Cheap WRX STI hatch - what could possibly go wrong?!
Discussion
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
)
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???
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
)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???
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!
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!
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.Was she amused?
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
Next job was sorting out the single key... Now I've never lost a key but that only means I am probably due to!
Standard single button key looks like this. (Pretty ugly and 90s stylee)
I found a guy on Facebook who has a very good reputation and makes new keys at a reasonable price, they are a newer style and seem to be much nicer. Much cheaper than taking it to a dealer but it did mean posting my single key to Glasgow for a complete stranger off Facebook to copy it and send it back.
I was a bit anxious....
But all was well! 3 days later and £140 lighter 2 shiny new keys.
Standard single button key looks like this. (Pretty ugly and 90s stylee)
I found a guy on Facebook who has a very good reputation and makes new keys at a reasonable price, they are a newer style and seem to be much nicer. Much cheaper than taking it to a dealer but it did mean posting my single key to Glasgow for a complete stranger off Facebook to copy it and send it back.
I was a bit anxious....
But all was well! 3 days later and £140 lighter 2 shiny new keys.
So the next day the battery was flat. I think it had been stood for a while, and on removing the clamps they were pretty loose. I hope that's all it was and the alternator isn't knackered. Time will tell.
Battery was taken out and put on my ctek charger.
Unsurprisingly under the battery was a bit scabby.
Nothing too scary and no holes, so I set about it with my trusty wire brush attachment in my drill and a pot of kurust.
I had a pot of silver hammerite smooth in the garage. This was a quick fix so a couple of coats of this felt good enough, and it's obvious what I have done (don't want to hide anything) but a close enough match it doesn't draw your eye.
I'll keep an eye on it and see if any rust sneaks back through, but should slow it down at least! Nothing else really jumped out under there, bit of rust starting to creep through on the bonnet in a couple of places that will need sorting but not a job for today...
Battery was taken out and put on my ctek charger.
Unsurprisingly under the battery was a bit scabby.
Nothing too scary and no holes, so I set about it with my trusty wire brush attachment in my drill and a pot of kurust.
I had a pot of silver hammerite smooth in the garage. This was a quick fix so a couple of coats of this felt good enough, and it's obvious what I have done (don't want to hide anything) but a close enough match it doesn't draw your eye.
I'll keep an eye on it and see if any rust sneaks back through, but should slow it down at least! Nothing else really jumped out under there, bit of rust starting to creep through on the bonnet in a couple of places that will need sorting but not a job for today...
Edited by drgoatboy on Tuesday 28th March 13:39
Paul S4 said:
Looks like a great deal to me...
I like the original Subarus: There is a YouTube Late Brake Show with Jonny Smith who went to a specialist who can recreate a 90s car to your own spec....at a price of course !!
However, yours looks great ...but here is a personal view... I realise that they came with them, but I would try to change the rear lights to something more subtle....I just don't like the 'Lexus type" clear/white lights.... but thats just IMHO of course !!
I don't know how much power yours has....but judging by those 4 pipes at the back it must be quite a lot...
Looking forward to your journey with your new car..
Yes they are pretty awful the rear lights, totally standard. Hate the way they are different from one side to the other for the fog light. One to sort at some point and apparently a pre cut red film is a quick cheap fix...I like the original Subarus: There is a YouTube Late Brake Show with Jonny Smith who went to a specialist who can recreate a 90s car to your own spec....at a price of course !!
However, yours looks great ...but here is a personal view... I realise that they came with them, but I would try to change the rear lights to something more subtle....I just don't like the 'Lexus type" clear/white lights.... but thats just IMHO of course !!
I don't know how much power yours has....but judging by those 4 pipes at the back it must be quite a lot...
Looking forward to your journey with your new car..
These are 300bhp ish from the factory...
Mr Happy said:
Just by losing the pram handle, wind deflectors and chavvy stickers alone, you could probably put it up for sale for £1k more than you paid (based on several thousand pounds saved already)...
I was always a bit iffy about the hatchback Impreza, but that looks pretty good - was it the saloon version of these that you couldn't buy in the UK or were they released over here as well?
That could be a youtube channel idea - buy examples of the most chavved up cars, return them to standard and see if you can get more money when you punt them on!
Love the YouTube channel idea. Go for it!I was always a bit iffy about the hatchback Impreza, but that looks pretty good - was it the saloon version of these that you couldn't buy in the UK or were they released over here as well?
That could be a youtube channel idea - buy examples of the most chavved up cars, return them to standard and see if you can get more money when you punt them on!
There was a saloon version, lately available in the UK but not for the first few years of the models life. I think I prefer the hatch shape personally, I know that upsets the traditionalists...
Nexus Icon said:
I had one of those, in that colour, with those wheels, that grille and the front splitter but sans all the other tat. I hope it isn't my old one, as that was a lemon of gargantuan proportions. 2 engine rebuilds and it still overheated and tried to die again. Got rid 7 years ago, PXing on a new Megane Cup-S (which I hated for different reasons). Seems a long time ago now.
Check for a reasonable but slightly visible chipsaway repair on the top of the rear, offside arch. If one exists I'll pray for you.
Looks like previous owners were Scotland, it's also had the private plate from it's first year in it's life so I don't think it will be the same car. I'll keep my eyes peeled for the repair though!!Check for a reasonable but slightly visible chipsaway repair on the top of the rear, offside arch. If one exists I'll pray for you.
navmangt said:
I really really like these. How's the steering and ride? Does it give an old school vibe?
The engine still needs a couple of hundred miles on it to run in so not yet given it full beans. Ride quality is surprisingly good. Steering seems a little vague but will give you more feedback when I have it!LFB531 said:
I had a 330s for a while, was as nervous as you about the motor but it had been re-built at about 50k miles and it came with the evidence and a warranty. The engine decided to have another head fit and this time, it went down to Plymouth to do it properly. Fortunately, the £5000 bill was mostly covered by the warranty but I wasn't very pleased!
I'd had three previous 2000cc Turbo cars and they never missed a beat. When running, the 330 was a hoot and a very nice place to be but I lost the faith a bit and moved on.
Good luck with yours OP.
Thank you. Who did the build down in Plymouth? Enginetuner?I'd had three previous 2000cc Turbo cars and they never missed a beat. When running, the 330 was a hoot and a very nice place to be but I lost the faith a bit and moved on.
Good luck with yours OP.
Annoyingly I had a puncture on the near side rear which I couldn't fix, the tyre was near to the wear markers anyway and the other side was mismatched (suspect it had a puncture at some point too and a part worn was put on)
So 2 new rainsport went on to match the fronts (which have over 6mm of tread, ideally I would have replaced them all but that's just too much outlay at the moment)
Also a good excuse to do a bit more de-barry.
Dodgy tuner nuts and Captain America style dust caps...
The nuts really were horrible and rusty too.
Just plain old silver nuts for me now...
Maybe black would have looked better?
Whilst at it I decided to try and eliminate the smell of vapes, KFC and lynx Africa.
Never had much luck with these before but it smells nice and clean for the time being at least!
Annoyingly battery was flat again, I had started it a few times over the last week but not driven it, enough to make a flat battery? Maybe but it feels like something is draining the battery....
So 2 new rainsport went on to match the fronts (which have over 6mm of tread, ideally I would have replaced them all but that's just too much outlay at the moment)
Also a good excuse to do a bit more de-barry.
Dodgy tuner nuts and Captain America style dust caps...
The nuts really were horrible and rusty too.
Just plain old silver nuts for me now...
Maybe black would have looked better?
Whilst at it I decided to try and eliminate the smell of vapes, KFC and lynx Africa.
Never had much luck with these before but it smells nice and clean for the time being at least!
Annoyingly battery was flat again, I had started it a few times over the last week but not driven it, enough to make a flat battery? Maybe but it feels like something is draining the battery....
TEKNOPUG said:
Always have the side lights on or A/C, radio etc to ensure the alternator is running.
Those brake discs look a bit shagged.
To eradicate the interior smells you need to steam clean the inside. The steam kills the bacteria that is causing the smell. Perfumes etc just masks the smell but they will return without dealing with the source.
OEM nuts and black plastic valve caps FTW.
It's been sat for a week in the rain so the discs look nasty. They actually have very little wear on them thankfully. Pads look relatively new and calipers look very clean. There are a lot of good bits on this car...Those brake discs look a bit shagged.
To eradicate the interior smells you need to steam clean the inside. The steam kills the bacteria that is causing the smell. Perfumes etc just masks the smell but they will return without dealing with the source.
OEM nuts and black plastic valve caps FTW.
I did steam the headlining and the seats, I really want to take the front seats out and give it a good vacuum and vax, the front of the seat runners are a bit scabby so I will do that at the same time.
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