Mountain Biking - Carrera vulcan - worth it new? (Newbie)

[Advanced appologies this is a double post but I can't delete the original??]
Okay I want my first bike for cardio excercise - my route will be 90% road but I also want to do the odd easy going country-side cycle with friends (I say easy going as I dont want to give the impression that i'll be doing the andes on it) - The bike is £210 ($400ish) new ('04 model) .

Before I make the plunge tommorow is there anything that stands out to you guys as this being a poor bike? Am I paying too much for it new?
have you guys had horror stories from people?
or can you insist on a "better" buy within similar cost range?

Im just paranoid that since im totally inexperianced I could be randomly buying a bike that those with experiance know is a rip off...

thanks in advance

Got a link to it???

Being Stateside, I'm not familiar with that brand.

L8R

Well i had a search on google and came up with...

This (http://www.bikemagic.com/review/reviewproduct/mps/RGN/1/RCN/56/RPN/19235/v/1/sp/328432336878364733220)

http://www.halfords.com/opdImages/00004510.jpg

and this (http://www.halfords.com/opd_product_details.asp?id=19241&type=0&cat=91)

Just have a search on google and see what other people have written. Hope you find something good :)

thx for input but id seen the sites :) - I think ill just go ahead and order ive found a relative can get the bike for quite a bit cheaper than rrp - so happy times - i'll post how my first ride(s) go...

Carrera are sold alot in halfords in the UK, reasonably solid frames backed up with a reasonable component level, solid bikes, and the paint schemes are quite nice :)