From my experience with entry level rigid mtb bikes,, not that I have whole lot, but I've restored/overhauled 5 of them in the last year and ridden many in the past, they can be really good and reliable commuter bikes. With a little effort i've gotten all of them to shift essentially perfect and to ride smoothly and quietly. So I would guess that the bike you are looking at is either a good bike or has the potential to be good with a little mechanical finesse. That said, when I ride my entry level bikes I try to keep in mind that they were not designed to take the same beating a higher level one was. You might also consider looking on craigslist. I dont know where you live but here in Co. springs there are several sweet older mid-high end mtb's listed right now for around a hundred dollars. In fact I find it a little shocking that those great machines are so undervalued (it's partly because of the season), I wish I could afford to buy them.