For what it is worth, I have a 1996 Accent with 208,600 miles on it.  I
bought the car new and I still am happy with it.  I change the oil and
filter every 3,000 miles.  It is a 5 speed manual.

Well - as ads go, it certainly looks like a good first car.  But ads are
ads.  I guess the first question I would ask you is why do you feel you can
talk the salesman down?  What will be the basis of your negotiating?  Not to
suggest you can't, because we all do, but he has to have a reason to come
off his price.  No offense, but he's going to look at a 17 year old as
someone who is not his mental equal and he's going to tell you a ton of
things to keep the price up there and bank on the fact that he'll convince
you of the car's worth, or make you feel like he doesn't care if you walk
away or not.  Do you have the cash for the car?  If you do, you've got a
negotiating platform.  If you're looking for a loan he will know you'll need
a co-signer and if you come in alone (without a co-signer), he's not going
to take you seriously.  Just the realities of how things work.  Can he sell
you a car in your state at your age?  So - think about these things and go
in prepared with how-ever or what-ever you need to actually negotiate a
deal.

As far as an 85,000 mile Hyundai goes - there's not inherently anything to
be afraid of in that mileage.  I'd make sure the dealer certifies that the
timing belt has been changed.  There won't be any Hyundai warranty on the
car at that mileage, but the car required a new timing belt at/before 60,000
miles and you'd be at risk of a major engine problem if the belt has not
been changed.  This is not unique to Hyundai - it's an interference engine
matter.  When ever you consider a used car you should spend the $15 or $20
and purchase a Carfax report on the car.  There's a certain amount of
assurance in that - not fool proof, but better than taking a saleman's word
on things.  You'll need the VIN to pull a Carfax.

Hyundai's are far from flimsy pieces of crap.  They are as well built and
reliable as any car in their class, and will survive an impact as well as
any car in their class.  Look at all of them on the road.  Look at the minor
collision damage you see on them - do you see fenders torn or any other
signs of a car that is somehow more flimsey than any other car out there?
Of course not.  Call your insurance agent.  Tell him what you're interested
in.  If Hyundai's were flimsey and were death traps, the insurance premiums
would reflect that because the insurance companies would be paying out
higher claims on them.  They aren't.  Ask your agent if it would be any
cheaper to insure another car in the same class.  Nope.  Your friends just
don't know what they're talking about - sorry.

So - what are you going to ask him?  What does interrogate him to death
mean?  It's not a bad idea when buying a used car, but you have to have a
plan for what kind of information is meaningful and what kind of information
you really need to know.  That Carfax report is a good starting point.

The best thing you can do for yourself is to take the car to a mechanic you
trust and have him look the car over.  A real, qualified mechanic will know
what things to look at and will give you sound advice.  Take it.  $1750 may
not be a lot of money as cars go, but it's all you have and you don't want
to waste it.

There's no guarantees in the used car world.  Anything you buy could very
well die two days after the dealer's warranty is up.  That's the risks you
take.  In most states the dealer has to warranty the car for some period -
but that varies from state to state.  Check your state laws.  If the dealer
does not have a specific, written warranty, walk.  Don't fall for the verbal
warranty crap.  You don't have the money to chase a claim through the court
system on a verbal or implied warranty.  Used car warranties will often
cover "drive train".  Get a written description of what is covered in "drive
train" and what is excluded.  The dealer doesn't have that?  Walk.

Your web link is for a dealer that only operates by appointment.  That
scares me right off the bat.  Maybe it's legit, but it's unusual.  I'd be on
guard big time.  Do yourself a favor - and again, don't take insult at this,
but take an old fart with you.  No sense setting yourself up to be taken
advantage of by an unscrupulous dealer.  45-50 year old farts like some of
the guys in this newsgroup can have a leveling affect on a dealer.

Good luck...

BTW - what kind of axe ya got?

Don't ever buy a car without having it inspected by an independant
mechanic.

Chris

As someone already mentioned, be *SURE* the timing belt has been
changed.  This is an absolute must.  If it breaks without being
changed, you will likely damage the engine and it will not be covered
by warranty. You might be able to get a printout of what repairs have
been done to the car from the dealer.  I would want the timing belt
thing in writing.

- Mooron