I'm only a few lessons removed from you and rushed into buying a kite.
Bought a 2009 kite cheaply, and found it leaking. Tried to reapir it myself, spent more money. Still leaking.
So I bough a brand new (albeit a cheap variety of) kite. Works well.
The lesson is don't buy a kite too old. I would say - 2-3 years max.