Oooohhh, Carl got a sweetie!!!!

You sound fairly savvy, Amanda but lets discuss a couple of things....

Buying the first year of a "new" vehicle is rarely wise.... after 5 years,
you can pretty well bet that any teething pains have been dealt with and the
car should be a pretty fair bet (unless you see a bunch of class action
suits).

Your concerns (the trans fluid and vibration) should be made a "condition of
purchase" and written into the agreement or dealt with to your satisfaction
before you commit to the purchase. Bear in mind, the dealer is going to try
and maximize his profit margin and simply service the trans and balance the
tires (if you said "this" tire feels out of balance, you have a 50/50 chance
that "this tire" is the only one he will balance. Simply servicing the trans
is about all you can expect... for the tires I would have shot for a "rotate
and balance 4" and nothing less....

Many dealers here in Canada will offer a satisfaction guarranty period....
anywhere between 30 and 90 days - some with a mileage limit, some without...
If your dealer offers this, consider whether it is a "replacement" or "cash
back" type of deal and which one you feel comfortable with.

Above all else.... use an independant or impartial mechanic to check the
vehicle out for you.... A knowledgeable, disinterested third party is well
worth the money spent in both peace of mind and avoiding a money pit.
Purchasing a used vehicle doesn't have to be the "white knuckle" experience
that so many feel they need to endure....