Is it better to buy from a dealer or private?

if youre just buying a daily driver get the auto. and go through a dealer. they come with warranties. provate party sales to save $1000 isnt worth the possible repair costs that would be covered at a dealer.

well doesn't manual get better gas? because i don't drive very far

If you don't drive far it's more than worth it for an auto. Manual will get you like 1-2 mpg better. But if you don't drive far no point.

ok sounds good. and i wanna make it look good. so if i add stuff to it that make the value go up right? and if i get in an accident what would happen if they brake something i put on? i'm pretty clueless.

Actually aftermarket parts do not raise the value of the car typically. So if you put in $3000 of extras it doesn't make your car worth $3000 more. And if you're in an accident insurance takes care of the damage depending on your policy.

what do you mean after market parts? and whats a policy?

Anything you buy to put in/on the car that is not made by Mitsubishi is considered an after-market part. meaning its a part that the car could not come with from the dealer.

I've always bought from private sellers. They generally will let you take the vehicle to your mechanic to make sure that everything is in good shape. Also, a private seller usually won't go to a lot of effort to hide minor blemishes that are signs of previous collisions and will usually be much more willing to give you a heads-up about current and past problems the car has had. Finally, you'll usually get a much better price from a private seller, either upfront or after a bit of haggling. Good luck!

About the manual/auto thing, an auto is obviously easier to drive in heavy traffic, but manuals generally get better mileage and last a lot longer than automatics. Manuals are also practically maintenance-free, no fluid to add or change, no cooling lines to break or crack. Manuals are safer in hilly country because of the improved engine braking ability. Finally, manuals give slightly better performance than autos due to the better torque transfer, a solid mechanical connection through the clutch rather than a fluid connection through the torque converter.

I wouldn't say they last longer. Proper maintenance and an auto will last as long as any manual. Ans don't forget about the clutch. Taking care of that is as important as changing fluid in the auto.