Does a used Ford Focus make a good first car?

My neighbor is selling a 2005 Ford Focus zx3 ses with 102k miles on it. I think it's a great choice for a new driver because it seems like it's cheap to run, insure and maintain and is a good size. I like the hatchback because I take a lot of stuff everywhere. I want to get a job so I can try to be as responsible for the car as much as possible. It's listed for sale for 3500 dollars.
So is there anything I should look out for when buying a used focus? I think the seller is a mechanic. What questions should I ask him? We're a little unexperienced in used car shopping. Any help appreciated.

That would be a good car for a first time driver- keep the oil changed and gas tank at least half full and it should keep going for quite some time.

It's a great first car. It's weird but I come from a family that's had a focus at least once in their life. Very reliable and cheap. I had a 07 sedan SE as my first car. It was a good car up until it got totalled (a drunk driver ran into a few parked cars I was just unlucky).

Take it to a different mechanic.

The only problem is that the seller is a neighbor. It's the same as never buy a car from a friend. Eventually it will cause bad feeling.