Don't get all hung up on a brand new radio. They're nice, but they seldom work any better than a good used rig and are always three times the price. With that said--never buy gear from someone who isn't #1 a ham, and #2 someone who has a reputation (locally preferred) of being a good trader.
Equipment I have now: Radios only. Kenwood 3-band HT, Icom 2m, Yaesu 2m/440, Alinco 220, Yaesu FT-900 (HF), Yaesu FT 920 (base). Only three of those were new. I've had TenTec Corsair, TenTec Omni V, Icom 229, Icom 2m-HT (JUNK-and it was brand new), Yaesu HT. When I'm fully outfitted in the truck I can cover 440, 220, 2m, 10-160 with three radios and three antennaes (well one more for 160m)--and have the 3-band HT for walking about--which will crossband back through the truck.
So I
need one more radio for 6m! Not really. The 920 has 6-160. That's a nice HF rig that ain't that pricey-and there should be plenty of used ones around. For the new folks: The Yaesu FT 920 is an "HF rig" plus 6-meters which is a VHF frequency. The radio covers the bands of 6, 10, 12, 15, 17, 20, 30, 40, 75/80, and 160 meters and operates in AM/FM/SSB/CW with 100 watts PEP on SSB. It does that and a bunch more, but that's the basic gist of a "modern" HF rig. It's far cry from the Yaesu 101-EE or any of that old dials/tubes stuff thats still going strong on the CB freqs.
Back to the 920: It's a desktop "big radio" that retails around 1300. But it has a good reputation around here with experienced users like W4IV. Have no idea what the used market is. HF mobile is fun, but don't get too excited about 75/160 unless you're going to run CW and or big amps and as much antenna as possible. OR wait until conditions are perfect.
And I had a 148 and a 29 and now I have some pawn-shop prize CB in the truck.
You can look up any licensed amateur you ever meet. Go to QRZ.com and put their callsign in the little box at top left. You'll get their basic license information and maybe they will have added information and photos like I have.
QRZ also had forums and other ham info.
I have traded at eHam with good results. Always check out your other party on the "bad trader" boards.