An oldie but a goodie
Before I bought my O'Day 23, I also considered a Tempest. I loved the look of the boat, the huge cockpit, and its robust construction. I never found one in decent shape; they were all old and very tired. If you are considering one, remember that it was built before a lot of modern features were common. For instance, I never saw a Tempest with life lines or stern rails, although I did see one (but only one) with a bow pulpit. Also, most were built with a head that vented directly overboard. If this hasn't been fixed on your potential new boat, then you will have to do so. Those that I spoke with who sailed on Tempests loved them; they all said things like "stiff," "fast in strong winds," "bulletproof," and "really fast in strong winds." Not a light air boat, nor judging by the size of the below decks accomodations, a cruising boat. All in all, I decided it would be a great boat for the handyman who daysails in a region with a lot of wind. In other words, not for me. Good luck.
