Is my Catalytic converter bad?

I have a 2000 ford Taurus with 197,000 miles on it, I first had a small leak near the oil pan of my engine that grew larger and would cause smoke from flinging back onto my converter. I cleaned the engine and let it dry for a few days and made sure all electric parts were dried out. However, after starting my car it started to make a whistling noise and ran very rough with the whole engine shaking in the process. When I tried to drive it, it had no power at all, it barely went 10 mph even when I held down the gas peddle but the engine wouldn't really rev when I held the peddle down all the way, when it was in gear. Also, going up a hill the car practically went backwards and had 0 power. I hooked up a code reader and it said that there were misfires in my cylinders, but the next day it read no misfires. I had a friend look at it and he tested the heat on the converter and it was really hot on one side and cold on the other, and there was very little coming out of the exhaust pipe. A new Catalytic converter is very expensive and i don't want to fix something that doesn't need fixing, please help.

How good is a 2000 Ford Taurus with only 95,500 miles on it?

I test drove one today and it's within my budget of around $3,000 and I'm thinking of getting it once I get enough in about a month from now, this is if the car isn't sold by then. How good of a deal is this? Also how is a 2000 Ford Taurus with only 95,500 miles on it? This was driven by an old person and that is why it doesn't have much miles on it.

Added (1). When I test drove it around the block it road really smooth and was fun to drive with its v6 engine.

I'm a very new driver (just got my license 2 weeks ago).

Added (2). This is my first car and I currently rely on the bus, any car that has 4 wheels and runs is fine by me. Also a 4 door car is cheaper for insurance rates, which I like. I don't care about getting a fancy car for my first car. I need a car that can be a good beater car for the next 3-4 years until I finish school (college) and find work.

Added (3). Transmission and Engine issues are two problems I worry about the most about purchasing my first car. Though I'm hoping with the less miles in it, that will help.

2001 Ford Taurus intermittent starting issues when driven distances?

I have been trying to figure this problem put all summer and have just about given up hope after having taken this to my mechanic and to ford and many other people for suggestions. When I start the car the first time of the day it always starts great but if I go distances like 30 miles and turn the car off for 15-30 minutes and go back and try to start the car sometimes it won't start up. It starts chugging usually 4 or more times and then dies. Sometimes it does manage to start after driving it that distance but it will chug 2 or 3 times and then start. Help please? I'm lost at this point and just need some good advice. I have had a lot of work done to this car and even after all of it the problems still exist.

What is leaking from my car?

I have a 2000 ford Taurus and when it is leaking a darker color fluid on the passenger side and it smokes and smell's bad when I'm driving it. It is leaking from a spot above my oil pan on the side of it but I don't know what it is above that. One really confusing thing is though, is my car engine oil is not dropping and neither is my transmission fluid. What could it be that it is leaking from so I can fix it?