How much does it cost?
Go for a test drive, and do like DAOX said, shift early (following the shifting indicators) and slam the accelerator each time you shift up. If the IMA is bad it will first recal and background charge. After a few minutes the BG charge should stop and IMA + CEL light will come on.
If that happens then use the bad IMA as a negotiating point and try to get $1000 off the car, maybe even just $500. Then buy the car because you don't need the IMA anyway to get loads of MPGs. Mine was in pretty bad condition when I bought it but I got it into the mid 50's without IMA.
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