WELL WELCOME TO THE CLUB...I am a newby too...i'm even in the car biz (auto sales) and have been bit pretty hardcore with the SVX bug. I absoluty love mine....now remember with any used car you buy..you'll have an adjustment period...kinda like a marriage or relationship...some survive some don't. The ones that do.. took thier time to get to know things..such as in this case...how is thig car going to treat me..you don't know..cuz you don't know the history....

1st - Have it inspected and by a specialist.
(find the problems that exsist now so you won't be surprised)

2end - Get AAA or sumthing you never know when you might need it

3rd - PAY somone to fix something right the 1st time...again use a specialist.

and remember with all cars...its pay a little now or a lot later...-lol-It can get expensive if you shortcut and don't get problems taken care of when they 1st come up.

Also I advise you to take it out on long runs 1-3 hours..get to know "her"..and traits..the "personality" of the car if you will... find the norm...where the temp gauge is and all that...and 4th and finally

HAVE FUN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

PS i've had mine for a month today and its my cars birthday this month (shes 10, #3352 4/94) -lol- just fyi these are my problems to date:

97,800 miles

-Had the timming, main drive belt & water pump replaced ($500)
-Power window broke (needed new cable and regulator) $150
-Loose exaust rattle ($180 to replace)
-Left switch for window control broken (had to replace whole console pane on driver side) $125
-Upgraded "fog lights" to super blue bulbs ($40.00)

Total Cost after a month of ownership $1,000 aprox.
and i still need to have some minor dents removed/paint touched up, tires, and trans oil cooler (cheap transmission insurance). So as you see you'll run into somone stuff little or big that needs attention...its a learning curve. Oh and i got re-ended a few weeks ago so i need to touch up the back bumper -lol- (yeah shes ok no damage)

but all minor work considering its 10 years old.