Make and mileage aside, anything you buy in this price range will be a crap shoot. While an inspection by a knowledgeable mechanic/shop would be great, a thorough check is going to run you a significant percentage of this vehicle's value.
Things anyone can determine - Starts easily, heater blows hot and AC cold, windows go up and down and glass if free of cracks and chips, wipers work, lights and signals are good, trans doesn't slip and shifts smoothly, no 'clunks' in drive train, 4WD works, functional gauges with no abnormal readings, motor and transmission show no fresh fluid leaks (also check dip stick levels and for burnt odor in tranny fluid), exhaust is solid, frame and body panels are rust free, interior and exterior are acceptable, brakes are good, steering is free of shimmy at all speeds, tires (and spare) are decent.
I'm not familiar with VA inspection laws but if this were a NC vehicle and I was satisfied with it sufficiently meeting most/all the above points, I'd take it to an inspection station, pony up the fee and confirm it would pass our emissions and safety criteria.
If this will be your DD and you don't have access to a second vehicle or at least 2K of discretionary funds, I'd pass. Not because its a 98 Montero with 180K but because any vehicle with an unknown history of that age and mileage will be a gamble. If you have adequate backup with vehicles and/or money, this could be a decent deal. Having said that, I have a bare bones 98 (Puerto Rico import w/3.0) with 190K that I wouldn't consider selling for twice that asking price.