Looking to buy a used car. Tips on cars, craigslist and negotiating needed

Hi all- my last car was a 1996 Honda Accord- paint chipping and a lot of problems with the wheels- I spent almost $1000 fixing up the car and bought it for about $2,000 with 140k on it. Granted I ran it into the ground, putting more than 50k on it in a year and a half (I do a lot of driving).

Now I'm in the market for a new used car. I want something decent, but nothing too fancy as I ll likely put 20-25k a year on it. I'm on Long Island and am looking on craigslist.

What kinds of cars should I look for? I want something thats going to last, but I also need to find a dealer I could trust. When I negotiate the price, how low does the dealer expect me to go, so they could make a profit? Any advice on car models, prices and finding the right dealer etc will be greatly appreciated!

Used cars, CAR FAX and go to a local used car dealer. There are some reputable ones. Craigslist to me is like doing a Drug Deal, you may get mugged. If a dealer hassles you, leave and go to another. Your friends or family may know of some good ones.

Paint chipping on a 96 model. Oh the horrors.

Craigslist is a dumping ground. If you can't sell your car in the neighborhood, put it on Craigslist. Someone in the world is dumb enough to buy it… Just not your neighbors.