Impreza WRX Advice?

[_Al_]

Hi guys - I'm getting worried about the upcomming nurburg ring trip. The MRT has never been the most reliable but over the past few weeks it's begun falling apart at the seams. As a result my attempts to replace it have stepped up a notch.

I had decided against a Subaru but I've come across an Impreza WRX which I can afford and really like the look of. It drives well and has had a recent cambelt, service and clutch. It's in my price range largely because the bodywork is a bit ropey - there are a fair few dings, scrapes and stone chips.

The three faults I could find are;

Air con works but is not very cold.
Evidence of a leak around the power steering pump.
Dripping oil from the bottom of the filter and there's signs of it on the sump (but it doesn't drip from there).

I'm pretty sure the air con needs a simple re-gas, so I'm not worried about that, but the leaks started alarm bells going.

The basic question is; do I walk away, or is there a known weakness on the Impreza that causes it to drop oil and is easy to fix (I'm thinking along the lines of the MR2 Turbo rocker-cover gaskets).

I'm not afraid of doing DIY maintenance - I've changed gearboxes etc so as long as it's not likely to be an engine-out job I'll risk it. Opinions please?


Also - is there anything else I should check? I'm viewing a couple more next week.

[Evil.soup]

I don't really know a lot about the oil system but it doesnt sound that serious. That said, there are a lot of Imprezas out there and you may find a better one with a little more shopping around. The owners clubs, like SIDC and Scoobynet are good places to look as you can usually trace a cars history via a history check on the seller. It can reveal if the car has been thrashed or tracked, or if it has had some reliability issues.

[ScoobieWRX]

Impreza's aren't oil leakers as the engines are well bolted together, even the early ones. If you're getting a leak from where the oil filter is then it really is just that. The filter may not have been fitted properly or the o-ring on the filter may be damaged or split in which case it would leak oil.

My best advice is...is there a full service history with it, even if not done by an official Subaru dealer as aftermarket Subaru specialists are equally as good if not better. However...if the service history is patchy some of the servicing may have been done a cheap and dodgy garage which didn't stamp the book. If so then perhaps that is why the oil filter is leaking and i would probably give it a miss and keep looking.

Don't worry too much about the body work as that's easily fixed, as is the leaking power steering (generally gasket or pump replacement which is pretty cheap to fix).

I run a WRX Sportwagon and it's brilliant. It will see off most challanges in standard format and you'll have to go some to keep up with it down the twisties. Rock solid bullet proof reliable engineering with great handling. Not the best looking car in the world but Scooby owners don't buy them for looks.

Test drive a few and see what turns up, good luck!!

[_Al_]

ScoobieWRX said:

My best advice is...is there a full service history with it, even if not done by an official Subaru dealer as aftermarket Subaru specialists are equally as good if not better. However...if the service history is patchy some of the servicing may have been done a cheap and dodgy garage which didn't stamp the book. If so then perhaps that is why the oil filter is leaking and i would probably give it a miss and keep looking.

Service history does admittedly have frequent holes in it. The guy does a lot of his own maintenance - he has a few off-roader Landy V8s and does all the work on those himself. I'm guessing that where the book wasn't stamped he did it himself, it seems only major services were done at Subaru.

Ironically the last stamp - the one which would have lead to the leak - was done at a Subaru main dealer (he had the clutch and cambelt done with a service at the same time).

Of the Imprezas I've looked at this is by far the best. From what you guys have told me I'd be better off looking round some more (which I agree with) but the ring trip is on the 11th and I'd like to put some miles on the replacement car before attempting Germany. As neither of you think the issues with this car are likely to be fatal I think I'll go and take another look today.

Unless I spot anything else I'm going to put a deposit down, at least that way I'm finally rid of the MR2! I'm terrible for getting cold feet last minute though so don't hold your breath.

Thanks for the help guys I'll keep you posted.

Alan

[_Al_]

Evil.soup said:

I don't really know a lot about the oil system but it doesnt sound that serious. That said, there are a lot of Imprezas out there and you may find a better one with a little more shopping around. The owners clubs, like SIDC and Scoobynet are good places to look as you can usually trace a cars history via a history check on the seller. It can reveal if the car has been thrashed or tracked, or if it has had some reliability issues.

Good advice! This is the problem with poor planning - I haven't really got time now.

[GravelBen]

Is it just a regular WRX? from that photo it almost looks like it may have a roof scoop there (which would make it a much more special one) but its hard to tell, could just be the poor photo quality making it look that way.

Also that wing looks like it might not be a standard WRX item either, maybe STi or aftermarket?

Edited by GravelBen on Sunday 29th July 12:33

[ScoobieWRX]

Adding to GravelBen's well observed comments......Does it have any engine/drivetrain/suspension mods? and if so, who did them?

It may have silly performance mods that may cause it more harm than good, if the mods haven't already done some harm, if done by some joker. Work carried out by reputable tuners will help to sell your car

Scooby's are bloody good cars but i am willing to bet there are some cars out there that look OK on the surface but may well be well and truly knackered, just waiting to break down in a big way. Don't mean to put you off it as it may well be a peach of a Scooby but you just never know.

The car you're looking at probably is worth no more than £3.5K to £5K.

How much have you got to spend?

Edited by ScoobieWRX on Sunday 29th July 13:25

[_Al_]

I've only got £3.5k to spend and was going to go out there this afternoon and put down a deposit but he sold it while I was at the air race.

It didn't have any modifications bar a large exhaust, dump valve and a spare set of alloys.

Time to start looking again!

Edited by _Al_ on Sunday 29th July 15:40

[_Al_]

Gazboy said:

Al, you get what you pay for.

S14 200SX's are in budget aren't they? You'd get a mint mk3 Supra turbo for that, I'd imagine a nice 328i would be similarly priced.

Couldn't agree more, but let me explain my thinking.

You're right of course, buy cheap buy twice. That said, the car is purely an indulgence for me. I don't rely on it for work, shopping or socialising. It's hard to justify blowing so much money on something I simply don't need.

As the car is a hobby there's no point buying one that I don't actually desire. I've driven the MK3 Supra already so I'd like something different now, the S14 is high on my list, just not quite as high as the Impreza.

With regards to reliability - I do actually enjoy working on cars. The MR2 may have broken down more times than Britney Spears but it hasn't cost me much at all, and it's given me and my mates many happy memories of standing in a freezing cold garage swearing at things.

The running total from 2 years of ownership (not including routine servicing) is around £300 (std ECU to replace the Blitz, new coil, igniter, HTs, dizzy and a rotten chasis brace).

I'm hoping this Subaru will be better.



As usual with me it's cheap and faintly dodgy. The business man who owns it views it as a money-no-object plaything. He's only getting rid of it because he wants somewhere to put his new jetskis. It has new tyres, an engine rebuild 1,000 miles ago and a recent respray.

I forget the name of the company that rebuilt the engine, but I recognised the brand when he told me so they obviously have some form of reputation. He said they're third in the list of well regarded UK Subaru experts behind Prodrive and someone else. Auto something? Anyone care to chip in?

The guys that did the respray are a small local company but they did a cracking job.

There's no service history at all as the guys' company has a fleet of vehicles and the Subaru was just rolled in with them.

The car has an STI exhaust, 98 model interior and some alloys but is otherwise standard.

Comparing it to the blue one I was going to buy is an interesting exercise. There are no oil/PAS/other fluid leaks anywhere. The bodywork has one notable stone chip but otherwise lacks the dings/scratches dents of the blue car. The spoiler is OEM, so no extra holes or slightly mismatched colour. The silver car has no ludicrous sub-woofer and three separate amps floating around in the boot. To my suprise it's also significantly faster.

Car is supplied with tax, test and a full tank of fuel. HPI clear.

I'm hoping it's as good as it seemed on the test-drive as I'm buying it tomorrow.

[GravelBen]

Sounds like a good one to me - often with Subies how well they go is a very good sign of how well they've been treated/looked after. It may have had a hard life but sounds like its been looked after well.


(as long as its not stolen or anything)

[Evil.soup]

It sounds like a good one to me, and the thrashed ones often show signs of it. With it having no history, you should be getting a good price, and it sounds like you have done your homework.

Good luck with it,

Ian

[MrFlibbles]

• crosses fingers*

The Honda doesnt have a towbar so it had better be a good un!

[trickywoo]

ScoobieWRX said:

Impreza's aren't oil leakers as the engines are well bolted together, even the early ones.

They piss oil out of the rocker covers, most often on the turbo side.
Fair enough its not really a serious issue but can give you a scare when you get smoke coming from the bonnet vents.

[_Al_]

MrFlibbles said:

*crosses fingers*

The Honda doesnt have a towbar so it had better be a good un!

How long are your seatbelts?

Cheers for the advice guys - we'll find out for sure in 8 hours time. Currently sat here with a big sack of cash feeling mildly nervous. Hoping it really is a good one!

Pile of cash is £3,050 by the way - exactly what I paid for the MRT 2 years ago.. Hope that's not an omen!

In other news, the latest misfire on the MR2 was a leak on one of the pipes to the dump valve, so nothing major after all. Still think it's high time to let her go so definitely going ahead with the Scooby.

[MrFlibbles]

_Al_ said:

MrFlibbles said:

*crosses fingers*

The Honda doesnt have a towbar so it had better be a good un!

How long are your seatbelts?

Cheers for the advice guys - we'll find out for sure in 8 hours time. Currently sat here with a big sack of cash feeling mildly nervous. Hoping it really is a good one!

Pile of cash is £3,050 by the way - exactly what I paid for the MRT 2 years ago.. Hope that's not an omen!

In other news, the latest misfire on the MR2 was a leak on one of the pipes to the dump valve, so nothing major after all. Still think it's high time to let her go so definitely going ahead with the Scooby.

Whats the plan with the MRT then?

Giving it away?

[AndyB_WRX]

trickywoo said:

ScoobieWRX said:

Impreza's aren't oil leakers as the engines are well bolted together, even the early ones.

They piss oil out of the rocker covers, most often on the turbo side.
Fair enough its not really a serious issue but can give you a scare when you get smoke coming from the bonnet vents.

Spent this weekend changing rocker cover gasket, camshaft seal and front crankshaft seal

[ScoobieWRX]

AndyB_WRX said:

trickywoo said:

ScoobieWRX said:

Impreza's aren't oil leakers as the engines are well bolted together, even the early ones.

They piss oil out of the rocker covers, most often on the turbo side.
Fair enough its not really a serious issue but can give you a scare when you get smoke coming from the bonnet vents.

Spent this weekend changing rocker cover gasket, camshaft seal and front crankshaft seal

I've not come across that before either from other Scooby owners or on Scooby forums as a common issue. As i said, even the old ones are well bolted together and leaks generally are not common commonplace.

Then again there are two of you here with similar problems, go figure!! Are they classic scoobys??

[trickywoo]

ScoobieWRX said:

I've not come across that before either from other Scooby owners or on Scooby forums as a common issue. As i said, even the old ones are well bolted together and leaks generally are not common commonplace.

Then again there are two of you here with similar problems, go figure!! Are they classic scoobys??

Its a very common issue, been around since forever. It tends to be highlighted by the oil burning on the exhaust manifold.
You spend too much time working on not enough on scoobynet

[_Al_]

MrFlibbles said:

Whats the plan with the MRT then?

Giving it away?

I have two plans, one involves a box of matches and three cans of petrol, the other involves some basic servicing and new gaskets to solve the leaks, then a fiscal donation to ebay.

Now that I've got the misfire fixed I'm not in a rush to get shot of it. If the worst happens and the scooby goes bang I'll at least still have a 30% chance of getting to the 'ring if the '2 is still available.

[ScoobieWRX]

trickywoo said:

ScoobieWRX said:

I've not come across that before either from other Scooby owners or on Scooby forums as a common issue. As i said, even the old ones are well bolted together and leaks generally are not common commonplace.

Then again there are two of you here with similar problems, go figure!! Are they classic scoobys??

Its a very common issue, been around since forever. It tends to be highlighted by the oil burning on the exhaust manifold.
You spend too much time working on not enough on scoobynet

Clearly not enough time on Scoobynet and too much work!! And then again maybe some of us buy well maintained Scooby's in the first place, or are just plain lucky.

The only thing my car drops is the clutch when i dump it at Santa Pod or Bedford Autodrome....4000-4500rpm and off you go ------>