Just to update, we came to the conclusion to only spend about half of what we initially were going to.
Went with this XTerra 2wd. $5400. Recent timing belt change among other things so it should be good to go. Has almost 130K on her. Wife's happy and so am I as the second choice was a '00 BMW 3 series with 150K. While cruising around in an all blacked out 3 series would be cool, I would be afraid to fix shit... had the usual air bag light and brake pads light on too.
Also you can tell it has never seen a bit of salt. I should have bought my FJ down here... so clean.
http://images.craigslist.org/5N75F75J83F93L33Hcc1665b9c2644b471dff.jpg
http://images.craigslist.org/5Nb5Hd5M33Kf3Fd3N1c16f5bd820f29391b40.jpg