Which welder to buy?

I have a few recommendations;

1. Find an adult education class in welding at a local vocational school. I took a twice a week for 8 weeks class in MIG and TIG and it made all the world difference in my welding ability. Plus you will get to try different machines. The class I took was $150.

2. Stick with a brand that your local welding supply store sells (even if you don't get it there) because they will have parts on the shelf. Hobart, Lincoln, Miller are the brands that professionals use and are what the supply houses stock parts for. FWIW, my neighbor dragged over his Clarke for me to fix and the parts are not as readily available. Absolutely stay away for house brands like Chicago Electric, you can't get parts period.

3. Flux core wire is not good for sheet metal work. The arc is hotter and the flux sprays off the end of the wire which tends to blow holes in the weld. 0.025" diameter wire is good for sheet metal and 0.030" is good for everything else on a car.

4. Unless you find someone with a gas bottle that is looking to get rid of it figure on around $200 for your first bottle from a gas supply house. After that refills will be $35-$50 for the smaller bottles. An argon CO2 mix is good for automotive welding and is cheaper than pure argon.