As Muirenn says, don't underestimate reach. The cross check has a classic geometry, so reach is most likely the problem: the seat might not be able to move further forward, the stem might be as short as possible, etc. A very short stem translates into "squirrely" handling. I did that to a bike that was too big for me. The height was just fine, the reach was too long.

Why would powder coating a bike be suspicious? I am sure Kubla might be able to tell from the ad whether it is a hack paint job to cover up a possibly stolen bike or a good paint job for someone who enjoys bikes.