That used car you’ve been eyeing for weeks in the classifieds section may bring you more problems than you anticipated. Buying a used car is always a bit of gamble. You may end up with a lemon and sink more money into fixing the car than you ever intended. But if you research your options thoroughly you could end up with a car that will last for years.

ConsumerReports.org recently surveyed their subscribers to find out which used cars are the best and which ones didn’t quite make it up to snuff.  The list below shows 16 of Consumer Reports’ 63 Best Used Cars. According to the website, survey participants based their decisions on the average reliability of the cars and consumers'complaints about the vehicles.

Here’s a list of the Best Used Cars to Buy:
• Acura Integra
• BMW M3
• Buick LaCrosse
• Honda Accord
• Infiniti FX
• Lexus ES
• Lincoln Continental
• Mazda Millinia
• Mitsubishi Endeavor
• Nissan Altima
• Pontiac Vibe
• Porsche 911 (except the 2003 version)
• Scion tC
• Subaru Baja
• Toyota 4Runner
• Volvo S60

Out of 30 cars on the less than favorable used cars list, we’ve published 13. These cars were also judged upon reliability and consumer complaints.

Here’s the list of the Worst Used Cars:
• Buick Rendezvous (AWD)
• Chevrolet Astro
• Chrysler Town & Country (AWD)
• Dodge Grand Caravan
• GMC Jimmy
• Jeep Grand Cherokee
• Kia Sedona
• Land Rover Discovery, LR3
• Mercedes-Benz SL
• Nissan Armada (4WD)
• Pontiac Aztek
• Saturn Relay
• Volkswagon Jetta Sedan (turbo)

If you want to purchase one of the best used cars and avoid the cost of repairing a lemon, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) recommends that you talk to the previous owner to learn the car’s history; hire a mechanic to inspect the car for mechanical problems; test drive the car under various road conditions — hills, highways, stop-and-go traffic; and ask for the cars maintenance record.

For more information about buying a car, visit Military.com’s Auto Center.

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