[Landseer]

Well, you sure have the right mindset, then.

So, to prove it to yourself, just read the heck out of this forum and rennlist, searching posts about the earlier cars.

At this age, anything can be an issue. Best if you get a 5 speed which has had documented clutch replacment recently and still shifts well and holds gears, including on decel. This is worth a couple thousand dollars of parts, cause thats what it will add to, middle of road, if you need to dive-into clutch and gearbox. My clutch parts alone totaled more than $1600, at a discount.

Same with brakes. Rotors are $90 each delivered. Best to have a car that still shows the cooling grooves on the front, and/or records of brake maint. If Ebrake holds, that's another plus. Ebrake shoes are another $80 or so.

Calipers can be rebuilt.

Racks are high at $450 or so, but can be rebuilt DIY with some special care and fabrication of a couple of parts that the supplier "leaves out on purpose" to give shops an edge.

And so the list goes. If engine is solid, good compression, that's a major plus.

But all this will be things to read before you buy, and give you negotiation leverage.