john_d

contemplating looking at a 04 plate wrx, full service history but 140k on the clock, now im guessing thats about average for a car of this age but is it getting to the mileage where parts will start failing or can these go on for many miles more?

thanks

john

stonejedi

iTrader: (51)

140K is a good amount of miles,but if it has full service history that in itself is a good indication that it's been well maintained and looked after,parts that needed replacing because of wear most probably has already been changed.As long as it has a service file as thick as an Oxford Dictionary fully documented you should be fine.SJ.

jaygsi

iTrader: (46)

If there well looked after you can get very high miles, the boxer engine on paper is built proof. The problem comes when they have been used and abused. If its been red lined most of its life and not been serviced regularly then you won't get to 140k.

If it doesn't have full service history then walk away. Unless the owner is a little old lady.

TECHNOPUG

iTrader: (1)

Bought an '02 PPP with 120k last year. Now on 160k. Refreshed suspension & brakes (more through choice than need). Changed all fluids and filters regularly. Done a 1000+ miles since Monday. Starts every time and seems to drive fine. Never had anything fail or had to replace anything unexpectedly.Have a very occasional idle issue if sat in traffic for a long time. I have done a lot of preventative maintenance to be fair but then as you see from my mileage, it's a proper daily workhorse for me.

So in summary mileage is pretty irrelevant once they go past 100k. It's all about condition and recent history.

Too add, Ive never driven another Impreza, and no other owner has driven my car, so it may actually be a tired old dog of motor

It is reliable though.

irish555

local classic over here on 185k and goes well no smoke if he told ya was only 100k on it ya wouldnt think otherwise. Great engine when maintained correctly

RedScoob

Luck of the draw, even with a good service history. At that mileage, I'd walk away from any poor modifications, or any hint of something mechanically suspect.
With any car, mid 100k miles is when things start going astray. Stories of 200k Imprezas are the exception rather than the norm (in my experience), so bear that in mind when haggling.

john_d

thanks for the advice, ideally i would prefer a lower mile car, knowing my luck ill get a 75k'er and itll go bang the following week

TECHNOPUG

iTrader: (1)

It does happen. Any second hand car is a gamble. You have no idea how it has been driven or cared for. Even paperwork doesn't really prove much I'm afraid. At least with a high mileage car, you can assume that someone has cared for it to manage so many miles.

gazney101

iTrader: (5)

This.
Milage is pretty irrelevant to me, reliability goes hand in hand with money spent, I've spent a fortune on my car but only have some service history from before I bought it.
If I was to sell, a potential buyer should be able to see how well its been looked after, rather than rely on paperwork

stonejedi

iTrader: (51)

LOL,so if you was buying a car you would take a sellers word that the car was serviced regularly and taken care of,even if he did not have any paperwork or receipts for it because it looked clean?.SJ.

Paben

iTrader: (5)

If the car looked like a bag of shyte (and the owner did too) then I would walk away quickly irrespective of mileage. It might be poor decision making but if I go to buy a car and it's owned by a scruffy bloke with a scruffy house then I reckon the car is probably in the same condition. Tidy house + tidy bloke = tidy car. It hasn't let me down yet but I may have missed the odd bargain!

stonejedi

iTrader: (51)

I hear you mate,but believe me when I say not everything that glitters is Gold.SJ.

Paben

iTrader: (5)

Very true but I haven't been tripped up yet. Time enough though, I'm looking for another car now and this might be the one where the system fails!

stonejedi

iTrader: (51)

Hopefully it don't mate.SJ.

Paben

iTrader: (5)

Thanks, it would be an expensive mistake for sure

gazney101

iTrader: (5)

I'm sure I'm not the only one who could spot a lemon if I was looking at it?
A couple of simple questions and you'd know right away who you're buying from, and just looking at the tyres gives you a lot of information.
Mot ticket with any advisories, how knowledgeable the seller is, who they've bought parts from, what they think common problems are, all paint a picture for me anyway.
If it looks good it usually is

jonnyricer2

iTrader: (9)

I bought a bug eye wrx wagon in Jan it was on 151k it was completely standard bar an silicone inlet hose.

I've done 2k in it all it needed was a pair of wheel bearings service and cambelt belt

The key is as standard as possible with good history.