[CrapaTaurusWrecks]

I would put the tranny though a series of tests while you test drive it. The tell-tale signs from my experience with Taurus trannys is when the tranny slips after accelerating right after decelerating, get up to about 40 mph then brake down to about 20 mph then kick it down pretty good. If you head don't snap back the car is in good shape. For some reason my Taurus hated long left turns from a stop too. The tranny would drop into overdrive then clunk hard back down when accelerating out of the turn. If your Taurus tranny is good you are just about home free if you ask me.
The radiator is hidden so it is kind of hard to replace so I'd make sure there are no leaks.
Routine maintenence is really easy with a Vulcan. Brakes, belt, plugs and filters are something a novice can do. A Haynes manual and ShoRods advice has saved me mucho dinero over the years! Those hood props pop off really easy. You can have them replaced in 10 minutes. It is recommended to replace both at the same time but if one is good I'd replace just the bad one.
As far as your price of $2500, it seems to be good especially for a dealer in Hawaii. I just recently sold a 96 wagon in really nice shape with only 75k on the Vulcan and it was really hard to get $2400. The car was so nice it sure seemed like it should be worth more but no one was willing to pay more and I live near L.A. so I have a lot of population within driving distance. I've sold other Taurus' in worse shape and they sell really fast for $1900. That seems to be the magic number people are willing to pay for a 1996-1999. I always say it's the best equipped car you can get for the money.

Good luck

TaurusGLenn