Found one for sale in "excelent condition" for $350. I thought it would be a good deal, but could use some advice since I'm a total newbie. Ad says its a 1998 but it looks like an 07.

I could go pick it up around noon if it's a good deal.

Here's the ad: https://madison.craigslist.org/bik/2307276301.html

Here's the BikePedia for an 07 and 08 model. They don't list a 98.
https://bikepedia.com/QuickBike/BikeS...6700&Type=bike
https://bikepedia.com/QuickBike/BikeS...6700&Type=bike

It's definitely an 07 model. If it is ready to ride, $350 is a decent deal. Maybe see if he can take $300 on it, but $350 is not overpaying.

This is a much better option than upgrading your current bike.

Pull the trigger, but I'm sure you can talk him down to $300 first.

Well, turned out to be some foreign guy trying to scam someone. Bike was a 2004, v-brakes, squishy fork. He was clearly a smart enough guy to know it wasn't the bike that he put up pictures of, and knew what he was doing when he put up said pictures. He was different when I showed that I clearly knew it wasn't nearly as good of a bike as the one he claimed it was and quickly went for a "Sorry, I'm foreign, I don't know anything." and seemed to not even know English as well. I hope everyone else from another country is ashamed of him.

Total let-down.