Welcome! I would ask if you want to learn repair. If you are willing to dive in, then find a cheap project and have at it!

Are you set on a DMD for your first game? If so, I would try to find one in good working order that maybe just needs a good cleaning.

Where are you located? I'm sure there are other pinsiders in your area that would be willing to help you find your first game.

Good luck and make sure you have room for more than one!

If you can get it for that, it sounds like a good deal. At that price, I don't think any repair would make it not worth it.

brutal!

I have $500, and would absolutely kill for a machine like this at this price, but then I have considerable electronics experience. BUT FOR YOU, IMHO, I would recommend you pass on this one for your first until you have a better idea of what goes on under the hood. Not saying you should buy a "first class" table, but try to buy one that is closer to fully working. Maybe one that fully boots, DMD/displays work...something playable but having minor issues like bulbs not working or a switch not registering. Buy from someone with a decent reputation is helpful. You don't want to get turned off of the hobby by getting into possible money-pit lemon for your very first.

Lots of really great local pinheads in GR and surroundings.
If you need assistance, you can get it from many locals.

I would buy that machine at $500 all day. Working or not you could pass it on to someone here at around $1000. Now you have 1k towards a pin...

Though I doubt you could get it for $500, it would be a steal

My opinion, you would be best suited to buy a functioning game for your first. Enjoy it, and fix the small issues as they come (to get feet wet). Nothing would be worse than owning only one machine that doesn't work, and you can't seem to figure out.

If you can get the machine for $500 or even $1000, then go for it. This is assuming your at least mechanically and electronically inclined. If you like doing those things, then you will work your way through it. This community has amazing resources, and will help you with your journey. When I jumped into the hobby, I bought an old EM game that had not been working for 25 years. Thru a bit of hard work, and a lot of help from the Pinside community; I got it 100% working.

Pinball becomes a sickness...Buy 1, and you will want more.... If you have any sense run away.....

If you can get a south park for $500, its worth it! Since you're new to pinball, it would be better for you to find someone local to repair it and clean it for you.
I always suggest that new owners start small with repairs; Switch adjustments, rubbers, bulbs, cleaning.

Commonly needing fix/replacement are opto switches on this game: Kenny has 2 on either side that registers hits and makes him bend forward.
There are also optos in the ball troth that like to fail and not register the correct # of balls. You can get new ones from Pinball Life.

South Park is a fun and easy game to get started with. Good luck and welcome to pinside.