No car last without scheduled routine maintenance. So IMO the first thing you want to see is maintenance log. No history? If you are seasoned mechanic and can tell when checking the fluid if they are burnt dirty and especially LOW that's big money problem.
Then there are the routine parts that wear out, brakes usually go between 40 and 50K miles depending on driving conditions. Tires dry rot at rate around 6 years reguardless of miles. Front end parts usually start to go around 70k miles depending on circumstances.
Water pumps and radiators can go if antifreeze wasn't changes about ever 5 years. Usually take about 7 to 10 years if fluid changes wasn't done to rear there ugly head. Bottom line there is no crystal ball that can garrentee used car will not have major repairs shortly or few years down the road.
You can increase you your odds by getting one with maintenance log history. Any car off used car lot is roll of the dice? They didn't get there by chance. Now days it's hard to find car with less that 20k year use. The quality a lot better than even 10 years ago. Now days 100k in 3 or 4 years is normal. The big question was the fuild changes routine intervals.
IMO engine oil should be changed twice year, before summer and before winter, others may disagree, but they usually don't keep car pass 4 years so their lack of oil changes really affects the next owner
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