when u look at the car it is a good idea to ask for maintenance records and receipts (in my opinion) and also do a carfax report to see if the car has ever been wrecked or anything else..... i also like to take cars that i might buy to shops to have the compression and leakdown tests run plus a regular diagnostics test and of course if you buy it i would suggest if the timing belt hasnt been changed yet go ahead and do that and at least an oil change if not a full tune up..... thats just my opinion