Don't forget to try Marks tutorials at VTC.com.  Even the older Carrara 6 tutorials are useful for the basics of using Carrara.  For the cost conscious, the monthly subscription is good since you get to checkout tutorials for other apps.  The do have sales occasionally.

The CarraraCafe is also good.  With Mark's tutorials, I feel as if I had a classroom instructor.  With Cripeman, it's like I have a buddy beside me showing me how to do stuff.

By the way there is a cloth simulator for Carrara 8.  I believe it's been there since version 7.  Check out infiniteskills.com or the daz3d channel on youtube.  They use a flag on a flagpole tutorial, but its basically introduces you to the feature.

The documentation that comes with Carrara makes sense if your already familiar with the program. 

Don't overlook the shader tutorials that can be combined with the surface replicator to create better layouts for your city.  You can even put streets with cars.  I did have a problem with street lights, but I think I can figure it out now.