[Moneyguy1]

Most of what you describe, for the age of the car, is what I would consider "routine". Consider the following: You paid $1500 for the car, and the majority of what is wrong with it can be fixed for an additional $2000. Where can you get a good looking vehicle that will make you grin every time you drive it for under $4000? (leaving a little slack in there for unknowns). The problem is you have to stay on top of routine maintenance and wear items or it does seem to hit "all at once". If you feel competent to do some of the work yourself, snag a Haynes manual and at least do the brakes. Piece of cake.

Tie rods can be done by the iwner, but as with any suspension work, the car will have to have an alignment afterward. Good ones can be had used for a fraction of new. Might want to check the ball joints as well. Since yours is an "early" model, the ball joints can be done at home; the Haynes manual tells you how in gory detail.

Fuel filter, oil change; small potatoes. They should be done on a regular basis anyway.

Finally, verify the other work you say was done prior to purchase. A broken timing belt will bite you in the a$$ for about $1200 for a valve job. This can be done by an experienced owner, but it is not the easiest of repairs for the novice!!