Cheap WRX STI hatch - what could possibly go wrong?!

Cheap WRX STI hatch - what could possibly go wrong?!

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drgoatboy

Original Poster:

1,611 posts

206 months

Monday 27th March 2023
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Backstory....
As a late teenager my big brother had a 1999 UK 2000 turbo Impreza as a company car.

Well in the 90s the Impreza was a working class hero, with the exception of the much rarer Mitsubishi Evo there was nothing quite like it. Obviously I was completely smitten.

I didn't have a car, or any money, and even if I did I couldn't afford the insurance so I had to make do with passenger rides.

Fast forward 10 years, I now had some money and some NCB, a Scooby was within touching distance. But the old impreza had rapidly fallen into a very undesirable category.

Over the next 10 years or so I toyed with getting various different WRX or sti but never quite made it. I had a deposit on a 2nd hand final edition WRX STI but I got scared and backed out, I also drove one and hated the rock solid ride. The dream was over. I would never have a Subaru.

Then in 2022 I saw a pristine 2000 turbo out and about and instantly fell back in love with them, the stigma seemed to have lifted as badly modded cars had died and prices started to increase like most stuff from the 90s.
Subaru was back on!

I looked about, saw a horrible local example, then a pretty decent one, agreed a price and told the wife.
"You're not buying that". Oh bugger.

Blobeye? "No"

Hatchback - "well that doesn't look too bad". I took that to mean, "sure, go for it" (it didn't mean that but that's a different story smile )

The search was on! I had always liked the look of the 2008 onwards hatchback but horror stories of the 2.5 engine scared me off, as I am sure it has many others.

A quick look found quite a few cars with documented new blocks or forged rebuilds. My sights were set, I spoke to several owners, did my research and settled on a freshed engined car and a couple of hours train journey away (obviously not telling Mrs Goatboy)

2 days before I was due to go see the car and hopefully drive it home a car came up on my ebay alerts, much closer to home and potentially several thousand pounds cheaper. It ticked he boxes, recent rebuild, no obvious rust.

A few messages to the guy (who has learning difficulties, which means he wasn't very keen on interactions with strangers), a check in with the engine builder, and an hpi check and I set off to see the car. As I mentioned the guy in question didn't really do social interaction so I ended up dealing with his semi retired Mum and Dad. It was all a bit weird. They didn't know much about the car, but knew what he had spent money on. I was expecting it to be a wreck if I'm honest. It wasn't. It needed some TLC sure, but that was reflected in the price.

I transfered the cash and drove it home.
Impulse buy, uncertainty history, unusual buying experience, questionable mods, outrageous road tax, every buying rule broken (and I hadn't told my wife)

what could possibly go wrong???








pidsy

7,958 posts

156 months

Monday 27th March 2023
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That’s quite a wing!!

Interested in how you get on with it!

Kuwahara

819 posts

17 months

Monday 27th March 2023
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It needs a bigger wing…

DevonLad

770 posts

181 months

Monday 27th March 2023
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Good luck with it, I really like that shape of Impreza so hope it treats you well. On the opposite note, that rear spoiler must be one of the worst I have ever seen and IMHO should be removed immediately.

GregK2

1,651 posts

145 months

Monday 27th March 2023
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That rear shot with the wing and that sticker hehe
You're a braver man than i.

Cambs_Stuart

2,833 posts

83 months

Monday 27th March 2023
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Love a Subaru, even ones with questionable mods. If I remember these have fantastic seats....

MattsCar

915 posts

104 months

Monday 27th March 2023
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Seems a bit odd that he doesn't like social interactions, but plasters the car with a huge wing and attention seeking stickers. But who am i to judge!

Providing that the engine rebuild has been done correctly, I'm guessing you can call that £4k worth.

I think you know yourself that it is a good base to work from. A bit of de-barrying will get it looking much more of an enthusiasts car, than a monster energy drinking, vape smoking numpty mobile. (Don't take that the wrong way, it is just that wing).

Might be worth checking the bushes etc and giving it a bit of a blast with lanoguard underneath to prevent any crustiness in the future.

Edited by MattsCar on Monday 27th March 20:45

Court_S

12,764 posts

176 months

Monday 27th March 2023
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That’s one hell of a wing….just fell the missus that you bought a big wing and the car was thrown in with it! wink

On a serious note, good luck with it.

CrippsCorner

2,780 posts

180 months

Monday 27th March 2023
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There was a mint white one at my work for ages, always had a bit of thing for it! I saw one of these for sale recently at around £4k which seemed like a bargain, but aren't they over £600 tax!? Does put me off a bit.

MattsCar

915 posts

104 months

Monday 27th March 2023
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CrippsCorner said:
There was a mint white one at my work for ages, always had a bit of thing for it! I saw one of these for sale recently at around £4k which seemed like a bargain, but aren't they over £600 tax!? Does put me off a bit.
Was probably a WRX at that price. STI is worth more than that in parts alone. The tax would be the last thing to put me off at that price in all honesty. Bargain basement price would suggest that some big bills are looming.

firemunki

361 posts

130 months

Monday 27th March 2023
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That Massive black wing looks like a WRC wing, only they didn't have the body-coloured one.

The mature adult in me says to keep the silver low profile one, but the 14-year boy who still loves stupid things says to paint the big wing and get rid of the little one.

Both parts of me say get rid of the stickers, in fact, go outside now.

Heathwood

2,523 posts

201 months

Monday 27th March 2023
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The first picture looks great. Then I scrolled down and saw the rear in the second picture. Fair play OP, I’m sure the misses will think all her dreams have come true. laugh

drgoatboy

Original Poster:

1,611 posts

206 months

Monday 27th March 2023
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Ha ha! So much wing love! Stickers too.

I couldn't drive home with the boot sticker on so before I left their property I quickly picked a load of it off and drove home like this...



Still very cringe but less terrible.

Another sticker had to go to.



As for the wing I got the car home about 7pm on the Friday, by 10am Saturday it had been sold and removed. Thank goodness for that!





That's better, not yet washed though!

Terminator X

14,920 posts

203 months

Tuesday 28th March 2023
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Kuwahara said:
It needs a bigger wing…
Hopefully the OP removes that!

Was never a fan of the hatch when it was first released however it has got better with age imho.

I used to be a big fan of Scoobs having owned a STi V then a Spec C then a very modified UK original.

TX.

Edit - he did!


Bright Halo

2,950 posts

234 months

Tuesday 28th March 2023
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Quick work getting rid of the wing.
How was it fixed on?

Now looking much better!

Cambs_Stuart

2,833 posts

83 months

Tuesday 28th March 2023
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So what else has been done to it?
The car is already looking much better.

Northbrook

1,429 posts

62 months

Tuesday 28th March 2023
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I think you've done well....to have arrived home with a car with that wing, and then to still be able to use your fingers the following day.

Was she amused?

drgoatboy

Original Poster:

1,611 posts

206 months

Tuesday 28th March 2023
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Northbrook said:
I think you've done well....to have arrived home with a car with that wing, and then to still be able to use your fingers the following day.

Was she amused?
She was not amused. But she has had 20 years of my car addiction so I was only in trouble for a bit.

Wing had brackets that bent underneath and were attached with self tapers. Horrible!

The car has a valved aftermarket exhaust, and I think up rated anti roll bars. It has the 330s wheels which I'm not sure we're an option when new or not? I like them though.

It also has he 330s private plate which is odd as it's not a 330s. But the plate appears to have been on since nearly new. It will come off at some point, but that's an expense that can wait.

It's got lots of receipts but no service book, but as the engine is rebuilt I'm not that bothered. It has a receipt for a ceramic coating by the previous, previous owner so has obviously been loved in the past.

Edited by drgoatboy on Tuesday 28th March 08:09


Edited by drgoatboy on Tuesday 28th March 08:30

Tommie38

758 posts

193 months

Tuesday 28th March 2023
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MattsCar said:
A bit of de-barrying will get it looking much more of an enthusiasts car, than a monster energy drinking, vape smoking numpty mobile. (Don't take that the wrong way, it is just that wing).
biglaugh

Cambs_Stuart

2,833 posts

83 months

Tuesday 28th March 2023
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So who re-built the engine? Was it built to OEM or upgraded?