Wrx PPP wagon - taking me a while to find

[_Batty_]

Cactussed said:

That looks pretty spot on I think!
Apart from looks, is there much difference between a bug eye and a hawk eye?

Second that. Looks spot on. No idea. Think it had a mild interior refresh and obviously the better looks to start with!

[Emeye]

IIRC, I think they may have improved the suspension too. I'm sure the Internet will tell you if you ask nicely.

[WeirdNeville]

_Batty_ said:

Cactussed said:

That looks pretty spot on I think!
Apart from looks, is there much difference between a bug eye and a hawk eye?

Second that. Looks spot on. No idea. Think it had a mild interior refresh and obviously the better looks to start with!

I think you mean bug eye and blob eye? Linked car is a blob eye.
No major difference other than looks. Engine, chassis etc are the same.
That linked car is a pre interior revision one. As it went towards 2005 they got an interior refresh. The momo steering wheel becomes subaru branded, and the heater control panel is tidied up and brought bang into the new millenium with the three dials becoming equal sized knobs all in a row. No substantial changes though.

Hawk eye (2006 on) is a different kettle of fish - they went to the 2.5 litre engine although the chasssis remains much the same as both bug eye and blob eye.

Emeye said:

IIRC, I think they may have improved the suspension too. I'm sure the Internet will tell you if you ask nicely.

I wouldn't call it an improvement! At some point 2004/2005 WRX's started getting inverted shock absorbers. These are very failure prone, causing the shock to stick in the strut tube and making knocking noises. It also ruins the ride and handling. Be cautious.
Inverted struts can be identified in a couple of ways: If you lift the car and pull up the dust boot to see the thickness of the shiny damper tube. If it's skinny (about 1" diameter) it's a normal shock. If it's fat, only about 1cm less diameter than the strut leg, then it's an inverted shock and should be eyed with utmost suspicion.

Have a read for an overview of the problem:
http://bbs.scoobynet.com/suspension-12/929157-how-...


Re that particular car, be sure to check cam belt as theres no mention of it in the ad. Should have been done if it's got subaru main dealer history though, they don't normally let a chance to make £800 slip through their fingers.

[Cactussed]

Just missed out on this.
http://classifieds.pistonheads.com/classifieds/use...
First viewer bought it yesterday lunchtime. About £1k over my budget, but for such low mileage and condition, I would have found the extra somewhere.

Back to the drawing board...

[ScoobieWRX]

Blimey, what a bummer!! That not only looked mint but 31K miles only!!

I think at £3K-£3.5K that would have been a good buy. Shame

[Cactussed]

I know. Makes the 100k+ mile cars seem slightly overpriced...

[anonymous-user]

Spotted that but it's the other side of the country.

Saw an absolute dog of a wrx at auction this evening. 04 saloon. Was about 3.5k with fees and it was a real dog. I was gob smacked.

The search continues.....

[_Batty_]

What a £2k scooby can do
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v303/mattcrozier...

I wasn't driving in the video.

Andy - Nissan GTR - 1'24.5
Kev - Ariel Atom 300 - 1'28.8
Russ - Westfield - 1'30.4
Mike - E63 AMG - 1'34.1
Matt - Impreza Wagon - 1'35.3
Rich - MR2 Turbo - 1'35.5
Mike - Clio 197 - 1'37.5
Shaun - MR2 N/A - 1'40.0
Tom - MX5 MK2 - 1'41.0
Ben - MX5 MK2 - 1'42.4
Mattew - Golf Cab - 1'45.1
Tom - Fiesta Zetec S - 1'45.5
Smithy - Fiesta 1.2 Lux - 1'53.5

[Cactussed]

Good point. Anyone seen this?
Is it likely to be a totla shed or possibly OK?
http://classifieds.pistonheads.com/classifieds/use...

[WeirdNeville]

Cactussed said:

Good point. Anyone seen this?
Is it likely to be a totla shed or possibly OK?
http://classifieds.pistonheads.com/classifieds/use...

It's due a cambelt and the seller has NO Ph history at all. Dump valve would probably have to go.
phone up and ask some pertinent questions re number of owners, history present and receipted, how long he's had it, the full extent of the modifications... who knows? could be alright.

When I was looking for mine there was one on PH with slight tints and aftermarket wheels along with "upgraded brakes". Couldn't tell from the pics if they were brembo calipers. I phoned the guy and he was so vague it was like he'd never seen the car we were discussing. "dunno about the brakes mate, I think it's some better discs or something. my mate did them at his garage"... Okkkkkaaaayyyyy. I don't know if he was a part time trader, needless to say I didn't go and see that one.

[_Batty_]

Cactussed said:

Good point. Anyone seen this?
Is it likely to be a totla shed or possibly OK?
http://classifieds.pistonheads.com/classifieds/use...

Looks a bargin. At that price look at tyres, cambelts and suspension noise.
Looks almost too good!

[Cactussed]

Exactly. If its too good to be true and all that...

[Cactussed]

Oh, does anyone know if they are an interference engine design?

[WeirdNeville]

Cactussed said:

Oh, does anyone know if they are an interference engine design?

Cambelt failure is very much terminal if that's what you're getting at.

ETA: The pistons don't hit the vales, but exhaust and intake valves hit each other apparently. By the time you've removed two heads, rebuilt it properly and put a new belt on it, you've spent the value of a new car.

Edited by WeirdNeville on Friday 11th January 11:33

[Cactussed]

So, get the belts done.

[ScoobieWRX]

Good Curborough vid

I was looking at that Silver Scooby myself. Looks in good nick on the outside which is half the battle. So long as it drives well, doesn't shake rattle and roll, doesn't have any bottom end rattle or piston slap, no smoke, and the gearbox goes into gears real smooth and easy, for £2K it's a steal!! In fact, waive pound notes under the sellers nose and i would say negotiating down to £1600-£1800 is a done deal. Looks alright!!

[_Batty_]

ScoobieWRX said:

Good Curborough vid

I was looking at that Silver Scooby myself. Looks in good nick on the outside which is half the battle. So long as it drives well, doesn't shake rattle and roll, doesn't have any bottom end rattle or piston slap, no smoke, and the gearbox goes into gears real smooth and easy, for £2K it's a steal!! In fact, waive pound notes under the sellers nose and i would say negotiating down to £1600-£1800 is a done deal. Looks alright!!

Was happy with the noise from the Scorpion exhaust too. not too loud, but with plenty of 'whoosh' on boost.

[Cactussed]

What are the views on the pre-cat in the turbo up-pipe?
do these need to be removed as a matter of course to prevernt turbo damage?

[_Batty_]

Cactussed said:

What are the views on the pre-cat in the turbo up-pipe?
do these need to be removed as a matter of course to prevernt turbo damage?

Nothing other than adding BHP
Mine still has them

[Rollcage]

_Batty_ said:

Cactussed said:

Good point. Anyone seen this?
Is it likely to be a totla shed or possibly OK?
http://classifieds.pistonheads.com/classifieds/use...

Looks a bargin. At that price look at tyres, cambelts and suspension noise.
Looks almost too good!

I'd bet large amounts of money that it's being sold by a trader masquerading as a private seller. Doesn't affect the car of course, but does make one want to ask questions!