Buying an Impreza Hawkeye, blind, from Scotland...

[Hub]

Has it been hand painted over the rust? Looks like paint on the window rubber!

Anyway, no corrosion advisories so can't be that bad eh?

Chin up, get driving!

[S100HP]

Hub said:

Has it been hand painted over the rust? Looks like paint on the window rubber!

Anyway, no corrosion advisories so can't be that bad eh?

Chin up, get driving!

Yes, it's been painted over. Badly.

[helix402]

I’d forget no 4. Maybe view it as an educational rolling project.

[S100HP]

Had planned to drive the Impreza today. I couldn't. I reverted to the Volvo. FML.

[Bennyjames28]

Wish I had the balls to do what you have done. Well done sir.

I hope it works out for you. I am learning from your lessons and never buying an old car from Scotland.

[S100HP]

Woo! Running again. Must have knocked a relay yesterday. Took a few out, plugged them back in and it's running again.

[rossub]

vikingaero said:

Problem with Scottish cars is that they have a much longer period of exposure to salt on roads and get properly fked.

[/footnote]

Agreed. I live there and there’s no avoiding it, unless you just don’t drive them in winter. People used to think I was mad for not driving my Impreza in winter. Now they’re wondering how on earth a 25 year old car can look so good. Rocket science it ain’t people.

[aland75]

Bennyjames28 said:

I am learning from your lessons and never buying an old car from Scotland.

I'd agree with this. I have an XC90, that spent its first 5 years in Scotland. It has rust on the suspension, especially the rear. These usually don't rust anywhere, apparently.

[Cambs_Stuart]

The front lower panel/radiator carrier is notorious for rusting.
ICP do a kit, but it's not a two minute job...

https://importcarparts.co.uk/parts-info?id=11459&a...

[S100HP]

Cambs_Stuart said:

The front lower panel/radiator carrier is notorious for rusting.
ICP do a kit, but it's not a two minute job...

https://importcarparts.co.uk/parts-info?id=11459&a...

That's awesome, thanks!

[Cambs_Stuart]

Also, check the front wishbone arms ASAP. They are steel on the wagon and slightly narrower track to the saloon.
Subaru had to recall all wagons as they rusted to the point of structural failure.

[anonymous-user]

Cambs_Stuart said:

Also, check the front wishbone arms ASAP. They are steel on the wagon and slightly narrower track to the saloon.
Subaru had to recall all wagons as they rusted to the point of structural failure.

Get your local dealer to check the recall work was done and it had the wishbones replaced. They can tell you from the chassis number.

[S100HP]

Thought I'd try my luck with the Impreza on the dog walk this morning. It was just after 6am and it started on the button. I drove approximately 3 miles to Yew Tree heath and parked up. I got out the car, along with the dogs. I pressed the button on the fob to lock the car, and it did nothing. Uh-oh. The windows didn't work either. It wouldn't start again.

Bugger. The electrics had gone weird again. I went for my dog walk.

Upon returning to the car almost an hour later, I tried the fob. It worked. I climbed into the car and put the key in the ignition. Success. The car started again. I drove it approximately 3 miles home and parked it up. It wouldn't lock again. Nor would it start again.

So you can add a hot start issue to my challenges. I've started a new topic here as I'm wondering what my options are https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

The dealer has messaged me this morning asking if I'd traced the leak as yet. I'm holding off my response till I get some feedback.

[anonymous-user]

I have never seen such a new car with so much rust before, my Megane Shed is the same age as that and is absolutely spotless.

There is no way I could sell a reliable car for that, if it was me the Impreza would be on eBay with me vowing never to buy any cars unseen from Scotland again (again).

[S100HP]

Joey Deacon said:

I have never seen such a new car with so much rust before, my Megane Shed is the same age as that and is absolutely spotless.

There is no way I could sell a reliable car for that, if it was me the Impreza would be on eBay with me vowing never to buy any cars unseen from Scotland again (again).

As is my Volvo. Starting to regret my stupidity. Currently have £2800 tied up in this. Trying to work out an exit plan.

He messaged this morning regarding the water leak. My response: Was going to give you a call today. I think I've narrowed it down to the top of the rad. Possibly a jubilee clip needs tightening up. I've also encountered a hot start issue yesterday and this morning too which isn't great. No electrics till it cools down. Also the two tyres with the caps missing are struggling to hold pressure. I can deal with these issues, I'm not totally unrealistic. What I'm more disappointed with however is the rot to the front, which can clearly be seen before the under-tray is removed. This and the rot around the windscreen and the tailgate. Appreciate I didn't look at it as so far away, but would have appreciated a bit more honesty. Its a bit of a nail.

I sent him a few of the pics too.

[seiben]

Check the plastic section at the top of the rad near the cap... it's a known weak spot. I ended up with a hairline crack on my first Impreza which opened up when the engine was warm and lost fluid, took me a while to find it as by the time I stopped it would close up again

Replacement rad was pretty inexpensive IIRC, fitted by a local indy.

[S100HP]

seiben said:

Check the plastic section at the top of the rad near the cap... it's a known weak spot. I ended up with a hairline crack on my first Impreza which opened up when the engine was warm and lost fluid, took me a while to find it as by the time I stopped it would close up again

Replacement rad was pretty inexpensive IIRC, fitted by a local indy.

Noticed a trickle from here this morning. It's also wet on the top of the rad so I suspect the same issue. Thanks.

[seiben]

No probs. Also, I realised this weekend I have a spare Impreza-sized Bridgestone RE050 with about 4-5mm tread taking up space in the garage. I got a puncture on one side and replaced a pair, and hung onto this for a rainy day.

If you're anywhere near Oxford/Marlow area you're welcome to it for nowt. Drop me a pm

[S100HP]

Many thanks.

I'm not going to get anywhere with the dealer:

"Glad the coolant loss looks like a simple fix, my thought was perhaps a customer has perhaps removed a rad cap and not affixed it correctly again,

The rot to the front is news to me, i would have assumed if it was structural An mot would have picked it up or the garage that has performed the last few services.

The bodywork blemishes I haven't really noticed but that said I am not surprised, fairly normal weak points on a Subaru. I hope aside from these small issues the car drives well for you."

Edited by S100HP on Monday 2nd July 11:03

[anonymous-user]

S100HP said:

Many thanks.

I'm not going to get anywhere with the dealer:

Glad the coolant loss looks like a simple fix, my thought was perhaps a customer has perhaps removed a rad cap and not affixed it correctly again,

The rot to the front is news to me, i would have assumed if it was structural An mot would have picked it up or the garage that has performed the last few services.

The bodywork blemishes I haven't really noticed but that said I am not surprised, fairly normal weak points on a Subaru. I hope aside from these small issues the car drives well for you.

Not surprised, I have never experienced a dealer who cared less once they had my money which is why I always buy privately as you get the same protection (i.e none). Small issues, surely the fact that you don't know if the car will start is more than a "small issue"

You need to decide now if you are going to put any more money into it or get rid of it and cut your losses. If it was mine it would be going before anything else goes wrong.