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i would buy anything with a high impedance rating ...
your not after a precision scientific measurement but a general tool - I have had many meters overthe years and have given them SERIOUS abuse - I would NOT buy a very cheap one (tend to be a little inacurate and break very quickly) but neither would I buy a very expensicve one - go mid range.
As to make....fluke are good (but you pay for the name) I would say to look at spending circa £40 ($60) and look for the following featurews specifically for auto work:-
Volts 0-250 v dc
VOlts 0 - 1000 volts ac
Amps 0-10 amps
resisatance 0-10 ohms and 0 - 10m ohms scales
temperature 0-1000 deg c
curcuit tester feature (normally on th resistance scale - beeps when you have a curcuit - mega usefull when under a car checking earths...)
other feature i wouldnt be without:-
hold feature (enables you to freeze a reading)
test leads with screw on croc clips (not just points but croc clips that screw on and then you can 'clip' the leads to contacts)
autosensing on voltage etc (meter decides the range!)
nice long supple test leads (i.e. silicon cable)
LARGE clear display characters
I would very much be guided by the feel of the meter particularly the switches are they positive, do they feel weel made....is it heavy..heavy is good...
I would (personal taste) buy a digital one over a analogue one...both have strengths..but i have found digital ones survive better when dropped...and you will drop it some time (if only off the wing of the car) - I dropped on from considerable height once and it just bounced!
I dont like the funny shaped single handed etc ones...but then again im used tothe old style AVO meter design...
I have had my current one for 10 years and its gets looked after ok but not babied....paid about £40 ($60) for it...
just buy one that makes sense to you and feels good...please dont buy a cheap one...it will disapoint and frustrate you and turn you off a very usefull tool...
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