I agree, it sounds like you have air in the system. If you are taking it out on the road, and don't know when the last time stuff was rebuilt or replaced, I would start with a master cylinder rebuild, new steel and rubber brake lines and pull all wheel cylinders apart and at a bare minimum, put kits in them. All that listed above should be able to be done for about 100$. If you need actual wheel cylinders, then price will go up.
As others have instructed, follow the bleeding instructions in the manual.
