all good advice here, only thing I would like to add is test driving, play with every freakin' knob and function of the car, SLAM on the brakes, FLOOR IT going up a big hill! taking it for a spin around the block doesn't create real life driving situations that we all deal with. If it is a manual, bang through the gears fast. If it is automatic manually shift up and down 1-2-D. Don't be afraid to put a car through its paces. If the dealer is with you, a good dealer will expect you to rod on it (to a limit of course). Acouple months ago we were car shopping and test drove a Kia, ran fine until I took it up a hill. When I floored it, it sounded like the engine was ready to explode but we didn't go any faster....gutless piece of crap.