Used car from dealership. Tips?

[deckeda]

bik wrote:
...
Ask for new tires if they are close to low.
Ask if you can see a maintenance report from when they brought the car in and checked it. ...

I understand using the "used-up" nature of a previously-owned car as a potential bargaining chip but in my experience that only works with a private seller, who may feel some guilt about The Thing that needs fixing he might not have divulged.

I've asked dealers about maintenance papers and they never have them. These are bought wholesale, and the "papers" are long gone before the dealer gets the car. And honestly, seeing what's been fixed on it represents a liability if it breaks. And they certainly don't want you contacting the previous owner for any reason.

Used cars typically have new (albeit cheap) new tires in order to avoid any question about this obvious target.