Is a £5k Impreza asking for trouble?
Discussion
Personally I would be very carefull about what you are getting for your £5K.
I would NOT buy a modified example...chances are if its that cheap its been fitted with cheap modifications. Probably a bleed valve boost controller wound right out with no re-tune!
I think if you look around though you could pick up a stock standard example with decent service history from a family man or something.
Just make sure its got lots of MOT and any big services have been done.
I would NOT buy a modified example...chances are if its that cheap its been fitted with cheap modifications. Probably a bleed valve boost controller wound right out with no re-tune!
I think if you look around though you could pick up a stock standard example with decent service history from a family man or something.
Just make sure its got lots of MOT and any big services have been done.
I bought mine for £3k with a recent rebuild - circa 90k miles on the clock. It's done me 4,000 miles so far including 11 laps of the 'Ring and some autobahn work. All its needed are oil top ups.
...and admittedly a hell of a lot of trouble to get it through the MOT emissions test for some reason - though the problem has now disappeared without a trace.
Best advice - which I never follow myself - is to buy on condition not mileage and get as much history as you can lay your hands on.
...and admittedly a hell of a lot of trouble to get it through the MOT emissions test for some reason - though the problem has now disappeared without a trace.
Best advice - which I never follow myself - is to buy on condition not mileage and get as much history as you can lay your hands on.
I know quite a few people with scoobs that would probably go for about 5k ish today and they all seem to be going very well. When your part of an owners club you tend to hear about any problems and they dont seem to come up that often.
As said, try to find an unmodified one or one that has had very little done to it. Personally i would avoid dump valves and induction kits, to me they are signs of a modifier on a budget IMO.
Again, miles are not too much of an issue if it has clearly been looked after and has a FSH if not more so.
If you were talking about a Mondeo with 80k you probably wouldnt be that worried about it, its just the rep that goes with a performance car, but you can always get a good one with some careful shopping
As said, try to find an unmodified one or one that has had very little done to it. Personally i would avoid dump valves and induction kits, to me they are signs of a modifier on a budget IMO.
Again, miles are not too much of an issue if it has clearly been looked after and has a FSH if not more so.
If you were talking about a Mondeo with 80k you probably wouldnt be that worried about it, its just the rep that goes with a performance car, but you can always get a good one with some careful shopping
Evil.soup said:
If you were talking about a Mondeo with 80k you probably wouldnt be that worried about it, its just the rep that goes with a performance car, but you can always get a good one with some careful shopping
Well, that and the slight price difference between a second hand engine. Last time I looked I could have a warrantied mondeo engine for £400. Putting a blown Impreza unit right may take a little more!_Al_ said:
Evil.soup said:
If you were talking about a Mondeo with 80k you probably wouldnt be that worried about it, its just the rep that goes with a performance car, but you can always get a good one with some careful shopping
Well, that and the slight price difference between a second hand engine. Last time I looked I could have a warrantied mondeo engine for £400. Putting a blown Impreza unit right may take a little more!I sold my unmodfied classic wagon for just over £5k over 4 years ago - with 100k miles on the clock - and according to the DVLA site it's still on the road! It was in pretty much perfect condition when I sold it, they cope with the miles very well.
I'd say a £5k Impreza can be a very good buy if you pick the right one. They need a cambelt change at 90k miles by the way - can cost > £500.
Steve
I'd say a £5k Impreza can be a very good buy if you pick the right one. They need a cambelt change at 90k miles by the way - can cost > £500.
Steve
millband said:
I sold my unmodfied classic wagon for just over £5k over 4 years ago - with 100k miles on the clock - and according to the DVLA site it's still on the road! It was in pretty much perfect condition when I sold it, they cope with the miles very well.
I'd say a £5k Impreza can be a very good buy if you pick the right one. They need a cambelt change at 90k miles by the way - can cost > £500.
Steve
They need a cambelt change every 45k occording to the service book.. or if you go for a newage 50k. I'd say a £5k Impreza can be a very good buy if you pick the right one. They need a cambelt change at 90k miles by the way - can cost > £500.
Steve
But there are a few around i know of a fwe for sale around £3k to 4k which have good history and are know to a fwe subaru clubs so back ground checks can be carried on forusm etc for problems etc. But for £5k you should be able to get a good one but remember if you have any doubts walk away there are plenty to choose from... Make sure it has a ful service historyt with either dealer stamps or invoices..
I have been bad with my documentation but have a full service book stamped upto 50k soon to be 60 and all previous MOTs so just look out for the obviouos damage etc. New radiator or power steering pipework (has it been in a front ender?
JakeR said:
cheers guys,
any word on that buying guide?
join the SIDC - there is lots of info there, but a buying guide? There are no 'known' common problems.any word on that buying guide?
My 'classic' has done 80k-odd miles with no issues. Cambelt is every 60k, though there is confusion over this as Subaru reduced this for newage engines.
Here is my service booklet (photographed for an argument I had earlier) NB the larger services are every 30k, but even they are not expensive.
I agree with all the above on buying - IMO unmodified cars are best, only exception being the PPP, which was Subaru approved and didn't stress the engine in any way.
Modifed cars are not usually a good 2nd hand buy, because
1) you don't KNOW if they were done properly
2) most importantly it shows the owner wanted 'more', so they will have been taking the car to extremes more often.
IIRC I sold my completely unmodified 2002 for about 5700.
It was so cheap as it had been to the moon and back (120k on it), but I'd much rather have owneed that one rather than a badly modified chav-slag - it was in excellent condition.
Echo the above comments about buying on condition!
It was so cheap as it had been to the moon and back (120k on it), but I'd much rather have owneed that one rather than a badly modified chav-slag - it was in excellent condition.
Echo the above comments about buying on condition!
MrFlibbles said:
IIRC I sold my completely unmodified 2002 for about 5700.
It was so cheap as it had been to the moon and back (120k on it), but I'd much rather have owneed that one rather than a badly modified chav-slag - it was in excellent condition.
Echo the above comments about buying on condition!
Also do checks on the OAM parts such as exhast, Dump Valve intercooler etc, to make sure they match the age of the car. Many people put there car back to standard when selling saying its been un modifiedIt was so cheap as it had been to the moon and back (120k on it), but I'd much rather have owneed that one rather than a badly modified chav-slag - it was in excellent condition.
Echo the above comments about buying on condition!
I agree to be careful with modified cars, but you can get a good modified example if you are a careful shopper and ready to do some genuine research into the car and its history, such as through forums and by contacting the modifiers used.
Someone happy with their car will encourage you to do your research and to contact the modifiers, they will have more paperwork than my office desk and will have probably kept the car mint.
The reason i can say all this, is because if i decided to sell my car i would be happy for someone to go over it with a fine tooth comb and dig into the paperwork. I only use the best products and modifiers and only carry out sensible mods that have been tried and tested so there would be nothing to hide.
What im trying to say is, I know my car isnt the same kind of value, but the principle is the same. Not all modified cars are screwed and you could save thousands with a sensibly tuned car
Someone happy with their car will encourage you to do your research and to contact the modifiers, they will have more paperwork than my office desk and will have probably kept the car mint.
The reason i can say all this, is because if i decided to sell my car i would be happy for someone to go over it with a fine tooth comb and dig into the paperwork. I only use the best products and modifiers and only carry out sensible mods that have been tried and tested so there would be nothing to hide.
What im trying to say is, I know my car isnt the same kind of value, but the principle is the same. Not all modified cars are screwed and you could save thousands with a sensibly tuned car
There are hundreds avaialble WELL within your 5K budget, don't go on the price!!! You are a salesman's dream if you do!
Decide which model year you want, or at least have a vague idea, then go from there. You can pick up a tidy early model fresh import (which are generally very tidy) for 3k easy enough, plenty to choose from. I'd go for an original unmolested one myself. Later model post 96/97 ones are available for £4-5k too.
I can easily find you a nice one for £3k but will happily sell you it for £5k plus if that makes you feel better
Let me know if your after one, happy to assist
Decide which model year you want, or at least have a vague idea, then go from there. You can pick up a tidy early model fresh import (which are generally very tidy) for 3k easy enough, plenty to choose from. I'd go for an original unmolested one myself. Later model post 96/97 ones are available for £4-5k too.
I can easily find you a nice one for £3k but will happily sell you it for £5k plus if that makes you feel better
Let me know if your after one, happy to assist
stevieb said:
Dont go for a import which was registered after the 1/3/06 as this will be registered as a Band G for tax purposes by the DVLA, a chap overon surrey scoobies has just been stung for £300 for a 1999/2000 model classic which was imported in the summer of 2006
STeve
Interesting - especially when they are not banded at that age normally up to late 99 anyway? surely its £198 p/a?STeve
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