check if it has all hoses, its true, i just bought mine, it didnt have, good think i noticed next day...

 

Sounds like you know *some* of the problems. Good luck learning more with a professional lookover. Try to find a mechanic familiar with the model, as they will be familiar with the failure modes of the model. I picked up the same car you're looking at and once I got all the little things sorted (suspension bits replaced, rotten hoses replaced, timing belt replaced) it has been dead reliable. It has some quirks (sunroof rear lift for no apparent reason, weird abs issue at stoplight speeds).

In the first years I may have dropped 1500 into it on top of purchase price, but that's using aftermarket (OEM) parts and a shop since it was January. It has cost no more than my old Honda to maintain. The 96 is the one motor you will not readily find power upgrades for. Maybe this is why some mechanics call them bulletproof.

I say go for it if the car is is reasonable shape. All depends on what you're starting with.

 

noooo definitely do it. i was in the same situation for my first car and would never want to go back and change my decision. Having a car that you love to drive is one thing, but having a car thats going to teach you responsibility, and force you to learn more about it is great. I didn't know **** about cars until i got my Audi, and I'm so glad i got it because i know i never would have gotten the knowledge that i now have about cars. Overall i never really spent that much on repairs, mostly because i figured out how to do all the work myself.
I say go for it, yo wont regret it.

ps everyone im back