Mountain Biking - Is this a good price for a Hardrock?

I am considering purchasing a 2004 Specialized Hardrock SS BRAND NEW with disc brakes, Marzocchi fork etc for $350. Is this a good price for this bike? Also, it is only available in 17" and 15". I am almost 5'8" and a girl. I know I should be properly fitted, but this is from out of town and I won't be able to. Just knowing that I am a girl and about 5'7 1/2" tall which one would you get?
Thanks!

Not a bad price since they retailed for 500.
Unless you got a long legs, go with the 15.

Sounds good to me, i paid ~300 for a Hardrock Sport last year, and would have jumped at the chance for the upgraded parts for only $50 more. As for the sizing, i'm 5'6" with about a 28.5" inseam and choose the 15", but it was a toss up. I decided it was better to go with the smaller frame. My personal vote is for the 17" if you're taller than i am, but the best advice i can give really is to take each one for a test ride and see how they feel.

Guess if you don't mind not being aboe to shift it's nice for the price. Specialized makes an 05 Hardrock sport Womens edition (has wider seat, shorter crank arms, different stem rise and thinner gips I believe) That you may like.
http://www.specialized.com/bc/SBCBkModel.jsp?sid=05WomensBikesHardrock
MSRP $350

Guess if you don't mind not being aboe to shift it's nice for the price. Specialized makes an 05 Hardrock sport Womens edition (has wider seat, shorter crank arms, different stem rise and thinner gips I believe) That you may like.
http://www.specialized.com/bc/SBCBkModel.jsp?sid=05WomensBikesHardrock
MSRP $350

Good call. And if you the whole SS it what you are looking for, it wouldn't cost much more to convert the woman's specific frame to Single Speed.

To be honest with you, I don't even know what SS(singlespeed) means. How is it different from a regular bike? Thanks for the advice.

To be honest with you, I don't even know what SS(singlespeed) means. How is it different from a regular bike? Thanks for the advice.

No shifting, can't change gears to have more power or speed. Honestly I doubt a single speed is what you are looking for as its generally to cut weight, decrease cost, and reduce things that can break from rough use. Consider the WSD as it has a lot there for creature comforts for the ladies.

Doesn't mean a whole lot, you just can't shift to go faster or slower for the same pedaling speed.

I like singlespeed better for the simplicity, and those who have high quality singlespeed mountain bikes almost unanimously love them. If you're going to ride on roads where there's hills and etc and you might want to go real fast down them, or whatever, it might be nice to have gears.

You might get discouraged if you're going to be riding a lot of difficult mountain bike trails, because it'll be harder to get up the hills. Then again, you could always walk the bike up the hill - save energy, and probably go up faster anyway.

I would get the 17", the 15" may have a top tube that's too short for someone who's 5'8".

I'm 5'8" and just bought a Kona in a 16" frame and the top tube is a bit short for me. I can manage it though, since I'm not a weenie about comfort. The funny thing is that the standover height is just right.

I also have a 17" Hardrock Sport that fits perfectly.

5'8 is borderline for a 17" in most cases. The Hardrock has aggressive geometry which makes me think a 15" may be a better fit.