think it also matters if you are alone or with a group of people, if alone than capital ships should be carriers you can move your stuff with you, if you have some friends then some non-carrier capital ships are sold choice, like Neutron.