hang in there and like you said you really do not need a clunker, and the reality is there are a lot of crappy clunker cars out there, Keep sticking the money in the bank and keep looking. Here are a couple of websites that may help www.carcomplaints.com there is a list of cars that are the worst cars to own, so get familiar with them for sure, you can also look up individual cars going back 10 years or so . Another good web site is www.samarins.com there is a lot of free information on how to buy a used car, what to look for and what to look out for. Included is a section on used car reviews that may be helpfull. I like to do a cold start test drive with any used car. I ask the private party owner not to start the car overnight and I show up the next day and check to make sure the oil in the engine is cold, and then start the car. It should start easily, and quietly and smooth into a high idle within 5 or 10 seconds.with no loud knocks or rattles or smoke clouds from the engine. I give it a few minutes warm up time and drive it like I stole it. Any used car that you can get to run good and get up to 55 miles an hour easily in the first 5 to 7 minutes the transmission and engine are probably in pretty good shape. I like to really test drive a car for at least 40 minutes to an hour, I let the owner know, the longer I test drive it the better chance he has I will buy it. And check all the switches and knobs, AC, windshield wipers, power windows, all the way up and all the way down several times each, make sure all the lights work, turn signals, brake lights, so you can tell your mechanic not to worry about it (why pay a mechanic for stuff you can check?) I talk to my mechanic ahead of time and try to work it out so I can get the car in on short notice and get it right back , it takes about an hour for a decent inspection and about 70 bucks. If you do not have a personal mechanic, Get a triple AAA towing service, among other member benifits they can recomend local mechanics almost anywhere who have agreed to let disputes be settled by binding arbitration with AAA. I have had this service for years, a must anyway if you drive old cars. And its paid for itself many times over, but they can recommend a local mechanic shop that can do a diagnostic on a used car no problem. Another good web site for pricing used cars is www.nada.com, if you are using a dealer,Or a private party, never take their word for the condition of a vehicle, most of them are going to say what ever it takes to sell you a car. five minutes after you buy it they could care less. So if you ask them to let you take a good long test drive,and then go to the mechanic and they disagree, then keep looking.do not buy some one else problem car, have patience and do not get discouraged because you will find a jewel out there as long as you have faith. best of luck.
