Just wondering what I should look for and what I should do when i'm looking for a used car and any additional things i should do when buying the car?

Thanks for any advice

Things I've learned in my car hunting.

First, check loooots of different places...
Some include:
-Police Auctions, I'm still waiting for a 993 Twin Turbo for under 20 grand...(That's the type of machinery you get at those once in a while)...
-Ebaymotors and Autotrader are good one's for searching for cars where you can physically look at them in person. (Anything can be falsified online)
-Ye ol' newspaper (that's where I found my Probe)

Second, inspect the car with an impartial eye, this might include bringing along someone who's uninterested in cars. They'll see spots and nick's you won't notice...

Third, take the hooptie for a test drive, include alot of different roads in this. Highway, backroads, bumpy, smooth, cruising...etc...

Fourth, if anything is going to need to be fixed immediately include that in the pricing or bargaining, I MADE this MISTAKE, trust me, having to spend 500 bucks extra about two days post purchase is annoying as HELL. (But I at least knew I would, just didn't bargain that into the asking price...=(

Finally, if it's not worth buying simply walk away, you'll kick yourself alllll the time if you see a car you'd reeeeallly want in the paper or online the following week or month.

Since you live in australia RUST RUST RUST! Make sure everything goes up, down flashes and bings. Manuals always command more money. Rev the car up, go through the gears. Get a check list with the prices (plus about 10 percent) of things to be fixed. Buy a few months worth of just cars, unique cars and have a look on sites that sell what you want (drive and carpoint are the best ive found). Remember, car prices go from high to low, be pesimistic.

1. Look for major corrosion, if it's just a small spot you can live with it, if it's allover look for another car.
2. Try to find if the car has been in an accident. It's not worth to buy a car after serious accident.
3. Make sure the engine runs good. No smoke, knocking or some other problem.
4. Transmission. If it's automatic, it should shift smooth, no jerks. If it's manual, check for the clutch slipping, try each gear, should be no grinding.
5. Take the car you choose to YOUR mechanic for inspection before you sign a contract.
Here is the link to check:
www.samarins.com - they have illustrated guide what to look for when buying a used car.
Regards!
Carguy