Some sound advice here. Always skip the auto if you're getting a 4-cyl car. Check ownership history. Get a CarFax, however, they are not the 'be-all, end-all' of ownership history. Don't buy one from someone under 25, or it'll be trashed. Look for aftermarket parts (exhaust, tacky body shit, intake modifications, lound stereo, etc) and avoid it! Odds are the car's been abused. Check the paint (especially around windows, inside the doors and engine bay) all over the car, as well as the gaps bewteen the panels and bumpers - any evidence of strange, asymmetrical gaps or different paint will be signs of an accident. Have someone else who knows cars take it for a drive, listen for any noises that don't sound normal; clunks, bumps, rattling, etc. Test the clutch by having the e-brake on, and letting the clutch out in first gear. Have a compression/leakdown test performed (cheap). Get receipts for repairs/maintenance. Etc.