Purchasing

Recently someone asked me about buying a car.  Everyone knows that new cars are expensive, some more than others.  Used cars you can pretty much pick your price and go on Craigslist or one of the local by/sell pages on Facebook, etc.  But, you get what you pay for.
When you buy a used car, get it checked out by a mechanic of YOUR choice.  Don't take the seller's word for it, whether its an individual you called off Craigslist or a dealership.  Unless, unless it's a dealer that's offering a warranty.  Ford pre-certified is a good example of this.  Typically these cars have low miles, and have been gone through by the dealership service dept. and are warranted to a certain extent.  Read the contract, carefully.  If you don't understand the language of drivetrain and electrical (there's always disclaimers for every part of the warranty that you'll be responsible for.)
I recently dealt with a customer who had paid for an aftermarket warranty on his expedition.  The company paid for the motor and the labor to put it in, at their labor hour rate, not the shop's.  You either take some work, or go without, so we took on the job.
The warranty company supplied the engine but didn't pay the extra labor to swap the wiring harness, since the junk yard cut everything, didn't pay for gaskets when the used engine came without a bunch of stuff that we had to swap over, etc., etc.,.  The owner of the vehicle ended still having to pay almost $700 above what the warranty company paid.
Bottom line if you're buying a used car.  Cover your ass.  Drive it around town and on the highway if possible but at least at higher speeds.  Look at the tires.  Check the oil.  Is it clean, full?  If the seller will not let you have it looked at by someone of your choosing, walk away.