Just over eight years ago, I bought my first car, a 1981 Nissan 280ZX I named Zelda. I was incredibly spoiled by my brief search for the right car, as she came along after we’d only looked at a few, and she was undeniably “the right car.” Now, thanks to a careless driver and a hit-and-run, I find myself right back to where I was at age 17: searching for the “right car.”

Sadly, after close to a decade older Z cars have become impossibly hard to find, and I am out of practice at finding them. After an intensive two-day search, I think I have once again found my next baby. Here are a few tips to help you find the perfect car next time you are in the market.

Learn everything you can about the kind of car you are looking for. Each kind of car has its own quirk to look out for. Z cars are prone to rust, particularly in crucial places, such as where the rear suspension bolts up to the unibody. If I hadn’t known about this particular weakness, I could have made the mistake of choosing a 280ZX that wouldn’t last me more than a year or two.

Set your standards. Sometimes, especially if the model you want is one that’s hard to find, you may have to be prepared to take your time in looking. Decide what is important to you – what kind of condition you want your car to be in – and don’t be tempted to settle for less.

Learn everything you can about the history of a specific car before making a purchase. There are many ways you can perform this type of research. Have a list of questions to ask the owner and/or the car’s mechanic; some people will even have records of all the maintenance done on the car. You can also perform internet searches on the car’s history, using the VIN number.

Make sure the car is mechanically sound. Unless you are intentionally looking for a project, you should make sure the car will be reliable. If you do not know enough about cars to determine this for yourself, you can usually find a mechanic who will do a thorough inspection.

Be happy with your choice! It’s probably most important that you feel comfortable with the though of buying the car. If you have doubts now – even small ones – they will probably come back to haunt you later.

For more help on what to look for in a car, please see my article Things to Know When Buying a Classic or Used Car, published by FineTuning.com.