As with any used car you should inspect it thoroughly before making an offer, but if you find nothing wrong you should have no problems with it. I don't know of any concerns that the 1997 model would have that the 1998 or 2001 didn't. They were all very reliable. The engine is not much different from the 1996 VTEC model, either, so it's not like '97 was a completely new car from the ground up. Just sheet metal and interior design. They even used the same clutch as the 4th gen. VTEC models. You should be fine.

Just a personal preference, but if it were me I'd try to find the honeycomb grill off the 1999-2001 models to replace it. Looks better than the plain horizontal strips.