Whatever you do, take the car you pick to an independent mechanic before you commit. I loved my little '94 Nissan pickup, but my son the mechanic told me that it was in serious danger of breaking in half from a rusted frame. The engine was probably good for another 10 years or so. When I bought my current vehicle (another truck, but that's irrelevant here) I took it to him first, and he was able to point out several fixable problems that became arguing points to halve the price.