So you are in the market for a nice set of wheels, but with the current state of the economy and the meager amount of money available to you in your bank account you won't have anywhere near enough to even make a down payment on a new car - and with your credit rating you know that you'll never ever qualify for a loan, so it looks like a used car could be your only option. You need something that will not only get you from point A to point B, but something that will be reliable and economical as far as fuel consumption and repairs are concerned. So the question is - what do you look for in a used car to make sure that you are getting the right car for you?

First you need to decide what type of vehicle is best for your situation, if you've got four kids that you need to cart around to school, violin lessons and soccer practice, than a two seat sports car or a pick up truck may not be the best car for you or if you'll be using your vehicle for heavy hauling than a Ford Escort or VW Bug are probably out of the question - simply selecting what type of car you need will drastically narrow down the field before you even begin looking. If a car won't properly suit your purpose, even if it's a great deal, it's not the right car for you.

Once you've narrowed down the field to the appropriate type of car you can begin to look at other aspects that will have a large bearing on how well a car suits you. You probably have a good idea at this point what type of car you're 'attracted' to, so it would be a good move to do some research on the makes and models that most interest you. A quick search on the internet will give you a good idea of how long certain cars last and what the most common problems associated with them happens to be. Of course these findings are based on a general overview of the individual models so none of this information should be taken as Gospel, but these facts and reviews should at least give you a good idea as to the reliability of the cars that you are considering.

When you go to see a car even if you aren't a 'car person', look for obvious things both at first sight and during your test drive. Something that you can pick up on very quickly is the car's mileage. If you are planning on driving your 'new' used car for several years you probably want to steer clear of autos that have close to two hundred thousand miles on them. Some cars last many more miles than others, but few last very well past the one hundred and fifty to two hundred thousand mile range. Look for rust, dents and dings and keep all of your senses open as you drive the car - look, listen to and feel how the car drives. Pay attention to any unusual sounds or rumbling as though could be signs of current or impending problems that you'll have to deal with.

Once you've found a car that you feel might be right for you, don't just rely on what you've seen - take the car to a reliable mechanic for an inspection. It doesn't hurt to make sure that the mechanic is either one that you have personal experience with or that is an impartial third party - you don't necessarily want to trust a mechanic that has a close relationship with the seller because you may not learn the full truth about the car. A good mechanic will see things that you won't - they will be able to tell you of any problems that need to be attended to immediately as well as any problems that are looming on the horizon. Having a qualified mechanics eyes take a close inspection of the used car you are considering will be the only true way to tell if you are getting a good deal on a car that will last.