might be worth starting a thread on who else has had problem free ownership of the 2.5

i bet yours is one of the highest mileage ones on standard internals

 

Cheers buddy, sure there have been failures but I'm pretty sure the failure rate is minimal.

 

Could do but it will surely get filled with abuse and slating of the 2.5

 

To be fair my forester 2.5 had 145k on it when I px'd it, everything original, it did drink rather a lot of oil though

 

When you factor in the amound of people with 2.5s that don't frequent forums and are happy with their cars, the results would be irrelevant

 

i bet its not minimal.its a shame that it happens to be fair as the extra low-down grunt makes for a good fast road car,it doesnt help that subaru pretty much washed their hands as much as they can with it-very very poor customer service

 

I've just sold a 2.5 engine with 20,000 miles on it for £700, I bought it 4 years ago off E_M_B, most garages quote £500 for fitting near us so if the engine lets go it isn't the end of the world.

 

It sounds very much like the op is going to buy it regardless, that's fair enough but what's the point in asking for an opinion then?

 

I was asking about the whine, which sounds to me like a belt, hoping to hear either conformation or a different diagnosis

 

I can remember reading a very long post on here and the 2 main Subaru builders stated that there were very few hawk WRXs failing its was mostly the hawk STI And the hatches.
Get her bought she looks fab plus I know 3 hawk WRXs with over 80k and no issues. Mine is fine to but has 30k
The fan belt might just need tightened

 

Cheers

 

Is it the fan belt whinning or is it something to do with the actual 'smart' alternator operation? Mine makes that whine also but its not the belt

 

It was started up, rolled forward & turned off for pics then rolled back if that helps? Cold engine

 

Shreksta the guy is after abit of advice on buying a car that is advertised, steady on the instant rebuild negative chat at the end of the day he is looking at scoob ownership so can only be positive...

Sure with abit guidance and patience you will find the one for you mate!

 

ok sorry......

to the op

you should go for it matey,the 2.5 is a wonderful piece of engineering and will serve you well

 

Patience is something i've always lacked, especially when looking for a motor! Ideally a car wouldn't need a plane ticket to check out but as I said previously, nothern Scotland sucks for cars, unless you want a run of the mill borebox.

Test drove an Evo V today as it was local, was an absolute missile, but it wasn't the best example. AYC light was on, brakes were crap and the odd noise when changing gear. It just confirmed I need to travel.

The seller has been great though, sent me loads of hi res photos of the car, under the spare tyre, behind the fuel flap etc, all the service receipts. Just hope the weather doesn't throw a spanner in the works. No problem driving back but the flights may be affected is there's a snowstorm, especailly with FlyBe and their twin prop boneshakers.

I'll be refraining from my usual evening routine of Air Crash Investigation on Sky too.

 

Fair play but with that distance you almost feel like you have to commit to the sale when in actual fact you get down there and you drive away thinking 'Sh*t what have I done'.

If I was in your shoes I'd try and source someone local to go and check out the car for you for a small fee.

 

If it's sh*t I won't be taking anything home, just catch the next plane. F*cking waste of cash hence asking for loads of pics & vids and the guy sounds genuine. Still a gamble but the seller agreed to drive the car 80 miles to meet me at the airport, which gives me a bit more confidence in the motor.

 

Haha, I love that programme too

 

Well make sure he doesnt come in the impreza to pick you up, you want to hear the car start stone cold, something it wont be after 80mile

 

yes this is a must,also check all the levels before you start it and have a look on the ground for any signs of leaks etc

 

+1 This is more of a neutral stance helpful post shreksta

 

all my posts have been helpful

 

that noise is most likely the tyres on the rubber mats, does this in my dads garage when i have put mine in the there, looks tidy and what people forget these cars are getting old now, mileage is low car looks tidy i would say 5k if clean

 

I had a rb320 that got its head kicked in and engine was fine, some go some font but know one ever posts about the ones that don't go.

I don't think that noise is a belt, sounds clutch related give when it's doing it. Seams drastic going all that way to be honest, you say your limited on choice withch to me goes with limited experienced people to work on it should it go **** up. Think about what your doing !

 

I do, ej257 out of the crate new, been running 350 when it was a daily driver for the last owner, now it's a second car running mostly 410. Been faultless, uses very little oil but yeah, it's going to go pop sometime but then it's far from standard

 

Am going to pull out of this one. If it's a clutch making that noise then screw that.

 

Do as suggested above, put a thread up asking someone local to go and look at it, plenty of guys on here don't mind going to have a nosey at a scoob.

 

6000th post and you were being nice to a n00b for it too

Agreed with many of the comments on here. It's a long way to go and the car may have issues.

Don't rush into a purchase, try and get something nearer. Best time to buy a car is probably in about six weeks' time anyway.

Don't be too put off a 2.5 WRX. They do fail but it would appear that they are less prone to doing so than the STi. But also bear in mind that if you are after a car from pre-2006 you are looking at cars seven to eight years old as a minimum, 2.0 cars of this age are no longer "bulletproof" either. However I would go for the 2.5 WRX I think the power delivery is more in keeping with a road car.

 

RAC/AA provide a car checking service, don't they? I would imagine that some sort of guarantee would come with that? Worth looking into IMO