I paid over the odds for mine knowing what I know now. Went in totally blind, zero research and pretty much ignored the advise on here...and Iv been fairly lucky I think not to get a total lemon. I had a budget of £1500 and picked up my 172. 103k when I got it, 12 months MOT, 6 months tax, patchy but ok service history and needed belts doing in the next 6 months or 8k. I ended up paying £1600 (£100 more than I had budgeted) and its been a decent little car in the end
So far its cost me:
-£600 for belts and full service
-£30 new springs
-£30 locking wheel nuts
-£15 new airbox
-£30 new number plates
-£130 two new tyres
So in total my 172 has cost me £2435.
I know I paid over the odds for it to start with, but have taken that on the chin and now I have a nice little car that I have no idea what I would swap it for in the future. It ticks all the box's! Mine is the least desirable basic 172 PH2, so if I manage to get £1500 for it at resale in a year or so, I will be happy with that.
My advice to the OP is look for a tidy 172 like mine, you can find these for very little money now,
This one looks decent enough. I wouldn't bother looking for a 182 on your budget, they are near as dammit identical and the 182 demands more money, and your budget wont get you a very good one from my experience.
Jack