TO buy or not to buy

[mcomet]

I would agree, do a PPI, buy it (negotiate lower for costs) and then dump several thousand into it to get it running safely... including new tires (check dot code, note you can end up paying $1k-$2k in tires depending on your choice), IMS LN bearing, major service / belt, fluid flushes.

Any money you save by getting a car in not in as good condition as you want, you will likely end up spending anyhow to get back to the condition you want it to be in... Sounds like this car is good both cosemetically and with some work, will be a like-new driver as well.