Firstly there is a massive amount of cars available from the Internet and your local hobby shop. What you will find is that people tend to like certain makes / models and we suggest that you listen to their advice (if they are experienced) as they may be able to offer some pearls of wisdom. We would suggest going for a style (i.e. Buggy / Stadium Truck / Monster Truck / On Road Touring Cars) of car that suits you.
There are numerous makes of Nitro Cars available but our personal favourites are ... HPI, OFNA, Team Associates, Traxxas, Kyosho, Shumacher and Mugen
We would recommend that beginners look at getting a 1/10th scale Nitro car as these tend to be slightly slower than the 1/8th scale cars and are perfect for 'learning' how to drive, handle and look after them.
Our top three beginner Nitro RC Cars are ...