Advice needed on buying used car from private seller

I'm thinking of buying a used vehicle, probably a Honda CRV or Toyota RAV,
mainly because of their reputation for reliability, decent gas mileage, and
a certain (if limited) ability to handle high-clearance dirt roads.

My question is not so much about these particular models, but about any
advice anyone cares to share about the buying process. Not caring to go
through all the stupid and frustrating salesperson games on a car lot, I
intend to buy from a private seller. However, I'm sure this method has its
own risks. For example:

How high is the risk of some sort of fraud--e.g., someone selling a stolen
car with a forged title, or other such things? And do used car salesmen
often pose as private sellers? (I once had a neighbor who sold a different
car in front of his apartment every month or two--seemed quite suspicious.)
Are there any red flags of seller behavior to look for that will alert me to
the possibility of the car having problems, a shady history, etc? Are there
websites that give advice on the buying process?

"Ethan" > wrote >
> Are there websites that give advice on the buying process?

www.edmunds.com has a used car appraiser that might help a
lot in the bargaining process.

Test drive at least half an hour. Check the radiator coolant
level before, during, and after. Check the quality of the
coolant in the radiator tank when the engine is stone cold,
and also in the reservoir. Have a mechanic check out the
car. Find out when the timing belt was last changed and get
documentation of that and as much other maintenance as
possible.

Don't make a decision on the spot. Insist you need a day to
think over the asking price and what, if anything, you'll
offer. Report back here with anything suspect.

On Mon, 13 Mar 2006 05:13:19 GMT, Ethan > wrote:


>I'm thinking of buying a used vehicle, probably a Honda CRV or Toyota RAV,
>mainly because of their reputation for reliability, decent gas mileage, and
>a certain (if limited) ability to handle high-clearance dirt roads.

>My question is not so much about these particular models, but about any
>advice anyone cares to share about the buying process. Not caring to go
>through all the stupid and frustrating salesperson games on a car lot, I
>intend to buy from a private seller. However, I'm sure this method has its
>own risks. For example:

find a public library
read a copy of the consumer reports used car buying guide

Ethan wrote:

>
> How high is the risk of some sort of fraud--e.g., someone selling a stolen
> car with a forged title, or other such things?

And if possible, do the final transaction at the DMV.