First time buyer seeking advice (Blobeye WRX STi UK))
 

I've kept my eye on the market for a low(er) mileage, fairly clean minimal mods blobeye STi and found this:
https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/15811225

Are there any red flags in this listing / potential things to look out for that you can spot? It's a couple hours from me, and a fair chunk of money so I would appreciate some other opinions before I go any further. The price seems high but considering the mileage it feels ok? Should I look elsewhere or is this the gem I've been looking for. Any help/advice is appreciated!

It's got a filthy engine bay and I think it may have had a rear quarter panel, near side. Accident damage.
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.sco...283134eda5.jpg
Id say this is a rear quarter repair

MOT history good,but obviously needs tyres,16-17k seems more realistic given dents,cracked lenses etc.

i don't know, think it's is not possible to have engine bay covered in those black deposit in 27k miles,rust under a paint,rust in a boot,rust on radiator hangers ,sills,looks more like 50-60k miles. Panel dings,front bumper panel spaces etc.
Cluster swap for mot will keep mileage low.

Either way you look at it that’s a ridiculous price ! How long has it been up for sale. In current circumstances I’d say it’s worth 12-14 on a good day. Ignore dirty engine bay ! , it’s what’s inside. To give you an example on a similar uk spec ppp , I sold a 2004 sti , blue , fsh , full mot , few tweaks by Bob r and Neil @ slowboy , headers / turbo / decat / caik /full defi genome gauges , approx 380 bhp , 122000 miles and I sold it for £4K !!! 6 years ago. Admittedly it didn’t have the widetrack or dccd and a lot more miles and yes the prices have sored but a lot are speculative I think. That is still well overpriced for a 18yr old car imo.

It was up for auction last month guide price 20-30K. Didn't sell obviously... I kept an eye on it to see if the price moved, but was thinking mid teens is far more appropriate. Only thing that sways me is the low mileage as dents, dings and tyres can be sorted with some TLC. Would you think there is something dodgy with it or is the seller just very optimistic? Appreciate all the feedback everyone :)

In the listing this is described as just "Some bubbling to the paint on passenger side C pillar". You think it could be a sign of something else a lot more serious?

I wouldn’t necessarily say dodgy as it’s an old car but optimistic? ……. Very. Some people who arnt in a rush to sell just dream up a price I think. I’d agree with you and say low to kid teens is where you want to be. If you can verify the mileage then I’d say 14-16 if not then 12-14 at best. Nice car tho. That version is my fav.

Look on the steering wheel, leather looks tired on top,rust inside fuel flap,boot etc.
27k miles steering wheel ,shiny and tried on top
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.sco...b1e54a251d.jpg

my car 56k miles steering wheel still in mat black
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.sco...1c3ea01065.jpg

See your point and we’ll spotted but stitching in wheel and the gear stick surround seem v good ? As do plastics. Tho a quick wipe and then photo can be deceptive. Either way it’s well overpriced I’d say don’t you ? That said it’s still a good car. The bubbling looks almost like something corrosive has been spilled on it rather than something more sinister.

Not really You can do anything with shiny leather on steering wheel,Yes for a while maybe a week. Leather is wrinkled on top in a place where You hold left hand,same on the bottom is lighter where You keep thumbs from both hands,no way it could look like that after 27k miles,stiching You can clean easily.
A/c,heater dials plastic around looks worse than on mine 56k car,scuff on passenger airbag ,i do not know in my opinion it has 50-60k miles.

If I was advertising my car for a somewhat 'optimistic' price, I would have given it the best valet of its life, or paid for a professional one ?

The engine bay is off putting, and if I was going to take so many photos of the underside, I would have made sure that it was thoroughly cleaned.

Would also have got the dents sorted as well, relatively cheap to do if they can be sorted without needing paint.

If you are going to ask top dollar, it needs to be presented properly ?

for that money there seems a lot wrong with it , personally i'd wait for another to turn up at that money seen better condition 80k mile ones