chilly b

Hi all - Recovering former Saab loyalist, contemplating entering the unknown world of Subarus. Found a 1997 Legacy Outback with 128,000 miles. Owner asking $5500. Ad only says that the car runs great, is dependable and that the owner "took good care of it (regular oil changes, etc)". Obviously, I need to know more. But, before I contact the owner, I want to find out what questions I should ask (beyond the obvious questions about major accidents, current mechanical problems, etc). A quick search of this forum indicated that I might want to know if/when the timing belt or water pump were replaced and if the oil pump's been resealed. What other questions should I be asking? A number of posts mentioned a head gasket issue with this model year. What do I need to be concerned about regarding the head gasket and what questions should I ask the current owner regarding it? Finally, assuming there are no major problems, is $5500 a fair price for the car? I plan to contact the owner within the next day or so, so any quick and informative responses would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!