[Familyman 90]

check for evidence it has been run or maintained on the cheap. Nankang Woosung Tyres, Bombsite Motors service history (these are big, complex cars and need a specialist or a dealer, Fred in a Shed isn't up to it), Champion wiper blades, all the tell tale signs that someone's wallet wasn't as big as it should have been.

Check the car tax banding on that particular car - most are band K, £330, but a few with a particular combination of spec and wheels were band L, 585. Not a big deal for a car that cost upwards of 40 grand 15 years ago, but forewarned is forearmed.

Check the box swaps cogs smoothly, with no major clunking, jolts or flaring.

Check that everything works. If there are any warning lights of error messages be suspicious - if the seller is claiming it's an easy or cheap fix, then ask them why they haven't done it then?

AWD doesn't give trouble often on that year, so probably no issues to worry about there.

They can suffer swirl flap issues. Quite often it does not affect driveability at all and people leave them 'wedged' open, but sometimes they stick in the wrong position and power delivery can seem flat. Fixes rang for £8 for a new actuator arm, to about £130 for a full kit - it's not a challenging DIY job, but is quite lengthy.

185's aren't fast, but they are surprisingly eager and revvy.

These cars tend not to leak, even with big miles, so be mighty suspicious of evidence of fluid leaks of any type from anywhere.

And all the usual wear and tear stuff. Brakes and tyres have a hard life, so eyeball things carefully.