2003/4 Subaru WRX Wagon with 100K miles - Should I buy one?
Discussion
Hi guys,
I've had Subarus in the past, but always old shape. I'm thinking about buying a 2003/2004 Subaru Impreza WRX Wagon. There's quite a few about with 100K on the clock, are these worth looking at? Of course I should be looking for FSSH, but is there anything else? Any other risks people can think of?
The black SL on classifieds looks quite nice and reasonably priced with 87K miles, are the SLs rare? My budget is about £6500.
Thank.
I've had Subarus in the past, but always old shape. I'm thinking about buying a 2003/2004 Subaru Impreza WRX Wagon. There's quite a few about with 100K on the clock, are these worth looking at? Of course I should be looking for FSSH, but is there anything else? Any other risks people can think of?
The black SL on classifieds looks quite nice and reasonably priced with 87K miles, are the SLs rare? My budget is about £6500.
Thank.
Edited by Aubrey on Wednesday 30th July 16:43
Aubrey said:
Hi guys,
I've had Subarus in the past, but always old shape. I'm thinking about buying a 2003/2004 Subaru Impreza WRX Wagon. There's quite a few about with 100K on the clock, are these worth looking at? Of course I should be looking for FSSH, but is there anything else? Any other risks people can think of?
The black SL on classifieds looks quite nice and reasonably priced with 87K miles, are the SLs rare? My budget is about £6500.
Thank.
About 18 months ago I had an 02 with 115k on the clock. One owner from new. The interior was immaculate, showed no signs of wear at all, not even the drviers side bolster. Nothing went wrong with it (I ran it for about 8 months or so)I've had Subarus in the past, but always old shape. I'm thinking about buying a 2003/2004 Subaru Impreza WRX Wagon. There's quite a few about with 100K on the clock, are these worth looking at? Of course I should be looking for FSSH, but is there anything else? Any other risks people can think of?
The black SL on classifieds looks quite nice and reasonably priced with 87K miles, are the SLs rare? My budget is about £6500.
Thank.
Edited by Aubrey on Wednesday 30th July 16:43
Animal said:
That said, did your old Subarus break down?!
Erm yes! Well one did, turbo blew, but I supposed that can't be helped. I've had 2 turbos and 2 non-turbos. Both pf the non-turbos were over 100K and fine, but just wondered how reliable the turbo lump is with higher mileages.I'm already convinced on the wagons though, such capable cars and good q car status.
The Turbo lump is very strong and reliable, especially on an 03/04 wagon, however at 100K i would have said it's been worked hard even if it's motorway miles (20K - 25K miles a yr over 4/5 yrs!!), and even if it's got a FSSH 100K is still a fair bit and i would have said it won't be too long in the future before something goes pop. With that mileage i certainly wouldn't think about tuning it for much more than std BHP either if at all unless you get a rebuild done.
The TD04L Turbo is a hardy little turbo and i don't know of many going wrong, they spool up well and with a bit of tuning will make decent BHP all day long.
Subaru's are super reliable and that's why they come in the top 4 or 5 cars in reliability surveys, but like anything else it will break down eventually. On an 03/04 with that sort of mileage it had better be reasonably priced even if the car looks in good condition cosmetically.
Personally i would pay a bit more and look around for a car with half that mileage that's just had a new cambelt major service and then you're good for another 50K miles at least.
There are plenty of good examples around with 50K miles, in really nice condition, for not a lot of money. If you have c.£7K or so they are a good investment and you will pick up a beauty for that sort of dosh.
All IMHO only
The TD04L Turbo is a hardy little turbo and i don't know of many going wrong, they spool up well and with a bit of tuning will make decent BHP all day long.
Subaru's are super reliable and that's why they come in the top 4 or 5 cars in reliability surveys, but like anything else it will break down eventually. On an 03/04 with that sort of mileage it had better be reasonably priced even if the car looks in good condition cosmetically.
Personally i would pay a bit more and look around for a car with half that mileage that's just had a new cambelt major service and then you're good for another 50K miles at least.
There are plenty of good examples around with 50K miles, in really nice condition, for not a lot of money. If you have c.£7K or so they are a good investment and you will pick up a beauty for that sort of dosh.
All IMHO only
There's a few on PH at the moment within my budget, but most seem to have higher mileages.
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/616312.htm
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/556851.htm
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/590211.htm - Quite like the look of this one.
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/616312.htm
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/556851.htm
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/590211.htm - Quite like the look of this one.
ScoobieWRX said:
The Turbo lump is very strong and reliable, especially on an 03/04 wagon, however at 100K i would have said it's been worked hard even if it's motorway miles (20K - 25K miles a yr over 4/5 yrs!!), and even if it's got a FSSH 100K is still a fair bit and i would have said it won't be too long in the future before something goes pop.
Worked hard? You think?
I'd say its a fair assumption that that kind of milage is going to involve a lot of motorway trekking... easy on the clutch, easy on the brakes, easy on the suspension, mostly off boost.....
MrFlibbles said:
ScoobieWRX said:
The Turbo lump is very strong and reliable, especially on an 03/04 wagon, however at 100K i would have said it's been worked hard even if it's motorway miles (20K - 25K miles a yr over 4/5 yrs!!), and even if it's got a FSSH 100K is still a fair bit and i would have said it won't be too long in the future before something goes pop.
Worked hard? You think?
I'd say its a fair assumption that that kind of milage is going to involve a lot of motorway trekking... easy on the clutch, easy on the brakes, easy on the suspension, mostly off boost.....
Todays motorways are blighted with roadworks and one large traffic jam after another. Motorway traffic isn't what it used to be and certainly every opportunity i get to tank it on the motorway (+100leps) i take, as do most people, especially when you've been stuck for 30 or 40mins in a jam and are more than likely to be stuck in another one further up the road for another 30 or 40 mins, specially on the way to and from work and through roadworks. None of us want to be late for work or appointments so we get a move on when possible.
That means lots of on and off the clutch and brakes for bloody miles so you may as well be driving in town at lower speeds. These days i don't think it makes a lot of difference either way because our motorways are so badly congested.
Edited by ScoobieWRX on Thursday 31st July 11:50
Aubrey said:
There's a few on PH at the moment within my budget, but most seem to have higher mileages.
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/616312.htm
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/556851.htm
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/590211.htm - Quite like the look of this one.
As for PPP on that last wagon you found it was probably put on when the car was new and probably runs really well but it's only done a bit less miles than the others although it looks OK, and IMHO too much money for still too many miles.http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/616312.htm
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/556851.htm
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/590211.htm - Quite like the look of this one.
Have a look at this: http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/640748.htm
This is a bit more like it, MY00 86K miles, some tasteful mods and looks lovely. Money wise it will cost you half of what the others are asking and if you read what the owner says about his car you can tell it's been well looked after and cherished. At this price if the engine goes wrong it won't cost an arm and a leg for a 2nd hand low mileage engine replacement and you didn't spend that much in the first place for the car.
If i had the spare cash and got a good deal this baby would be sitting in my garage: http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/416667.htm ...that's more like it, only 66K miles and it's an STi.
Loverly!!
Depends what the previous owner looks like. If you turn up, and the bloke selling it can't pronounce any of the English language correctly, is wearing sports clothes, and lives in a council estate, run away. No matter how reliable a scooby is, once its in the hands of a chav it will be a money pit.
I'm not saying all scooby owners are chavs, but a hell of a lot of them are!
I'm not saying all scooby owners are chavs, but a hell of a lot of them are!
ScoobieWRX said:
As for PPP on that last wagon you found it was probably put on when the car was new and probably runs really well but it's only done a bit less miles than the others although it looks OK, and IMHO too much money for still too many miles.
Have a look at this: http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/640748.htm
This is a bit more like it, MY00 86K miles, some tasteful mods and looks lovely. Money wise it will cost you half of what the others are asking and if you read what the owner says about his car you can tell it's been well looked after and cherished. At this price if the engine goes wrong it won't cost an arm and a leg for a 2nd hand low mileage engine replacement and you didn't spend that much in the first place for the car.
I take your point, but I don't want a classic. I'm after a blob-eye, just a case of finding one with the right miles and for the right money! Have a look at this: http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/640748.htm
This is a bit more like it, MY00 86K miles, some tasteful mods and looks lovely. Money wise it will cost you half of what the others are asking and if you read what the owner says about his car you can tell it's been well looked after and cherished. At this price if the engine goes wrong it won't cost an arm and a leg for a 2nd hand low mileage engine replacement and you didn't spend that much in the first place for the car.
How much of a premium does being an SL add to a car?
What sort of money do you think the black SL wagon I mentioned should be if you think it's too much?
Thanks.
Riknos said:
I'm not saying all scooby owners are chavs, but a hell of a lot of them are!
I think you'll find the majority of Scooby owners aren't chavs, thankfully 'chavs' whoever they are, are in a minority, especially scooby owning ones!!There are plenty of Scooby owners on PH. I don't know any chavs amongst them (although i could be proven wrong
) and with a highly sweeping statement like that you are likely to be told where to get off by your average scooby owner. People have to drop the chav thing because it's undeserved, unintelligent and so old hat. like Mullets!!
Today's so called chavs are driving all sorts of plush/quick motors including Porsche, Audi, BMW, VW, Alfa, Mitsubishi, etc...etc... so based upon what you've said a hell of a lot of drivers of the cars mentioned here are also chavs??
If that's all you can come up with you should get off at the next forum!!
P.S. Have you got a mullet??
I wouldn't want to pay more than £6,200-£6,300 for cash!! £6000 would be better of course and that leaves you a few quid for a few months worth of fuel or it could be the cost of your insurance. Make sure it's just been serviced and the next major service (Cambelt) is due again unless it's already been done.
Wangle cash under peoples noses and in this economic climate most people wouldn't want to quibble too hard over a few hundred quid and would probably take the cash unless they have had hundreds of calls on the car and lots of people looking at it!! Don't ever pay what they are asking and always come in low!! £6000 is a good starting point.
Wangle cash under peoples noses and in this economic climate most people wouldn't want to quibble too hard over a few hundred quid and would probably take the cash unless they have had hundreds of calls on the car and lots of people looking at it!! Don't ever pay what they are asking and always come in low!! £6000 is a good starting point.
ked just like any other mileage impreza... the mileage is no indicator imo.You could buy a brand new car or even a 30K miler and 1000 miles later it goes bang. Having it professionally inspected may give you some piece of mind but that's it. Who do you blame if you buy the car and it goes bang?? The pro car inspector or the people you bought it from??
Best thing to do is drive it and use your common sense. In my opinion unless you get a very good scooby expert in or even someone that has been driving them a long time and knows them well or do some tests (compression/cooling/turbo/brakes/suspension etc...) there is no other way of getting a good indication of whether or not it's a good car. IMHO paying out for RAC and AA inspectors is a waste of time unless you know absolutely nothing, and they will only point out the obvious things they would point out with any other car unless he just happens to be a Scooby enthusiast and knows them inside out.
Just use your head and take someone with you that knows scoobys if you are unsure yourself.
Best thing to do is drive it and use your common sense. In my opinion unless you get a very good scooby expert in or even someone that has been driving them a long time and knows them well or do some tests (compression/cooling/turbo/brakes/suspension etc...) there is no other way of getting a good indication of whether or not it's a good car. IMHO paying out for RAC and AA inspectors is a waste of time unless you know absolutely nothing, and they will only point out the obvious things they would point out with any other car unless he just happens to be a Scooby enthusiast and knows them inside out.
Just use your head and take someone with you that knows scoobys if you are unsure yourself.
I know you said you were after a 2003 or 2004 but i thought this might be worth a look. Low miles and full service history.
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/594203.htm
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/594203.htm
If that car is absolutely genuine and only 45K miles in 7yrs...sounds a bit too good to be true but you never know it would be worth the £6K for sure.
IMHO the mileage seems a bit low and most wagons will have seen some proper mileage, specially in 7yrs so i think it could be dodgy unless it was owned by some old folks
It doesn't sound right to me but i could be wrong
Having read that again i think it's straight up. Offer them £5K and you could be onto a winner. Looks OK.
IMHO the mileage seems a bit low and most wagons will have seen some proper mileage, specially in 7yrs so i think it could be dodgy unless it was owned by some old folks
It doesn't sound right to me but i could be wrong
Edited by ScoobieWRX on Tuesday 5th August 23:36
Having read that again i think it's straight up. Offer them £5K and you could be onto a winner. Looks OK.
Edited by ScoobieWRX on Tuesday 5th August 23:38
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