sloppy steering is common, it's a steering box after all. Take it for a drive, load it up in third. Try loading it up in second with the brake and see if it starts popping, if it does you probably have a few minor things to fix. Listen for timing chain rattle. Really, there isnt really a lot of problems with the car. Mainly just the cooling, head gasket not getting retorqued, and timing componets, which is basically every g54b. It's an 88 so it will have the group a upgrades, better seats, nice beefy transmission, the 6 bolt half shafts, possibly shp? I'd say if it runs and drives good it's a good price. Speedometer cables are an easy fix.

I'd check the under-body for damage. You can get around 25mpg with a starion. I always seemed to average 25 wth my 86, but I usually averaged around 23 with my 88.