to buy or not to buy?
 

hi, I joined on here recently as I am keen to get a classic shape impreza. while I know that there may be the odd body work issue, from what I have seen on the net, there are some nice examples out there. what is concerning me however is my overall lack of knowledge on these cars, I just simply don't know enough about them...with my budget its going to be like finding a needle amongst a haystack!
im aware of making sure that any car I view must be stone cold, and listen for any engine noise/ knocks etc around 2k, obvious smoky exhaust etc. good service history essential, which in a way is deterring me from an import as its often lost.
I have sat and pondered for several weeks now, but the niggling factor is what if it goes horribly wrong? I know any car have parts fail, hell the engine blew on a car I bought this year 2 months into ownership and that had loads of history to it.
I ve been reading many threads on here and it seems im walking into a mine field? I know I can afford to insure it and run it (certainly from the fuel, and frequent oil changes side of things)

advice please, I need some.

sean999

If you don't know anything about Subaru's (or any car) take someone with you who does or be prepared to buy a dog.

Contrary to what most people say £2k should buy you a reasonable car, you just need to be picky.

just get in checked by Subaru specialist before you buy and buy one that is owned by a Subaru enthusiast ...also most important recent cam belt change history .


oh rust on bodywork depends how it has been kept....mine is rust free (2001 impreza P1 ) its 12 years old !!

Is £2k your budget?

My advice is, if your not handy with tools then avoid a cheap classic, because they are getting on a bit now, if a few simple things go wrong your very quickly up to the value of the car unless you know how to DIY.

Add that to not knowing very much about subaru's and you could quite quickly be throwing a sizeable sum at one, hence so many being broken at the moment, don't get me wrong there is still the odd good one out there but they are be-coming very rare, a wrong un has the potential to cause you to have to crack open the piggy bank.:lol1:

This is not me saying you can't afford one, just that they don't make sense unless you can offset some of the costs at this price point.

And take into account that working on them has ever been easy, a car which is over ten years old can be a dog to work on, with bolts seized everywhere.

Have a read of the link That I have posted it will give you the basic knowledge about the Subaru Impreza and what you should be looking for.Good luck with your search there are good examples out there but there are quite a few sheds in the mix as well.http://www.scoobypedia.co.uk/index.p...ezaBuyingGuide.SJ.

Agreed, Ive had my fair share on VW's around the ten to fifteen year old mark, and they have always been a nightmare to work, especially on te drive way, with no windy gun and the rain howling down :)

Also geographic location of the car I believe also makes things worse. I bought a Mk2 Golf that spent its entire life at a beach front property in Cornwall years ago, every single bolt was siezed and snapped with the slightest turn. I spent more on drill bits than I did on the car in the end :) However it did turn into my 20v Mk2, peserverance (and anger management classes :))

I recommend the AA car inspection service. I have never used it, but when I sold a VW Corrado, the lad paid for the AA technician to come out and look at it. I have never seen a more meticulous inspection in my life, he spent four hours on it and gave both of us a detailed report on pretty much ever aspect of the car. Very impressed.

Thanks for the replies, its lifted me a bit, was beginning to feel like my bubble was about to burst. in answer to some questions re budget ( 2 grand), its a little bit more, I think someone has mistook a reference I made to 2 grand, I was referring to starting a car from absolute cold, taking the revs to 2k, letting off and listening for obvious rattles/ bottom end noises. a work mate told me that bit he used to be a Subaru spanner monkey many years ago. my budget is 2.5k.
I can understand the comments about avoiding old classic shape ones due to obvious body work issues and rusted up bolts etc, but its the only shape I like!!!
experience wise, im not a mechanic, just someone who's eager to have a go, usually because I can afford the garage bills and the satisfaction of doing a job myself. im quite used to crawling about under cars, regular trips to A&E due to crap, flakes of rust dropping in my eyes (even with goggles on before someone comments) I do my own welding and both me and my lad are into , have had/ currently have old fords. im used to things rounding off and breaking. earlier this year the engine went in a 2.5 v6 Vectra I had, with a mate we did a 3 ltr conversion over the weekend.
so as you can see, no stranger to stripped knuckles, black fingernails and working on cars. I think its just the fact that impreza's (from what I have read) can be expensive when the go wrong, and its not an engine Im used to. I wouldn't tackle a cambelt or clutch job myself, but will have a go at most things within my ability even if it means reading up on a subject or asking plenty of questions, which if I get one, there bound to be plenty of.
the annoying thing for me at the moment is that most of the cars that seem to fit my criteria are the other end of the country, usually Scotland. im in derby so would travel at most 100miles for the right car.

thanks again for the responses.

sean 999

Ok good that your no stranger to spannering sounds like you'll be just fine.

Your going to have to travel for the right car, but the good thing is it doesn't need to be a wasted journey, because if you find a car you like that looks like a good un and it's a few hundred miles away, just post a thread for someone local to go take a look at it for you, someone may even know the car and owner, a fair few of the lads on here don't mind going to look at a car for you before you take a hike to go see a badly described shed.

Post links to any you find and we'll give you the benefit of our combined experience.:thumb:

cheers, thanks for that, always good to know.

sean999

Sounds like you're doing your homework.

Most classics have by now had rebuilds, engine changed etc. Check the engine and gearbox codes against the vin plate.
So many of the cars for sale are from people that are off loading pups. You also sound clued up, so ask about servicing when what who done it etc. Many cars have been owned by boy racers who are more interested in loud pipes than correct servicing.
IMHO subarus are so specialised an AA check wont really be much use, far better to take someone who knows the breed and has first hand experience.

I bought a pup last year with a mongrel engine fitted (badly) No biggy I thought, I can stick new bearings and rings it. £5k Later I have a proper engine :)

thanks, I know where your coming from. I look at it this way, most people only sell cars for one of a few reasons, either they have had it a long time and genuinely fancy a change, they cant afford to run it, or theres something wrong/ about to go wrong so they off load it. if you have a right nice car that your really happy with, no issues etc, why part with it?
I think one of my concerns is that there are so many out there that have been abused its finding a decent one that's hard. I know its better to look for a none abused standard as possible example, good history etc. its like the old saying, "look after it, it will look after you" same said with cars.
I've done the project car route several times before, always ends up costing twice a much as if you'd just gone and got a better one in the first place. ive also had the rolling resto in progress, soon gets boring on cold wet winter days crawling about under a car, having to do work on It every time you've a day off.
I've just got to take my time and find the right one, not really interested in big power modified scoobs, my wallet aint that deep and usually once you start to change things reliability suffers and more parts need replacing.
theres a right nice looking classic white sti on ebay at the moment in Herefordshire, p plate I think 87k up it loads of history.....that's the kind of car im looking for.

sean999

link?

ha, with you, just come off nights with very little kip! I can do the item number but being a computer retard aint got "Scooby doo" (pun very much intended) as to how to do links.

ebay item 111203169129

sean999

Shift works a killer. https://www.scoobynet.com/scoobynet-...ot-to-buy.html

Ad reads ok, looks like a nice car. Do you think hes a dealer or wannabe dealer? I like hear personal things like owned this car for so long blah blah... Check tensioner and idlers were changed with the belt.

fair one, I always have a full kit on any car I buy, that way you knows its done.

sean999

That car doesn't look too bad apart from the engine bay looks a bit un-loved, i'd give him a call and have a chat, see what he knows about the car and ask about the rear arch condition.

thanks for putting up the link. im a little bit stuck at the moment as im still waiting on the cheque from my injury settlement, must chase up the solicitor.
certainly if the cash was here id be in communications with the guy. if someone's genuine they are usually more than happy to forward on addition photos and extra if requested. im keeping an eye on the add anyway. if it does go before my money comes through then fair enough, but that's the kind od car im looking for.

sean999