Consumer's guidebooks, the Lemon-Aid publications and the Annual Auto Issue of Consumer Reports , published every April, are worthwhile reading before you start to shop. You may have to be fairly flexible in your choices, according to what's available on the used-car market, and arming yourself with as much information as possible will help you know which models are worth looking into and which you'd be best to avoid. It's not a good idea to buy a car from a close friend. Your friend's dream car can turn into a nightmare, causing bad feelings and creating a strain that could harm your friendship. It's not worth it, so don't risk it.
Good cars are everywhere, but good friends are hard to find.
The classified section of your daily newspaper is a good place to start shopping, as it usually lists cars from all three sources. The price of cars and the condition they're in will vary wildly in the vehicles for sale from used-car dealers or private owners. Don't buy anything without a written contract. If you're not sure what to include, contact the Automobile Protection Association. They offer a sample contract form for a nominal fee.