Are these cars okay, any issues with them? just need basic advice never been around one.

They for the most part are pretty reliable cars. Stay away from the first 3 years of manufacture as they have problems with the alternators, springs on the struts breaking and problems with the rear hatch not releasing.

so far, these are the major works I did for my 2002 with 208K miles on it.
- struts. replaced it twice already. At first, the pass spring broke
- thermostat housing. it was leaking. Replaced it.
- transmission solenoid.