Pitfalls of impreza wrx sti ownership?
Discussion
If anyone sees any decent examples for sale please post here.
I think I've written off the one with decals. At 4.2k it's ok but it needs a grand spending and there's no saying a detailer will be able to remove the shadow from the decals. And it needs cambelt, 3 panels worth of scratch repair down to metal. And the suspension needs work, oh and new wheels and tyres. Too much work.
The first one I saw, it's too expensive, and don't think they will go to my price which would be about 5.5k.
I think I've written off the one with decals. At 4.2k it's ok but it needs a grand spending and there's no saying a detailer will be able to remove the shadow from the decals. And it needs cambelt, 3 panels worth of scratch repair down to metal. And the suspension needs work, oh and new wheels and tyres. Too much work.
The first one I saw, it's too expensive, and don't think they will go to my price which would be about 5.5k.
Turkish91 said:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2005-Subaru-Impreza-WRX-...
Lose a bit from the price and this looks good to me.
Not for me that one.Lose a bit from the price and this looks good to me.
tonyb1968 said:
I had a browse round and god, once I had stopped laughing at some of the prices people wanted for a 12 year old car (which 2-3 years ago was STI money) with little or no history, it shows how inflated people want to put the prices up, and you then wonder why they end up being broken for parts....
You are going to have to travel out of your area if you want what you are looking for, saw a blue one up in Gateshead which fits your mileage/budget needs, is on autotrader.
There's one near me. It's perfect but expensive, the first one i looked at. 1 owner,even has pro drive..You are going to have to travel out of your area if you want what you are looking for, saw a blue one up in Gateshead which fits your mileage/budget needs, is on autotrader.
He will move only 100 quid on price. So 6200 but will do cam belt and a service.
http://www.jctcars.co.uk/used-cars/subaru-impreza-...
Opinions?
tonyb1968 said:
I had a browse round and god, once I had stopped laughing at some of the prices people wanted for a 12 year old car (which 2-3 years ago was STI money) with little or no history, it shows how inflated people want to put the prices up, and you then wonder why they end up being broken for parts....
You are going to have to travel out of your area if you want what you are looking for, saw a blue one up in Gateshead which fits your mileage/budget needs, is on autotrader.
There's one near me. It's perfect but expensive, the first one i looked at. 1 owner,even has pro drive..You are going to have to travel out of your area if you want what you are looking for, saw a blue one up in Gateshead which fits your mileage/budget needs, is on autotrader.
He will move only 100 quid on price. So 6200 but will do cam belt and a service.
http://www.jctcars.co.uk/used-cars/subaru-impreza-...
Opinions?
Edited by benjijames28 on Saturday 21st January 16:24
Ahbefive said:
Would be nice if it had a few less miles or was cheaper but if theres nothing else anout then it looks decent.
I'd probably rather a hawkeye if I had to have one of the newage fat, overweight bloated imprezas.
Well people on here are saying 4 grand tops, maybe that's not reflective of today's prices.I'd probably rather a hawkeye if I had to have one of the newage fat, overweight bloated imprezas.
How many one owner great conditioned examples are out there right now? So many have been molested and ruined.
6.1k with a cam belt change is still.more than what i wanted to pay but surely prices could go on the up if i kept it long term
Turkish91 said:
I'm very confused... The one I shared is literally identical to the JCT one you like bar the wheels (arguably nicer on the eBay one but each to their own) and the spoiler. Are you really considering paying nearly £2.5k more for a car six months older with different wheels and spoiler?!
They're even on identical mileage!
Well it's got Pro drive accessories, two crap spoilers, mentions nothing about history, no mention of owners, hidden numberplate, and unless I'm mistaken the front wing is different colour to the driver's door.They're even on identical mileage!
It's in no way an identical car. It left the factory the same but now it's a modified joke with limited history.
Oh and no engine bay or interior pictures.
Edited by benjijames28 on Saturday 21st January 18:30
Turkish91 said:
A modified joke? Do some more research on Imprezas, I think the only non-standard bit on that is the mid spoiler and the mudflaps. Is it not worth finding out more? It'd take all of 5 mins on the phone. Not everyone writes out a million word advert and takes 200 photos. That JCT one is hugely overpriced, but crack on pal 
I agree the one im looking at is over priced, but it's cause it's from a dealer and in such good original condition.Edited by Turkish91 on Saturday 21st January 23:05
The eBay one is private seller, and yes i would say it looks like a joke. It's got sti badges on the front for a start, and who lists a car like a Scooby for sale with no mention of service history, unless course it hasn't got any. Can't even look up the MOT history, that usually shows how cared for a car is.
I can see at least a grand i would need to spend to get the eBay one into a decent state.
lilwashu said:
I bought a classic Impreza a couple of years ago that was covered in decals, had massive clown wheels on it, horrible chinese stereo, filthy interior, dump valve, chav aftermarket spoiler, ridiculous exhaust etc. It was really cheap as a result.
After a few hour's work removing the stickers, replacing the stereo with the original that was in the boot, cleaning it, replacing dump valve with used stock item, and replacing wheels with a good used set I got for £100, I had £500 or so in my pocket from replacing the aftermarket bits with stock ones, and a "good original condition" Impreza that was worth about £500 more than I had paid for it (If I still had it now it would probably be worth £2000 more, but never mind).
TL;DR - look past stick on tat and you can save/make money on a Japanese turbo car purchase. The nasty (IMO) spoiler on the cheaper one can fetch decent money as it's a proper Prodrive item, and people love big scoops and daft high level spoilers in this market, which makes the original bits plentiful and cheap.
Of course if you aren't interested in doing work as per the above then you pays your money etc.
The one with so decals sold. It really did need about a grand spending on it. Minimum.After a few hour's work removing the stickers, replacing the stereo with the original that was in the boot, cleaning it, replacing dump valve with used stock item, and replacing wheels with a good used set I got for £100, I had £500 or so in my pocket from replacing the aftermarket bits with stock ones, and a "good original condition" Impreza that was worth about £500 more than I had paid for it (If I still had it now it would probably be worth £2000 more, but never mind).
TL;DR - look past stick on tat and you can save/make money on a Japanese turbo car purchase. The nasty (IMO) spoiler on the cheaper one can fetch decent money as it's a proper Prodrive item, and people love big scoops and daft high level spoilers in this market, which makes the original bits plentiful and cheap.
Of course if you aren't interested in doing work as per the above then you pays your money etc.
The other one I've been looking at, the expensive one is been sold by a dealer with a decent reputation.
He's gone down in price to 6100 and is going to replace the belt. I'm going for a proper test drive today. If i like it i might just shake his hand.
It really is a great example but I'm sick of losing money on cars. I'm losing a few grand on the Audi, then soon as i buy the Subaru it will be worth minimum a grand maybe one and half less should i sell it private.
I will see what today brings.
Been and had another look. Car seems to drive fairly well and i think the girlfriend has been converted.
Obviously this car is priced for top money, reflective of the condition and 1 owner, but there was a few things making me hesitant to put deposit down without taking time to think about it.
I noticed the steering wheel was way out of line, probably just needs a 4 wheel alignment, but who knows if there's another reason for it.
Secondly the biting point on the clutch was very very high, it's done 90k on original clutch i believe, so it's gonna need a clutch.
He's gonna do the cam belt water pump and pulleys etc...
Is it worth the top money they are asking? I'm not sure.
Very nice people tho. Very accommodating and knowledgeable.
Obviously this car is priced for top money, reflective of the condition and 1 owner, but there was a few things making me hesitant to put deposit down without taking time to think about it.
I noticed the steering wheel was way out of line, probably just needs a 4 wheel alignment, but who knows if there's another reason for it.
Secondly the biting point on the clutch was very very high, it's done 90k on original clutch i believe, so it's gonna need a clutch.
He's gonna do the cam belt water pump and pulleys etc...
Is it worth the top money they are asking? I'm not sure.
Very nice people tho. Very accommodating and knowledgeable.
I think I'm going for the one owner PPP example with 90k on it.
Dealer says they have done a full service and a cambelt water pump kit on it. That's best part of a grands worth of work if I went to a mechanic myself.
The car is also in good original condition. And he's agreed to sell it me for 6100. I'm going to try getting the original low level spoiler thrown in if he still got it. Just in case I want a more discreet look. Oh and it just passed its MOT no advisories.
Insurance wise I've got to start a new policy, setting me back 4 or 5 months towards my 5th year no claim bonus, but actual policy price I'm paying same for the Scooby as I have paid for a 160bhp Audi a3!
I keep looking for all these enthusiast owned cars but they are just not out there right now.
5 to 6k seems to be the going rate for a good standard WRX, I'm fairly happy I'm getting a good enough deal from a reputable if expensive dealer.
I also did my research on the dealer, he's been selling scoobies for over 20 years, he also sponsors local Scooby groups, a lot of them use him for maintenance and parts. Defo worse dealers around.
The car is going for a health check at a local Subaru independent mechanic with good reputation at some point in the next month.
Longer term plans I'm going to buy some genuine gold prodrive g1 alloys, fit them with the best premium tyres I can get at a fair price. The original alloys will get winter tyres fitted.
Running costs, aka fuel was a worry, until I realised that I hardly do any mileage. I can live with 20mpg, I'm getting about 27 in the Audi!
Dealer says they have done a full service and a cambelt water pump kit on it. That's best part of a grands worth of work if I went to a mechanic myself.
The car is also in good original condition. And he's agreed to sell it me for 6100. I'm going to try getting the original low level spoiler thrown in if he still got it. Just in case I want a more discreet look. Oh and it just passed its MOT no advisories.
Insurance wise I've got to start a new policy, setting me back 4 or 5 months towards my 5th year no claim bonus, but actual policy price I'm paying same for the Scooby as I have paid for a 160bhp Audi a3!
I keep looking for all these enthusiast owned cars but they are just not out there right now.
5 to 6k seems to be the going rate for a good standard WRX, I'm fairly happy I'm getting a good enough deal from a reputable if expensive dealer.
I also did my research on the dealer, he's been selling scoobies for over 20 years, he also sponsors local Scooby groups, a lot of them use him for maintenance and parts. Defo worse dealers around.
The car is going for a health check at a local Subaru independent mechanic with good reputation at some point in the next month.
Longer term plans I'm going to buy some genuine gold prodrive g1 alloys, fit them with the best premium tyres I can get at a fair price. The original alloys will get winter tyres fitted.
Running costs, aka fuel was a worry, until I realised that I hardly do any mileage. I can live with 20mpg, I'm getting about 27 in the Audi!
I missed out on the one I was going to go for, my own fault for not committing quickly enough.
Funny thing tho... The private sale sub I linked to early in this thread, I spoke to the dealer Jct about it, he tried to put me off it, few weeks later it's now for sale on his forecourt lol. He's bought it and cleaned it up, adding 2k onto what he paid.
Who ever said don't buy from dealers was spot on. I'm not going to give a dealer a penny unless it's for the perfect motor.
Now on look out for a private purchase.
Funny thing tho... The private sale sub I linked to early in this thread, I spoke to the dealer Jct about it, he tried to put me off it, few weeks later it's now for sale on his forecourt lol. He's bought it and cleaned it up, adding 2k onto what he paid.
Who ever said don't buy from dealers was spot on. I'm not going to give a dealer a penny unless it's for the perfect motor.
Now on look out for a private purchase.
12TS said:
Six owners in 12 years isn't too bad. It may have been an import or dealer car which was flipped in the first few months, so it wouldn't worry me. Good service history would be a must.
At that age buy with your eyes and instinct. You've looked at a few now so you're a better bank of knowledge to draw on.
Must admit I'm bemused that they're of value and sought after at that age, but then again it was one of those cars I *had* to have.
Suppose it's supply and demand. Still a nice looking car with sAt that age buy with your eyes and instinct. You've looked at a few now so you're a better bank of knowledge to draw on.
Must admit I'm bemused that they're of value and sought after at that age, but then again it was one of those cars I *had* to have.
t hot performance that a lot of people looked up to back in the day. Unabused, well looked after examples are becoming harder to find, prices are creeping up.
For me... I'm 27, the impreza was one of my hero cars as a kid, and now I can drive about in one for the price of a 4 years old Vauxhall corsa.
As someone else said, where else can you get that performance for the money. The Subaru impreza is an iconic car. Future classic
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