Potential Gem or Moneypit?
 

I've provisionally agreed to buy an '03 Blobeye Impreza WRX STi for £7k. Car has 76k miles on the clock and mods include remap to 300bhp, dump valve, gauges and 18" alloys.


My impression of the car is that it's been much loved but neglected for the past 12 months or so - concerns are:

• Missed it's last service (last service in 2014), although has done >3k miles in this time.
• Bodywork and alloys need some TLC.
• Slight groves on front brake discs - assume these will need changing?
• Battery has been allowed to run flat so ignition (gauges?) beep when engine is off/ignition on

What are your thoughts? Would anyone recommend a local specialist (Crawley, West Sussex) to do a full service?


Presumably a full respray is hugely expensive - any refurb options for bodywork? It's not horrific but I'm picky - probably about average for a car of this age.


Are these '03 Blobeye WRX STi's good investments? Buying as a weekend toy, but if it holds/increases in value, it'd be a bonus!