To buy or not to buy (Classic Impreza Turbo 2000 - Rust)
Discussion
Hi guys. I am just contemplating my first foray into Subaru ownership.
As luck would have it I have come across a local chap who is selling a 1998 Turbo 2000 with PPP, Prodrive Driver Enhancement Package and Exterior Enhancement package (although weirdly the paperwork shows he opted not to have the spoiler fitted in the end when he took delivery of the car) .He has owned it since new and it has 70,000 miles. Loads and loads of history, bulging paper file etc.
Having driven it, it drives really nicely and seems mechanically sound.
I reckon, with a bit of haggling, I could get it for around £2.5k.
So far, so fantastic.
The Bodywork
What can I say. The bodywork is not good. Above the windscreen is heavily corroded. The N/S/R wheel arch has significant bubbling. The spoiler and air intake look to need respraying and the there are various scuffs and scrapers on the side skirts and front lip. The paint work generally looks dull and faded.
I've attached some pictures below. The picture of the inside of the arch is of the NSR which has obvious bubbling on the outside.
My big concern is the rear arches and the roof corrosion. For those who have undertaken similar repairs in the past, how terminal does this look? Any guidance on rough cost for repairs?
Thanks in advance...
As luck would have it I have come across a local chap who is selling a 1998 Turbo 2000 with PPP, Prodrive Driver Enhancement Package and Exterior Enhancement package (although weirdly the paperwork shows he opted not to have the spoiler fitted in the end when he took delivery of the car) .He has owned it since new and it has 70,000 miles. Loads and loads of history, bulging paper file etc.
Having driven it, it drives really nicely and seems mechanically sound.
I reckon, with a bit of haggling, I could get it for around £2.5k.
So far, so fantastic.
The Bodywork
What can I say. The bodywork is not good. Above the windscreen is heavily corroded. The N/S/R wheel arch has significant bubbling. The spoiler and air intake look to need respraying and the there are various scuffs and scrapers on the side skirts and front lip. The paint work generally looks dull and faded.
I've attached some pictures below. The picture of the inside of the arch is of the NSR which has obvious bubbling on the outside.
My big concern is the rear arches and the roof corrosion. For those who have undertaken similar repairs in the past, how terminal does this look? Any guidance on rough cost for repairs?
Thanks in advance...
Edited by JimiGT on Saturday 15th September 17:28
Thank you all for your helpful input.
The general consensus seemed to be that regardless of whether or not one would be better off getting a better example/ an import with potentially less rust, this example was over priced.
I'm not a stranger to spending money to give older cars a new lease of life and the idea of saving this one owner from new, low mileage car did appeal to me. The chap selling the car is 70 and was very straight forward to deal with. In other words, its an honest car, with no modifications but with some real rust problems. But at least they are known problems!
So, not to be deterred, after a bit of back and forth, I've done the deal after a more than 4 figure discount. This gives me a decent fighting fund out of my original budget to get to work on sorting the rust and getting the bodywork looking a bit brighter!
So, I should be collecting the car in around a fortnight. Watch this space for updates. Particularly the updates which start with "What have I gotten myself into" and to which you can all reply "We told you so..."
The general consensus seemed to be that regardless of whether or not one would be better off getting a better example/ an import with potentially less rust, this example was over priced.
I'm not a stranger to spending money to give older cars a new lease of life and the idea of saving this one owner from new, low mileage car did appeal to me. The chap selling the car is 70 and was very straight forward to deal with. In other words, its an honest car, with no modifications but with some real rust problems. But at least they are known problems!
So, not to be deterred, after a bit of back and forth, I've done the deal after a more than 4 figure discount. This gives me a decent fighting fund out of my original budget to get to work on sorting the rust and getting the bodywork looking a bit brighter!
So, I should be collecting the car in around a fortnight. Watch this space for updates. Particularly the updates which start with "What have I gotten myself into" and to which you can all reply "We told you so..."
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