hmm, any tips on buying second hand cars?
Don't buy anything that has roof damage if it has a sunroof. Even if it has no sunroof, roof damage is very costly to fix and may lead to rust in the future.
Check the condition report.
Make sure it is roadworthy and the owner has shown you details about its registration and pink slip.
Check for any dents or bumps which may have de-valued the car a bit.
Check the engine while running and give it a few revs.
Go for a test drive and at least get to 60km/hr.
Check under the body (especially for a low car) and check whether there is any rust on the exhaust or catalytic converter especially.
Check the interior. Many cars tend to have a hole in the centre console.
Check that there is nothing wrong with the seats and the dashboard.
Check that there is equipment in the boot or not regarding a spare tyre and jack, spanners, etc.
If there are any missing items or damage, devalue the car a little bit with reason-ability. Give offers to the car below what they are asking based on what you think is fair relative to the damage.