Damn, that sucks about the theft. This seems like a solid car at a reasonable price. Due to the age of the ZHPs it seems we're at a point now where clean cars on market are fewer and fewer.
From my perspective, many owners who aren't enthusiasts hesitate to keep putting money into "an old car," so some of the preventative maintenance items tend to be neglected while regular maintenance tend to be stretched out. It's understandable too; difficult for a non-enthusiast to put $300-500 into parts (upwards of a grand, or more, with labor) into a teenage car when a new appliance (e.g. Honda, Toyota) is so easy - just put gas in it and go. This happened to a good friend - his died due to cooling system leak leading to overheat and then a warped head, and it also happened to the PO of the project car I picked up. Solid cars, in my opinion, when well taken care of.
Good luck with your decision. I wish I had cash, or I'd make this my DD; I've always liked the e46 sedans - they're right-sized and handle nicely.