Get a 1996, you would like the dual intakes underneath that a 1996 has. Much better out the hole and stay in the water better plus the jet pumps are also alot easier to maintain and play with since most of the 95 to 1999 ski's used the same pump and are not full aluminum.
Make sure the pump wear rings dont look all cut up, check for alot of light coming through and around the impellers with a flash light, that would mean your wear rings are worn out. Check that ruber boot with a carbon ring on the drive shafts make sure they are not all worn down or worn uneven due to worn out or broken motor mounts, pull the motors up and down also to see if they have broken mounts. Do a compression test and aim for 150psi, you want the cylinders to be within 10% of each other. Check the bottom of the hull for any cracks, chips, repairs. Check the steering, weedless systemt that it opens and closeds, move the steering etc.. lots of things to look for. Either way these boats will force you to learn how to work on them.
