Since my Cavalier bit the dust with one-half-million miles on it, I bought a red '99 Ford Windstar van, 139,000 miles, $2000. I bought it from a mechanic I know.
That particular van is not that good, but the reason I buy well-maintained used car is that the design flaws have all been repaired, They have on this one.
If I get 80,000 miles out of it I'll get my money's worth.
Never again will I drive a vehicle until it has 480,000 miles on it. The heat was going out because the heater core was clogging up, the headlights pointed in different directions, the struts and shocks were gone, the front seat was broken, the AC compressor was out, it needed an alignment, and the body damage had to be seen to be believed.