Just do it. You are aware of the trannie issues - that's the main one. Everything else is just routine maintenance. If you have to pay a mechanic to work on it it will be a bit pricey, but if you're handy with the spanners, they are a relatively easy car to work on - don't let anyone tell you they are difficult to work on - they are brilliantly engineered.

Buy your parts from Old Blighty - they are cheap over there, and plentiful.

Buy one, you will love it.