[DNADriver]

If you were in the market for a second hand car, what would you be looking for? What warning signs would you look for that suggest that the car may not last, or may be unreliable?

[Dodge Doll]

One piece of advice I can give you, from first-hand experience: never buy a car that was warmed up when you test-drove it.

Folks will let a car or truck warm up and then shut it off just before the prospective purchaser arrives. That's usually because there's an issue somewhere that is audible when the car is first started, or that it has an issue with starting: either way, a vehicle already warmed up is going to rob you of some of the details you need to make an informed decision.

[MyMotor]

You want to look at the obvious of course-mileage to date, service history and so on. Otherwise I'd check with one of the auto crash report sites to see if the car has been in an accident and written off.

[Fanbelt]

Good and useful advice guys. I just want to add that you had better buy a used car from an individual you personally know. It's to make sure that he informs you everything (or most important things) you need to know about the car.

[fiat500]

Good question,DNA. This is rather a rant than a reply to your question but might have a relative answer.
I wish it were as easy to return a car as returning a grocery item. Our car is second-hand and although it had very low mileage 26K and only 3 years old for one-third of its original price, we thought it was a very good deal. Performance-wise it's good but it's got a faulty airbag which we failed to detect when we bought it.

[Jess28]

I would probably only buy a used car from a dealership and not from an individual. There are too many people trying to just get rid of their cars and you don't know what is wrong with them. You can always take it somewhere to have a mechanic look at it before you buy it.