Thinking of getting an Impreza WRX - what to look out for

Thinking of getting an Impreza WRX - what to look out for

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Victoria VW

Original Poster:

976 posts

143 months

Friday 15th June 2012
quotequote all
I think it's cheap because of the mileage. It's not listed, but as I said above I know it's at least 76k as that's when the cam belt was changed.
I am in no rush to buy one, so I will keep looking around.
Presumably yours is silver? biggrin

ScoobieWRX

4,863 posts

227 months

Friday 15th June 2012
quotequote all
Get a black one yes

athomp04

159 posts

169 months

Friday 15th June 2012
quotequote all
Cam belt should have been changed before 76k - should have been done at the 50k service.
Ashley

BerksJack

1,155 posts

167 months

Saturday 16th June 2012
quotequote all
Victoria VW said:
I think it's cheap because of the mileage. It's not listed, but as I said above I know it's at least 76k as that's when the cam belt was changed.
I am in no rush to buy one, so I will keep looking around.
Presumably yours is silver? biggrin
Maybe wink

WeirdNeville

5,969 posts

216 months

Saturday 16th June 2012
quotequote all
What you really should look out for is knocking, creaking or gaunching rear shocks particulalry at low speeds. From 04/05 on WRX's have 'inverted' shocks which fail with alalrming regularity. Subaru want £550 a stut to replace them, and there are other solutions about, but you need to know what you're doing as parts compatability isn't as staightforwards as you might think!

So check the car isn't already showing this problem to buy yourself some time.

Other than that they're excellent cars.

Victoria VW

Original Poster:

976 posts

143 months

Monday 18th June 2012
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Is the cam belt change purely based on mileage and not age? I have found an 07 with 29k on it - so would that need it changing based on age or not?

athomp04

159 posts

169 months

Monday 18th June 2012
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You will get different views on this, however if it were to be done in accordance with the service schedule then it is whichever comes first, so in your example it should have been done. You can of course use this as a negotiation in your price point, and resolve it that way if you are particulary keen on the car.

DKL

4,504 posts

223 months

Monday 18th June 2012
quotequote all
Ours is a 12/06 car and had its belts done this time so an 07 would be due this year. If the car has been serviced on time this year it should have been the belt service or its due in the enxt 6 months.
A broken belt doesn't bear thinking about so regardless of miles it needs doing or sooner if the mileage needs it. Presumably 60K.

mmcd87

626 posts

204 months

Tuesday 19th June 2012
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WeirdNeville said:
What you really should look out for is knocking, creaking or gaunching rear shocks particulalry at low speeds. From 04/05 on WRX's have 'inverted' shocks which fail with alalrming regularity. Subaru want £550 a stut to replace them, and there are other solutions about, but you need to know what you're doing as parts compatability isn't as staightforwards as you might think!

So check the car isn't already showing this problem to buy yourself some time.

Other than that they're excellent cars.
Agreed. Camskill do non-inverted replacements made by KYB to OEM spec. These are MUCH cheaper - <£350 to replace all four or even less if you just do the rears. Failing that, a full stripdown and regrease should see at least another 6 months from them, if not a permanent fix if you are not too late.

stonefish

31 posts

196 months

Tuesday 19th June 2012
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Walk away if anyone like this answers the door
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/fe...

Victoria VW

Original Poster:

976 posts

143 months

Wednesday 20th June 2012
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/\ /\ lol smile

I have to say thanks for all the help I've found on here so far, what a great group of people smile

andrew186

159 posts

164 months

Wednesday 20th June 2012
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check your insurance quotes, they are insane on the wrx.. about 70% more than what i pay for my gtr :O that put me off buying one completely

had 2 or 3 different (and supposedly "specialist") insurance companies quote and all of them told me the wrx was exceptionally expensive because they are crashed so often -.-

Victoria VW

Original Poster:

976 posts

143 months

Wednesday 20th June 2012
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It's going to go up whichever of my list of potential cars I go for, although I'm thinking I might already know which direction I'm going

cheesesliceking

1,571 posts

241 months

Wednesday 20th June 2012
quotequote all
andrew186 said:
check your insurance quotes, they are insane on the wrx.. about 70% more than what i pay for my gtr :O that put me off buying one completely

had 2 or 3 different (and supposedly "specialist") insurance companies quote and all of them told me the wrx was exceptionally expensive because they are crashed so often -.-
I never had such problems :OD

£550 fully comp and my postcode SUCKS.

WeirdNeville

5,969 posts

216 months

Wednesday 20th June 2012
quotequote all
cheesesliceking said:
andrew186 said:
check your insurance quotes, they are insane on the wrx.. about 70% more than what i pay for my gtr :O that put me off buying one completely

had 2 or 3 different (and supposedly "specialist") insurance companies quote and all of them told me the wrx was exceptionally expensive because they are crashed so often -.-
I never had such problems :OD

£550 fully comp and my postcode SUCKS.
I did. The WRX is right in the upper echelon of car insurance premiums for me. I can insure 911's, NSX's, M5's, odd imports, GT-R's Elises for £500 ish (online car quotes so only ballpark) but it took me 2 weeks of ringing round, referrals, brokers etc to get the Impreza to £600 FC, and I'm in a good postcode generally and have an unblemished driving record. It pissed me right off.

Certainly worth checking before the keys are in your hand. It's worth it, but only just for me!

DKL

4,504 posts

223 months

Wednesday 20th June 2012
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We've not had any issues with insurance. Ok we're getting on a bit now 40/33 and both have full clean licences and live in the sticks but we pay 400 a year. Now granted I could insure a 996 turbo for us both for 500 or a db7 vantage for 600 (I know I've checked but sadly haven't got the cars!) so you could say its a lot but I can live with it at that level.

Victoria VW

Original Poster:

976 posts

143 months

Monday 25th June 2012
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As we were driving up to Croft on Sunday we saw a huge convoy of Subarus on the motorway, looked great smile

BerksJack

1,155 posts

167 months

Thursday 28th June 2012
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Victoria VW said:
As we were driving up to Croft on Sunday we saw a huge convoy of Subarus on the motorway, looked great smile
Did it convince you? wink

Victoria VW

Original Poster:

976 posts

143 months

Thursday 28th June 2012
quotequote all
It was a fab sight, but I'm afraid my heart belongs in an R32!

Victoria VW

Original Poster:

976 posts

143 months

Thursday 26th July 2012
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So I have made an appointment to test a WRX on Saturday. They have asked me to bring proof of insurance though? I would have thought their insurance should cover a test drive and I'm not sure mine covers me.