Your first look-over should include the following:

* Visual Examination - Open all doors including the hood and trunk. Check for rust, weld marks, or a bent frame. Examine hoses and belts for wear.

* Under the Hood - Check fluids. Examine hoses and belts for wear.

* Electrical System - Start the engine and check all accessories such as gauges, radio, wipers, etc., one at a time. Check the horn and all lights.

* Trunk - Is there a spare tire? Is it usable? Does it have a working jack?

* Interior - Badly worn upholstery and carpeting indicate neglect and heavy usage.

* Engine - Does it idle smoothly? Is its highway performance OK? Are there any unusual noises?

* Drive Train - During road test check smoothness of shifting or unusual noises.

* Suspension - Push down on the car's corners, front and back. if it continues to bounce more than one and a half times the shocks may be worn. View the car from a distance; an unlevel car may indicate weak suspension.

* Steering - On a straight, level stretch be sure the steering wheel pulls neither to the left nor right. When rounding a corner it should return straight ahead smoothly.

* Tires - Examine tread and general condition. On the road test, listen for thumping or whining of faulty tires.

* Brakes - Driving between 30-40mph, with no one behind you, apply the brakes. If they pull in either direction, there's a problem. Apply slight pressure on the brake pedal at a speed of about 5 mph; check for an intermittent surge indicating drums or rotors that may be out of round.

* Odometer - Another factor is odometer mileage. Just because a car has high mileage doesn't mean it shouldn't be considered. It may be in better condition than one with fewer miles. Owner's manual emphasize that low mileage cars have been victims of "stop and go driving" (several trips in one day of 10 miles or less) may fall into the "severe service" category. Not only is this type of driving tough on a vehicle, it requires special servicing the owner may have overlooked.

* Service Records - Ask for service records. Many private owners proudly display their maintenance history books as a selling point. A new car dealer may provide this information if the vehicle originally was purchased and serviced there.