I recently bought this car with roughly 100K on it. While it was occasionally a little hesitant to shift, it seemed to run fine.
In the last couple of days it's picked up a rather distressing vibration at seemingly random times that feels like a right/left back and forth rocking and when this happens the steering wheel acts like it's slipping/catching/slipping/catching in quick succession.

Any thoughts on where to start?

I recently bought this car with roughly 100K on it. While it was occasionally a little hesitant to shift, it seemed to run fine.
In the last couple of days it's picked up a rather distressing vibration at seemingly random times that feels like a right/left back and forth rocking and when this happens the steering wheel acts like it's slipping/catching/slipping/catching in quick succession.

Any thoughts on where to start?
Welcome to AF, may be a belt shift in a ft tire, try putting them in the rear for a test.

Welcome to AF, may be a belt shift in a ft tire, try putting them in the rear for a test.

I was thinking about having the wheel balance checked, would that make it obvious?

These are essentially new tires. Maybe 3K on them.

Was the problem there before new tires.

Was the problem there before new tires.

I don't think so. It wasn't mentioned (heh) and really I'm only worried, at the moment about this recent new vibration. It's pretty rough.

Many things can cause it, does it happen at certain speeds say 40 mph.I had it at 40 - 50 mph area and turned out to be harmonic balancer.Friend had it at all speeds and he just needed tune up plugs and wires,others it was tire or balancing issue.Need a real good description of when it is occurring to even try to pin point.