Help – Used car purchase

Hi guys, I hope I got the right forum here, I wasn’t quite sure, because my question can’t be assigned to a particular manufacturer. I’m looking for a cheap used car for shopping trips and leisure, I’m coming to work on foot. My budget is 2500-300€. Since there’s certainly a lot of scrap in this price range, I’m worried about the purchase. I’m not fixed on a specific brand and I don’t have any gr There are now many candidates: Golf, Civic, Colt, Polo, Fiesta, Corolla and the selection is also great, but I don’t know myself with cars really well (have never had an own or even only one available). I have already read here and everywhere else what to look for, things like timing belts etc. usf. Now it says everywhere, however, that you need to eat. If a petrol tanker should be (maintaining) and min 60hp. Air conditioning would be nice but not a must. I’m afraid I don’t know anyone who knows cars at all. In such a case, how should you go about buying a used car? Buy only from the Hänlder with a guarantee? Is there a possibility to pay someone who ‘mediates’ a car to me? I hope someone can give me some good tips. mfg, devnul ps: I live in Cologne