Pitfalls of impreza wrx sti ownership?
Discussion
I'm looking into buying myself one of my childhood hero cars, the Subaru impreza wrx sti.
Not only did I love them from rally etc but my dad owned a bug eye for a few weeks before my mum made him sell it.
I would have a budget of around 8 or 9 grand and don't know where I'm best spending my money.
Can anyone give me some suggestions on what to get and what to avoid?
I would want a unmolested example.
The main things I worry about is expensive engine work, I'm not going to do big miles, and I'm not going to mistreat the engine. I just want the car to be reliable and fun.
Not only did I love them from rally etc but my dad owned a bug eye for a few weeks before my mum made him sell it.
I would have a budget of around 8 or 9 grand and don't know where I'm best spending my money.
Can anyone give me some suggestions on what to get and what to avoid?
I would want a unmolested example.
The main things I worry about is expensive engine work, I'm not going to do big miles, and I'm not going to mistreat the engine. I just want the car to be reliable and fun.
Been to look at a wrx today.
90k on clock, 2005 model, blue, ppp pack, service history, 1 owner.
Rekkon I could take it home for 6 grand.
They offered me insulting price on my Audi, 3.6k for a car I paid 6k for in September. We buy any car will go to 4.3k
Should I do it?
Insurance will be about 1300, road tax 300.
Repair bills worry me.
Come on help me decide! The car was so fast, completely different beast to my Audi a3. But it does lack the interior quality.
90k on clock, 2005 model, blue, ppp pack, service history, 1 owner.
Rekkon I could take it home for 6 grand.
They offered me insulting price on my Audi, 3.6k for a car I paid 6k for in September. We buy any car will go to 4.3k
Should I do it?
Insurance will be about 1300, road tax 300.
Repair bills worry me.
Come on help me decide! The car was so fast, completely different beast to my Audi a3. But it does lack the interior quality.
12TS said:
They're not cheap to run, petrol consumption will be low 20s. Plus they're supposed to be serviced every 7500 miles
I ran mine for 70000 miles from new and nothing really went wrong. Stuff wore out.
At that mileage you buy on condition.
Been there done that. Wouldn't go back, the 130i that followed it was a far better car.
The 4x4 handling and the sound are what appeal to me. I ran mine for 70000 miles from new and nothing really went wrong. Stuff wore out.
At that mileage you buy on condition.
Been there done that. Wouldn't go back, the 130i that followed it was a far better car.
The bloke took me for Drive today and I thought I was going to die, the speed it went round those corners was just immense.
I really do want one.
Would you say there's anything special about a one owner car?
If not then there's no rush for me to jump on this one.
The more I think about it the more I want one, I would miss the nice cabin of my Audi but you only live once, I need to tick this box, but waiting a few months might be better.
Insurance would be lower for me in September, when I've had my licence 5 years.
Can I wait that long tho!
According to my quick look of piston heads ads, 6k for a 05 2 litre with pp pack is about right these days.
There's not many around.
Would you say there's anything special about a one owner car?
If not then there's no rush for me to jump on this one.
The more I think about it the more I want one, I would miss the nice cabin of my Audi but you only live once, I need to tick this box, but waiting a few months might be better.
Insurance would be lower for me in September, when I've had my licence 5 years.
Can I wait that long tho!
According to my quick look of piston heads ads, 6k for a 05 2 litre with pp pack is about right these days.
There's not many around.
Edited by benjijames28 on Wednesday 18th January 08:20
TEKNOPUG said:
You're quoting a dealer 
How much do you think that they are buying them in for from private sellers in order to give them a healthy profit margin?
They only offered you £3.6k for you £6k car....think about it.....
Yeah I'm looking at what's available.How much do you think that they are buying them in for from private sellers in order to give them a healthy profit margin?
They only offered you £3.6k for you £6k car....think about it.....
I would rather buy private.
I have stepped down from a 9k budget to 5k. I want one of these but I'm not willing to spend a fortune.
Not that many for sale private.
Edited by benjijames28 on Wednesday 18th January 17:04
TEKNOPUG said:
Specialist forums are the best place to search. £5k is plenty for a nice WRX. Budget £1k for service items and preventative maintenance & essential upgrades. Buy on condition not not mileage.
I'm going to seek out a specialist forum, sit back, learn about the cars and bide my time.Shame my insurance costs are so high tho. Might drop in September when I've had my licence 5 years.
Going to view one today about twenty minute drive away.
Private sale, 2005, 1 owner, under 70k on clock, service history, limited edition interior apparently, looks brilliant in pictures except rally style decals.
They are wanting 5k for it. Will see what it's like.
If I fall in love then it's going to be a case of we buy any car on the Audi and hello Subaru ownership.
Just hope I can live with the bad mpg lol. I only do about 100 mile of short journeys per week.
You also read about people needing 5k engine rebuilds, I think if the engine went on this I would have to break the car and start again.
I need to cut my negative thinking. Lol
The gf isn't keen on them, says they are tacky and not my style. She even questioned if i could handle the power, lol, get your test passed first love then question what I can handle.
Private sale, 2005, 1 owner, under 70k on clock, service history, limited edition interior apparently, looks brilliant in pictures except rally style decals.
They are wanting 5k for it. Will see what it's like.
If I fall in love then it's going to be a case of we buy any car on the Audi and hello Subaru ownership.
Just hope I can live with the bad mpg lol. I only do about 100 mile of short journeys per week.
You also read about people needing 5k engine rebuilds, I think if the engine went on this I would have to break the car and start again.
I need to cut my negative thinking. Lol
The gf isn't keen on them, says they are tacky and not my style. She even questioned if i could handle the power, lol, get your test passed first love then question what I can handle.
PlayFair said:
Just quoting this in anticipation for the "I've crashed my WRX" thread!!
Lol brilliant. I'm a pretty sensible driver, I've only wrote off one car and one motorbike. That was weeks ago!Jk it was when I was a kid. And in my defence I ditched my car due to black ice, and fell off the bike due to a slippery tram track lol.
Any wonder I want awd
TEKNOPUG said:
It was up for sale for £8k 10 buymonths ago. Hasn't done much mileage since. Worth a look although not much info or photos.
Sounds a bit optimistic.I will go take a look, focusing on condition and service history. Already looked at mot history and it's literally perfect. One advisory about 4 years ago for brake pads wearing thin.
You rekkon I could get those decals off without fuxkong up the paint? I really prefer the cars without them.
plenty said:
Doesn't sound like biding one's time to me 
That Gumtree advert is skimpy on detail to say the least, which is a red flag in itself, as are the barrie'd details like the non-standard wing, decals and naff wheels. Personally would look out for a PPP car that's been kept more standard and has been clearly enthusiast owned (they do exist), but you pays your money etc.
Overall condition wasn't too bad. Plenty of history, 13 services, clutch at 73k, cambelt in 2011 at 45k.That Gumtree advert is skimpy on detail to say the least, which is a red flag in itself, as are the barrie'd details like the non-standard wing, decals and naff wheels. Personally would look out for a PPP car that's been kept more standard and has been clearly enthusiast owned (they do exist), but you pays your money etc.
Has a few negatives tho... Scratch down passenger side, needs 2 new front tyres, there's a knock coming from rear suspension apparently it's something above suspension that's worn, guessing strut top, the drivers window not working, apparently a switch but she will sort that before it's sold.
Oh and the car is an import from Cyprus.
On the. Plus its got a lifetime tracker and a Clifford alarm.
The fog lights are missing too , someone stole them, now got like a blank panel in. A rubber seal is perished on the front light, and there was moisture right at the bottom of the rear window on the inside like condensation, some kind f seal?
Thoughts?
I rekkon it could be had for 4k without the private plate.
I would whip off the decals, polish and clean it for a start.
Edited by benjijames28 on Thursday 19th January 15:45
plenty said:
If it's a pukka WRX 300 that would explain the big wing. Backbox doesn't look like the standard Prodrive item though. It should have the blue Prodrive intercooler hose. There should be a sticker somewhere stating "PPP fitted...advise your insurance compan").
It's my understanding the 300 is all cosmetic differences. It has the interior seats of the sti without the sti stitching.The back box is not original, it's a stainless steel exhaust, apparently quiter than the original.
The big wing did not come with the car, standard is the small wing which is in the sellers garage and included with the car.
The wheels are not OEM wheels, I dislike them. If I bought that it would need new wheels.
This car defo does not have ppp.
tonyb1968 said:
The big question is, do you or are you going to modify the car, if so then avoid the wrx's, and the brakes are diabolical on them anyway, that means the STI is the way forward for you, if not then the WRX with PPP is what you want, most MY05 wrx's came with the option of the PPP or 3 years free servicing, most took the PPP for some reason so dont pay over the odds for one.
If going for the STI, JDM twinscroll all day, much better than the UK cars with far better power delivery.
I will not be modding any car I buy. If anything it might get a basic remap. If going for the STI, JDM twinscroll all day, much better than the UK cars with far better power delivery.
plenty said:
Believe OP wants a daily, and fuel consumption has been mentioned as a consideration. The WRX with its softer suspension is a better daily IMO, and the JDM STi while an utterly epic machine suffers from diabolical MPG as the twin-scroll is always blowing.
OP whom I'm guessing is his early 20s may also find insurance more affordable on a WRX, and as an "entry level Impreza" it makes sense...there's always time for STi and JDM later.
I'm 28 this year but insurance is a joke. Looking at 1300 on a WRX from a reputable company and 1k from go SkippyOP whom I'm guessing is his early 20s may also find insurance more affordable on a WRX, and as an "entry level Impreza" it makes sense...there's always time for STi and JDM later.
What do we think on the car I've mentioned then?
Main issues been removing the decals, changing the wheels to Subaru wheels, fixing scratch on side, maybe replacing a few seals and of course the knocking rear suspension.
She's said she will take 4200 without the private plate. I would want to pay max of 4k for this car.
Will I find a better one for that?
Main issues been removing the decals, changing the wheels to Subaru wheels, fixing scratch on side, maybe replacing a few seals and of course the knocking rear suspension.
She's said she will take 4200 without the private plate. I would want to pay max of 4k for this car.
Will I find a better one for that?
plenty said:
You sound you're itching to pull the trigger. Which I totally understand, but there's no harm in seeing a few cars. They're not thin on the ground.
Who has been maintaining it? Regular oil and brake fluid changes? What oil is in it? Gearbox oil? What pads is it fitted with? You'll need to spend right away to get cam belt, tyres and suspension done, and I think you can find cars that have been more cherished and require less money spent. This one is unloved.
Personally I'd be looking at spending a little more and getting a car with less miles on as Impreza values and pool of buyers falls off a cliff with 100k miles. You'll pay more up front but lose less money when you sell, and have a newer fresher car to enjoy.
Possibly right.Who has been maintaining it? Regular oil and brake fluid changes? What oil is in it? Gearbox oil? What pads is it fitted with? You'll need to spend right away to get cam belt, tyres and suspension done, and I think you can find cars that have been more cherished and require less money spent. This one is unloved.
Personally I'd be looking at spending a little more and getting a car with less miles on as Impreza values and pool of buyers falls off a cliff with 100k miles. You'll pay more up front but lose less money when you sell, and have a newer fresher car to enjoy.
There doesn't seem to be that many for sale online, plenty that are modified or have high mileage.
Like this one that's not that far from me...
https://www.gumtree.com/p/subaru/2004-53-subaru-im...
Maybe back to the original plan of waiting for the right car?
I am itching tho, I feel like the longer I wait the less I'm going to be able to sell my Audi for. I'm going to list it on that toodle thing tomorrow, see what I get offered.
But your right on that one. I wouldn't say unloved, it needs those decals removing and a good polish, as for oils it's been serviced by mostly main dealer, some independent Subaru. Big folder full of receipts.
But yes, if I spend 4k on it I need 1k straight away, new wheels and tyres, rear suspension, possible belt.
So in reality I'm talking 5k
plenty said:
Just re-read description and noted 70k miles. I'd had 90k in my head for some reason. That does change things a bit - if you can buy the car for 4k then you have a war chest left to get the car into top shape. A 90k WRX in good condition will still sell for 4k in two years.
Question is can I get the decals off without leaving a shadow on the paint. Apparently she put them on 6 weeks after buying the car brand new. I'm going to call a detailers I've used, get their opinions. As for mileage I will be doing less than 5k a year.
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