What to look for when buying a used car?

I'm buying a fender bender/Fixer Upper as a Winter Beater. Anyone have
a good web link that shows what to look for when buying a used car?
Thanks

"ed" > wrote in message
news:1pAyg.911$8v.906@trnddc05...
> The old saying:
> Brakes
> Exhaust
> Lights
> Tires
> Steering

Is it merely coincidental that the first letters of these words spell
"belts"? Good acronym to remember them by, whatever the original intentions
were! s

The "Lemonaid Guide to Used Vehciles" lists makes and models that hold
up well over time. Calls them "recommended beaters". The book is
written for the Canadian driver and may not be available everywhere.
Many public libraries in Canada carry it. It's updated annually. You
should be able to find other guides to buying used cars at the public
library. I've borrowed some from our library in the past.

sdlomi2 wrote:
> "ed" > wrote in message
> news:1pAyg.911$8v.906@trnddc05...
> > The old saying:
> > Brakes
> > Exhaust
> > Lights
> > Tires
> > Steering
>
> Is it merely coincidental that the first letters of these words spell
> "belts"? Good acronym to remember them by, whatever the original intentions
> were! s

Cars from the SouthWest, where it is HOT and VERY dry, will suffer form
anything that is detritus to rubber... in other words; seals, bushings,
weather tracks will rot-out.

The NorthEast, where they have heavy snow, and thus heavy salt applied
to the roads, will suffer from body damage due to rust.

So, it depends on were you are buying your car from.

Good luck,
Dave