Don't be fooled by shiny paint jobs or flashy rims. There could be major problems hidden beneath. Make a thorough visual inspection of the complete exterior of the vehicle. Check all body panels to see if anything has been repainted [Also check to see if any of the front end panels have been replaced or realigned]. One way to check for repainted panels is to look at the colors of adjoining panels- does the door match the front fender?. If the whole vehicle was repainted there is a good chance that the moldings or lights will have paint on them. When a front-end panel has been replaced, the paint on the inside will be fresh and clean as opposed to the rest of the car. Most Ford vehicles have serial numbers on the inside of their panels. A replacement panel will not. Another way to see if the vehicle has been in a collision is to look at the space between panels. Make sure both sides of the vehicle have the same space between panels. Body alignment should include the opening and closing of hood, trunk and doors as well as how easy the hood opens when pulling the release cable.