Ten Easy Ways to check a used car before you buy it.
As stated in Consumer Reports Magazine:

Before having your mechanic inspect a used car, try these simple checks:

1. Sight along both sides of the car. Misaligned body panels or differences in the shade of the paint indicate that the car has been in an accident.
2. Check for rust, especially under the doors and around wheel openings. If a small magnet doesn't stick there, that may mean a cheap-and-temporary-repair with putty. Look under the carpeting, too. Fixing rust properly is difficult and costly.
3. Stains on upholstery or carpeting and a moldy smell are signs of a rain leak - another problem that can be hard to fix.
4. Look under the car. Oil or coolant drips could indicate a serious problem.
5. Try all the controls and displays, and make sure all lights are working.
6. When you turn on the ignition, make sure the "check engine" light comes on. If it doesn't, it may have been disconnected to cover up an emissions-control problem.
7. On a level road, the car should track straight, without constant steering correction. Pulling could mean a body that's badly twisted from a crash.
8. On a quiet street with no traffic nearby, step smartly on the brakes. The car should stop without pulling.
9. Pull the automatic-transmission dipstick. The fluid should be cherry red, with no burned smell or bubbles on the stick. The transmission should shift smoothly. A manual transmission shouldn't grind, and the clutch should engage smoothly.
10. Accelerate in low gear to 15 mph. Then release the accelerator, let the speed drop to about 5 mph, and floor the accelerator. A cloud of blue smoke from the tailpipe is a sign of an oil-burning engine. Lots of white smoke may also mean serious engine trouble, but don't worry about a few wisps after the engine starts on a cool, damp day.

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