I use two approaches to buy a car. I do not use an emotional decision-making approach to buy cars that I have talked about before. The second approach is a set of rules that I use for myself while buying a car including:
always buy used 3-4 years old, it is often depreciated 50% or more to the original price
always use Consumer Reports car recommendations including the 10-year quality scores to find a reliable model. This is a paid subscription that is worth its price in gold. Because they do the hard work to impartially review the cars on a variety of parameters and then collect user quality data each year from a large customer base to create usable data patterns to interpret cars in a detailed manner.
always hone in on one model to buy (including a specific trim) and then look around until you find the right one to buy
always buy the last year of a car model year, that is the best car to buy. Often car models change every 5-6 years and say a new model is launched in 2010 and each year after that there is only an incremental update. If 2016 is the next new model refresh, the best model to buy is the 2015 version as they have all the kinks worked out over the 5-6 years.
Recently I read an article that helped me to pick a car at zero cost. As good a recommendation as to the paid Consumer Reports subscription. I am talking about the stolen cars list. The thieves seem to pick the best cars to break and take. This list closely mirrors the CR top list for most years. I am guessing what is stolen is based on demand-supply in the stolen goods market. And you get this information for free on your local police website. Perhaps a valuable addition to my how-to pick a car list.
And to top it, the thieves seem to be using modern technology effectively enough. From dealer-type key devices that help break in into most new cars, to the use of Apple Airtag to stick tags to cars they want to steal so that they can find them later on at the residences where they are parked overnight using the tracking. So ingenious.
Sources:
Toronto police just revealed the city's ten most stolen vehicles of the year - https://toronto.ctvnews.ca/toronto-police-just-revealed-the-city-s-ten-most-stolen-vehicles-of-the-year-1.5698565
Apple tracking devices being used in thefts of high-end cars in York Region: police - https://toronto.ctvnews.ca/apple-tracking-devices-being-used-in-thefts-of-high-end-cars-in-york-region-police-1.5690819