Long story short my sister in laws roommate has a Ford focus with a new transmission new tires other work done as well. Pretty clean looking car with high miles 271,000. Engine sounds good car seems to run ok but the thermostat housing pours coolant out. A shop did the water pump timing belt and then told him the head gasket was bad. When I looked at the car the oil was clean, coolant was clean engine ran smooth. No obvious head gasket symptoms. There was some steam and water dripping from the exhaust but I it had been sitting and it was a humid night. Do these engines typically have any head gasket issues? I have the chance to buy it for a few hundred bucks. I don't really need it but I could either fix it and flip or tinker with it or maybe even let my some wrench on it as a hobby. He could use a hobby anyhow! My reasoning for buying it would be it's a clean little car and even if it needed an engine it could be done and be a solid car. Obviously would rather not have to do that though. If the head gasket was blown would it be likely to have no major symptoms such as coolant and oil mixing. Maybe the exhaust was a symptom but it didn't seem to excessive. Is there a decent way to be sure? The guy doesn't want the car regardless. Worth the gamble?