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Hi Friends.

Some nice fellow has recently plowed into the back of my car while i was waiting at a red light. His car was a nice big SUV. My car, while functioning perfectly, is now considered a writeoff which is quite irritating.

As a result im starting to think about buying a new (well, second hand) car. I probably have a budget of 5g's which i know aint much, but yeah, quite poor atm. A mid 90s corolla is what comes to mind at the moment. The problem is, im not really experienced in this area as my last car was bought off a family friend.

Any of you guys ever gone private? Used car dealerships? Other? Had any luck with private? What things have you done to ensure the car aint going to fall apart? Yeah pretty much screwed without a car so i need to get the ball rolling on this kinda soon. Any help is very much appreciated.

That's a nice budget for a 2nd generation Subaru (1996-1999). I'm looking for one myself and trying to get it for even less and there are plenty with around or under 100k miles, but I want a manual transmission wagon with a 2.2 (no Outback, GT) so it's taking longer. Get a 2.2 as the engines are bulletproof. But if you want something with better mileage that's a safe bet, you're pretty much stuck with Corolla or Civic and Civics are overpriced. Butt with $5K, you should be able to get something decent. Unfortunately, the best cars from almost everybody were built late 80's-mid 90's and they're getting old, so their reliability will suffer.

If you don't know cars, it's worth having a mechanic check the vehicle out for you (or if you're buying Eurotrash). 1st thing, look at the owner and the condition of the car to judge whether or not it's been beaten. All kinds of aftermarket crap or beat up body panels and interior, walk away. Seller lives in a low-income neighborhood, walk away (this isn't a racist statement as low income could be anyone. A lot of low income people do not take care of their stuff either for lack of money or not caring. You also stand the greater chance of having an issue with registration). If the car has a few dents and higher mileage, it may be a commuter, and highway mileage isn't bad. But if you're looking at something mid-90's, high mileage will be REAL high mileage. Is the mileage ridiculously low? Not likely clocked, but more likely to have problems (even than some high-ish mileage cars)—cars are made to be driven, not sit around. Age is as much a problem, maybe more so depending on climate, than mileage. Look for leaks under the car or stains in the driveway where the car often parks. Look at the tires for signs of uneven wear which could indicate a suspension or alignment problem. Check that the coolant is clean, oil isn't sludge, transmission fluid isn't burnt. Take it for a drive. Make sure the engine is smooth, transmission shifts well. Does the steering wheel shimmy? Car track straight accelerating, lifting off, and braking? Any weird noises or clunks from anything? All electrical stuff work? Receipts for past work (not necessary, but it shows diligence and can confirm certain items the seller says were done)? Do the body panels all have consistent gaps? Open all the doors and look for bent metal as evidence of accident repair. Small things are fine, but you're looking for evidence of a serious crash. Is there rust? If so, is it minor and in the normal places (wheel arches, lower door skins. Rust in weird spots, like the middle of panels could be evidence of prior accident, flood damage, or even "rallying" (depending on the car you're looking at). Some of those can be cleared up by a Carfax.