1. Don't get emotionally invested in the first vehicle you look at.
2. When you look at a vehicle, keep an eye out for things that need doing/fixing that you will have to do as a potential purchaser. Keep a mental list, and factor in dollar amounts for what each one may cost you. That way, if you're serious about buying the vehicle, when you make your offer you have reasons as to why you're offering $2500 for a car that the seller is listing as $3500, and you can use them as bargaining chips to get the seller to lower their price a bit and make a vehicle that's at the upper cap of your price range suddenly fall into your price range! :wings:
2a. Deal in cash if at all possible. We all love the prospect of holding thousands of dollars of cash in our hands at that exact moment, and many deals are had by telling the seller (say, offering a vehicle for $3500) that you've got $3000 cash in your pocket and you're willing to plunk it all down today. Sure, a check is nice, but cash money is always better, and people are willing to haggle with you a bit more if you make their lives easier by saving them a trip to the bank.
3. BRING ANOTHER PERSON. I can't overstate this one enough. I've gone with my dad (and he's come with me) to look at many vehicles, and it is such a huge help to have another set of eyes, ears, and hands to poke and prod and listen to the vehicle while you're looking at it. They'll often hear things you won't on the test drive, and they'll be able to keep the seller occupied while you crawl under the vehicle and wiggle things around so you don't have someone talking at you while you're trying to pay attention to details. I know that's a bit harsh, but it's true more often than not, and many sellers will use conversation as a means of distraction to keep you from noticing things.
4. If you can, get the vehicle inspected. Offer to have the seller come with you to a local shop if it's convenient (if you have one you prefer/knows the brand you're considering), and pay for the inspection by a professional. Most of us average guys only see to 85-90%, and an expert will see that extra 10% that you miss. I'm seriously considering doing this one with my next vehicle purchase.
5. Look at what OEM/aftermarket replacement parts cost on the internet, their availability, and how many shops in your area work on your chosen brand or at least carry the parts. Sure, that super rare (insert vehicle here) is awesome, but when you're trying to find the ****** sensor that keeps the entire vehicle from working and it's $1500 shipped from Japan, the purchase suddenly doesn't seem so smart.
That's just a worst-case scenario, and not one you'll find with the vehicles common to this forum, but one you should at least consider since it sounds like you're planning on doing work yourself.
6. Make a pro/con list and figure out what you NEED versus what you WANT. Often times the two are more disparate than you realize and making a list may cause you to make the more practical choice over the more fun, but less responsible one. Or, in some cases, the practical choice is also the fun one!
Some people want to be "different" with their vehicle choice, but there's no denying that a Jeep or a Toyota is going to a lot easier to mod and gain support for than an Isuzu Trooper or Montero (not knocking those groups, because those were trucks I was seriously considering :bowdown: ).
Anyway, I'm sure I've run my mouth (fingers?) enough for one post, but hopefully these tips I've gained from my personal experience and my observations will help in some small way. And I'm happy to answer any other questions you might have, as are most of the other people on the forum! Oh, and I forgot a tip...
7.HAVE FUN!!! Enjoy the search; it won't always be easy, but don't get frustrated or desperate or discouraged. It can be super rewarding and the diamond is almost always out there in the rough. Good luck!