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Our much loved, 2-owner (us for the last 14 years) 1998 UK Turbo 5-Door has just failed its MOT for chassis corrosion and a rotten rear subframe. In an ideal world we'd do what we always do - pay up and get it fixed and re-MOTd. However circumstances have changed and both of us are not working currently so sadly it has to go. Externally it's in pretty good nick and despite what the 2nd-hand speedo says it has no more than 120,000 miles on it and four almost new Pirelli P7 tyres on refurbished alloys. Mechanically it's sweet with no whines, rumbles or anything else. The engine was rebuilt with offset con-rods under warranty to reduce piston slap.
This is not a 'what's it worth' post. In the absence of any relevant experience, just seeking advice on the best way to dispose of the car and recover at least some value. It is driveable except for the lack of MOT.
Our much loved, 2-owner (us for the last 14 years) 1998 UK Turbo 5-Door has just failed its MOT for chassis corrosion and a rotten rear subframe. In an ideal world we'd do what we always do - pay up and get it fixed and re-MOTd. However circumstances have changed and both of us are not working currently so sadly it has to go. Externally it's in pretty good nick and despite what the 2nd-hand speedo says it has no more than 120,000 miles on it and four almost new Pirelli P7 tyres on refurbished alloys. Mechanically it's sweet with no whines, rumbles or anything else. The engine was rebuilt with offset con-rods under warranty to reduce piston slap.
This is not a 'what's it worth' post. In the absence of any relevant experience, just seeking advice on the best way to dispose of the car and recover at least some value. It is driveable except for the lack of MOT.
Many thanks,
GeoffT.
contact a breaker or try and sell it on here, good wheels/tyres engine and gearboxes are always needed
Have you seen the corrosion. How bad are the rear arches on it etc. I'm not saying the MOT place is lying to you but one car can look significantly different from one tester to another tester. Like certain advisories etc, oh the tread looks low advisory while another might measure and say wait its on the limit of having it noted.
I'll put some up tomorrow. Two arches are bubbling a little. One rear repaired and repainted last year as part of a rear-end car park shunt from a Volvo insurance settlement, which also covered the impact damage to the bumper, rear panel and hatch.
Front spoiler is a bit scuffed one corner. Lot of welding (~£2k) done last year including strut tower rebuilds to get MOT. So can't imagine it's all that bad.
Would rather it went to good home again but I'm being realistic.
Noticed the disks are lightly rusted, from lack of use. One of the rears may be stuck but it drove fine last November.
Still taxed and insured and not yet SORNed.
GeoffT.
I'll put some up tomorrow. Two arches are bubbling a little. One rear repaired and repainted last year as part of a rear-end car park shunt from a Volvo insurance settlement, which also covered the impact damage to the bumper, rear panel and hatch.
Front spoiler is a bit scuffed one corner. Lot of welding (~£2k) done last year including strut tower rebuilds to get MOT. So can't imagine it's all that bad.
Would rather it went to good home again but I'm being realistic.
Noticed the disks are lightly rusted, from lack of use. One of the rears may be stuck but it drove fine last November.
Still taxed and insured and not yet SORNed.
GeoffT.
Two following are the most recent I have. The second when I resprayed the black trim around the RNS window. The original paint had just worn away by washing and cleaning. It also has FSH - full original service book with added pages. If there's genuine interest I'll move to the Sales forum.
Sorry for the delay. We both have health issues at the moment. Wife in hospital two weeks and counting. Me with a back innjury. No sympathy please. Just giving a reason for slow response. Seem to spend all my life either driving to and from and at the hospital in Reading.
Whers the rust mate. I think you are being had in all honesty. If its as bad as they say you would see something on the outside. I know cars can hide rust on the inside but still, based on all the rust repair you have had.
Whers the rust mate. I think you are being had in all honesty. If its as bad as they say you would see something on the outside. I know cars can hide rust on the inside but still, based on all the rust repair you have had.
Sorry for the lack of updates gentlemen. I went over the car again externally this morning and apart from some minor bubbling (probably less than a couple of square inches) on three out of four arches, none having broken through paint yet, there is no visible corrosion. There is also a small scuff on the FNS skirt/spoiler - most probably T-Cuttable. It has also has carried dogs during its life with us so will have an 'odour' about it.
I think I may have taken an overly pessimistic view of things. I know there's a sticky ROS brake and the discs have some surface rust - to be expected after 3 months of no use. Given current situation and physical limitations (my back and life-changing consequences for my wife after her op.) it's probaby no longer the ideal car for us, especially with the Impreza's low seating position.
Mrs.T is (hopefully) coming home tomorrow, at which point we'll gather all the documents and photos and make a pukka for-sale post in the correct forum in due course. It will have to be a sold-as-seen sale I'm afraid. Scooby's are in our blood and we've always owned one the last 21 years - Turbo 4-door, P1 2-door and now this. We'll doubtless get another. But no conventional aspiration or diesel! Mrs.T likes her power. I see a (proper) Forester 2.5 Turbo or maybe even an STi in our future.
And thank you all for your support and bearing with this sentimental old fool. It's been a real help through a difficult period. Selling this will be like giving away both our dogs.
Reg. is R241FJO. You'll see an unexplained jump in the mileage along the way. That was when I replaced the instruments as the speedometer had failed. Guy (on here) promised to sell me a replacement close to our actual mileage. It was about 42,000 miles more, with the MOT testers dutifully recording the greater figure from then on. But I do have dated, with that day's newspaper in shot, photos showing the original and much higher post-change mileage.
GeoffT
Last edited by Geoff Twibell; 22 January 2019 at 09:06 AM.
Sorry mate, not had a chance to reply after I looked at the MOT history. I think it was a combination of forgetting and being lazy lol
Have you been taking it to the same MOT Test Centre or was the last one a new place?
There was no mention of any sort of rust and then a full on rust failure. I know classics rust but not that quick unless you parked it up in a salt warehouse and washed it with salt. Seriously mate look at the areas they mention and take pictures.
16 January 2019, 10:44 AM
Best way to dispose of MOT failure Impreza
