1998 STi Import (330bhp) buying advice needed.
 

Hi,

Tomorrow I'm going to view an imported 1998 STI. It's got 330 BHP and has covered 60k miles. It was imported from new. Apparently it has a very extensive history and every receipt from new. It sounds fantastic, I really want to buy it.

I'm not taking a mechanic with me & I need advice on the following:

1. What import documentation / registration details should I check for?

2. Are there any issues with this model, or this level of power output and the mileage?

3. Anything advice in general really - I'm a bit ****e.

Please help. I'm def. going to buy it unless you guys put me off.


Many thanks in advance.
Richard.

Sorry, forgot to say. I thought the standard import STI power was around 280. Does it sound like this has had a version of PPP on it?

The car also has an £1,800 Xenon light upgrade and an AP brake upgrade (£1,500).

Please help, I'm getting itchy wallet finger already.

what's been done to get 330hp, who did it, how long ago, receipts etc.

cambelt change should be done at 45k, check that. Check all receipts especially the parts that they tell you have been upgraded and find out who did the work.

Thanks for the reply Craig.

I don't yet know what has been done to get it to 330. I read somewhere that they left the fatory with 280, is that right?

Thanks for the cambelt advice. I'll be sure to go through all the reciepts. The fella selling it did say all the work was done buy the same garage but I don't know what on - sorry, I did say I was ****e.

Make sure that you find out who's done what work to the car.

cheers Chris. I know what I'm like - I'll end up putting a deposit down on it. What sort of money do you guys think it should be? The guy is looking for £8,500.

I'll post what I find ou tomorrow and hopefulley you fella's can tell wheter I should but it or not.

I'm not too sure on the price but i'm sure someone who knows will be along shortly!

Just remember that you don't have to buy the first one you see. There's always a good selection for sale.

Keep us posted.

Chris

Chris, I can't be trusted. I get drunk on speed. I bought a GSXr 600 on the same basis.

I will try though...honest

if you want to compare it a different one, you could come and have a look at my sti5 wagon, its more money at 10k but you get what you pay for ;)
cheers
Taffy

Be suspisious if the engine is warm when you get there.

thaks for all the replies fellas. Fingers crossed...

i have a sti v4, very nice cars but check for the normal stuff and make sure it is cold when you get there to check for pinking or any other engine noises!.
check the oil and smell the water tank header there just be little or no smell of oil or a white eggy colour on the lid or around the base of it, if so walk away the bottom end or head seals have gone!.

i got my sti and after 3 days the bottom end want! £3500 to get right but that is with a stonger crank and con rods upgraded water & oil pump ect..... ect ... !.

so please take a good mech with you......... .

have fun if it is a good 1

Well, what happened then?

Doesn't sound dear really

The car has had the GGR stage one upgrade + a 3" straight through exhaust and cone filter.

The cam belt was changed at 45K and the service history looks good. I'm having an RAC check done on it in the next couple of days.

It drove well and was pretty fast, which is nice.

It won't have over 300bhp unless he's changed the turbo and the fuel pump, aside from anything else. Sounds like pub talk, but don't let that put you off if it's a good car :)

Not so sure about the turbo but he would definately need to change the pump..:)

good man to have the RAC check, they spot things that can easily be missed.

IIRC the GGR stage 1 kit wasn't particularly special, it did little more than up the boost...some cars with it had trouble with det, others ran absolutely fine, it wasn't exactly mapped to the car, rather a generic upgrade.

On the subject of getting inspected, you'd do better taking it to a reputable Subaru Specialist for a once over. Very recently the RAC did an inspection for a friend who bought an Sti V, and they managed to miss that the exhaust manifold was barely attached, the Lambda sensor was dying and that the MAF sensor was completely dead...not very impresisive, especially considering how much they charged for the inspection and how little would have been covered should the engine have let go, which with these faults was only a matter of time...if my friend hadn't been badgered by me into getting it looked at by somone who really knows what they're doing!

You're getting me worried now Tim. The RAC do say that you're covered for upto £10k if the info they give you is wrong.

It'll probably be a mare to get the money out of them though.

I live in Bromley, Kent (South East London). Can anyone recommend where I should take it to be looked at and serviced etc?

Richard.

Barretts Motorsport in Canterbury, 01227 864537 speak to Phil Venn They're an off shoot of the Barretts group (which includes a Subaru franchise) that prep rally cars and used to run one of the most successful classic group N Imprezas.

Or you could go North of the river to Xtreme Scoobies in Boreham 01245 363623

Incidentally this Sti 4 wouldn't be silver would it, belong to a guy called Rob and come from around the T.Wells area would it?

I can vouch for Barretts Motorsport,Phil is a sound guy and they do an excellent job looking after my 94 STI with all serviceing and generally anything mechanical.The advice and knowledge both Phil and Karl have is never ending and always ready to help out.:)

Thanks Jonjo.

The first (of two) owner lived around T. Wells. I can't remember the guys name though. Did he sell it 6 months ago?

Back when I lived down in Kent I knew a guy with a silver Sti 4 which had GGR stage 1 on it, he had bought the car new, I seem to recall that his name was Rob and that he lived a little south of T.Wells... I lost touch with the Kent Scooby community, bar a couple of good friends, when I moved away in 1999.

I'll try and find a pic of the car if I can...it was a very long time ago!

Small world (maybe).