Read reviews, but be careful - some of the auto reviews are written by people who want to stay on the good side of auto manufacturers, and therefore, they tend to gloss over some of the drawbacks of the car.
If you're going to buy a new car, go to an auto show. Most auto shows are scheduled for late winter/early spring. It'll give you a great chance to look at a lot of cars in one place.
Go to Consumerreports.org and pay for a one-month membership (I think it's something like $5/month). Use your membership to read their auto reports. It was very helpful in helping hubby & me narrow down our choices. (Alternately, if you don't want to pay the $5/month, go to the reference desk at your local library and ask them for a copy of the Consumer Reports Auto Guide.)
Edmonds.com is also a great resource -- especially the message boards there. Car owners are not shy about expressing their likes and dislikes on the boards there!
And lastly, if you can find one, see if you can find an online message board created by owners of your particular make and model. Those have been invaluable to us as well.
Good luck!
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