Decide on the right car for you. You should always try to get what you want, but have a backup plan. There are many sources such as Consumer Reports Car Buying Guide, car complaints.com, J.D. Power, US News and World Report, and a host of others. Try using a variety of sources when researching a particular vehicle or vehicles. Remember that highly rated cars command premium prices. A lower rated car can be a gold mine if you can put up with a design flaw or two.