Thanks BruceMetras and bhkyte for the feedback. Definitely, encourages me to make the minimal investment to at least go check it out, soon. Worst case, I'll be more informed and out small travel time\$. If it passes inspection\negotiation, then that'll bring its own rewards, then upgrade &/or second future prospects don't sound bad, either way.
They do offer a year of free tune-ups, though their distance from me, and the rep for "slow", "lazy" and "shady" makes me think I won't take as much advantage of it to weigh it very heavily in their favor, but I'll still consider in the value of the purchase.