wilmabeast

Hi All.

I'm in the market for a turbo wagon, but with a budget of £5k max i'm not exactly spoilt for choice. I know that the engine is pretty reliable, but what sort of mileage do these cars start having problems? For example, i've seen a really nice standard UK turbo with full dealer service history, but the mileage is 80k - is this likely to be a problem?

I'm torn between getting a higher mileage UK car with history, like the one above, or an import with half the mileage but no history to back it up - any thoughts?

Also, at what mileages do the big services come up (e.g cambelt) and what sort of servicing costs can i expect for a 8-10 year old scooby?

Thanks in advance for any help!

p@ul

Big services are 45k and 90k (iirc)
80k shouldnt be a worry m8 if its been serviced well and preferably by subaru
if any doubts with it would be worth paying for a check like AA/rac

julian N/W wrx my93

my my93(import) has over 107k on her and still going strong!

i do my own servicing, so i know is done right!!

TonyNesta

My MY98 UK is up to 105k and still going strong. History is everything.

T

IN THE STICKS

90K is a big servive ,can be around £700 if you're not careful . So factor this in to your price , perhaps get an idea from a good specialist first as to how much the next service could be.

Dave

have a look here for an idea of prices http://www.xtremescoobies.co.uk

SiPie

Hmmmmmm... that's what I thought so made sure I bought an MY99 with FSSH and made extra sure by getting a full AA report...it had 60k on the clock






.... then watched as the gearbox/clutch went within 6 months followed by engine 3 months later followed by practically everything else


You take your chance

julian N/W wrx my93

mine came from japan, had no history etc etc.

even paid 5k up front for her.

like everything is a chance you take.

the services aren't that much if your handy with the spanners.

history or not things can go wrong, thats why i do my own servicing, i mean i can't prove i've done it to someone but i know i have.

IN THE STICKS

Even if you do your own servicing , so long as you keep all the reciepts for the parts / oil etc it still helps , and on a car thats 10 years old a nice stack of bills can still help when you come to sell her .

Dave

scoobysmithy

i dont trust imports 1 little bit
sure there are good 1s out there
but when i was looking 4 my scooby i looked at load of imports and most claimimg they had only done 30 or 40k and on a 8 -10 year old car that dont seem right 2 me. also the gear stick, pedels and stearing wheels all were looking a bit on the worn side
so i got a uk my00 with 93k on the clock with fssh 4 a couple of k more but aleast i knew the clock was telling the truth.
does any 1 else think the same about imports?????

wilmabeast

Thanks for all the advice guys, i think i'll hang on for a UK with FSH. I know it doesn't gaurantee no problems, but i reckon i'll have a better chance.

Glad I found out about the 90k service = £700??? What do they do, plate the engine in gold and give you a Ferrari as a courtesy car??? If i go for the one i mentioned on 82k i'll have to knock a bit off!

IN THE STICKS

IIRC the 90k service includes a few fluid changes as well as the BIG service ie Plugs, fuel filter , brake fluid , diff oil, Engine coolant etc, etc,and possibly the cam belt (if replaced every 45,000 miles )

Dave

SiPie

A £700 bill is the elast of your expenses if you drive the car as it's begging to be driven...

Contrary to popular belief they break easy and the consumables will cost you a small fortune.

ie. 4 new tyres every 5000 miles (rears perhaps 7k)

Brake pads every 3 months (if dealer fitted £120 a shot for fronts)

average 16.7mpg on relatively unmodded car (250bhp)


Total cost over 32,000 miles and 26months = £23,500 including fuel but not cost of car or depreciation.

MCTERNA

I bought a grey import 3 years and still have it. It's a 93 240 bhp WRX. The reports are that they are better cars (i.e. they have air con, bigger turbo, intercooler). However I will have to say it is a big gamble. Some are good however some have been thrashed. I think I have brought one that has been thrashed. It has broken down on me 4 times, I have the engine overheat on the M25 (not a nice experience) and recently the engine has been misfiring so I had the coil packs and two sensors replaced. Now I think I am suffering from a slipping clutch. I stopped taking it to the guy who sold me the car (for obvious reasons) and have found a good Subaru specialist and things have improved.

Also I errored because I put in ordinary unleaded into it and not super unleaded (Japanese fuels are 100RON whereas ordinary is 95RON - super 97RON). I understand using 95 causes engine damage so this will up the running costs of an import.

My best advice if buying an import is to find a good specialist (trustworthy) who will give the car a thorough check beforehand. The service history you will not understand and the mileage may well be wrong. Then take it for a good test drive. I found Chris Rees book "You & Your Subaru Impreza Turbo" is a very good read and he talks about imported cars. For under £20 it a worthy investment before buying a Subaru. I only wish I had read it before I brought mine (hands in the air I have been rather foolhardy).

I would like to learn how to service my Subaru. If there are any other good books or even better a course I could go on I would be very interested to know the ins and outs.

pjb147

Hi Mate,


120k on my uk turbo with full same dealer service history ! The car runs like a dream and i have a heavy right foot sometimes and it still purrs like a kitten !!!

I have had as many of the usual hot hatches as hot dinners and belive me the scooby is by far the best car i have bought, i just wish i had bought one earlier !!

BE WARNED !!! Fuel can be a nightmare if you drive it hard !! believe me !!

ANOTHER BE WARNED !!! Fuel can be a nightmare if you drive it hard !!! lol...

and try driving a scooby without putting your foot down !! (not easy)

As for servicing the £700 is for everything !! Cambelt,oil change,air,fuel filter change,brake fluid change ,gearbox oil change, brakes stripped and cleaned ,,,,,and so much more,,, (bear in mind plugs can cost £35 set) And you know it has been serviced..

I had it done a 90k £725 including front pads..

If i were you i would go for it and buy one..you wont be disapointed.

By the way keep checking the cars for sale on here !! theres allways a bargain to be had..

Good luck m8

pj

wilmabeast

OK, i think i'm going to go for this car, 82k with full dealer history, and use the impending big service as a bargaining tool.

Anybody know of any good subaru specialists in the east midlands?

IN THE STICKS

Check for all the obvious things like blue smoke , oil leaks etc , uneven tyre wear , also just check out the small things like all the electrical switches work, rubber seals around the doors dont blow air through at higher speeds (Not major problems but worth checking ), and I guarantee you will have one hell of a job wiping the smile off of your face after a test drive .

Oh and listen out for piston slap when it starts up from cold , (not going to kill the car , but annoying and common still the same )

Dave

MontyTheGod

I have a My98 uk turbo full subaru service history 120K and i cannot fault the car at all...


Gearbox is strong and no whining, clutch is vv good (I can assume the clutch and turbo has been replaced ) Boost is low and strong, no smoke at all !

I am using it daily to and from work up and down the M2 (100 mile round trip) and getting approx 250 miles out of 50 litres of optimax.. this can drop to 220 if i have a heavy foot week ! and raise to 300 miles on a slow week..

Was dubious about buying it at 108k, but no regrets here....

The only mod done to it is a HKS induction filter..... so far !

wilmabeast

Well, i've just bought it, it is totally standard (needed for insurance purposes) and absolutely mint. Loads of receipts, full stamped service book, for £4000. I am now one very happy scooby owner!

Bubba po

What Year is it at that price?

wilmabeast

1994 on an L plate

Bubba po

That's not bad mileage for the year... good luck!

May I have this corner, by the way?

MJN 555

You just never know, i have MY 98, has FSSH, done 76k, no problems at all although have an oil seal starting to leak slightly which can wait until the cambelt is done, have seen quite a few Legacy Turbos for sale with in excess of 125k on, saw one with 182k, so they can go on for quite a while if you are fortunate.

Cheers

disoy

I too have a MY 98, which has just developed an oil seal leak under the cam cover. I am hopeing its the crankshaft seal.
I am getting the cam belt changed at 70k!! as i forgot at 45k! on wednsday so i will find out what is causing the leak.

MJN 555

Roger Clark Motorsport, 01455 828610, speak to Olly Clark, they are superb!!!

Cheers

Muffleman

My missus has a MY96 Uk Wagon Turbo with 144k on the clock - fit as a fiddle and healthy as a butchers dog !

All the best mate



Matt

MJN 555

Hi, be interested to know if it is and how much it costs, might give me a clue what I will be into later in the year.

Cheers

davegtt

where abouts in the east midlands do we have this new owner?

wilmabeast

sorry to drag an old thread back up, but as the original author i would let you know that the car i bought above was sold after about a year and 12k miles, absouletely no problems at all, a fantastic car.

Since then i have had a Fiat Coupe, BMW 5 series and Golf GTi, all of which were rubbish so tomorrow i am going to have a look at another Impreza :-) It's a 98 wagon, again high mileage but UK car and full history.

Just wanted to say thanks for the advice offered when i bought my first one, sorry i haven;t been on much since but it just didn't break, so i didn't need it!! I hope the new one will be as much fun and as little trouble as the old one was!

bighead

iTrader: (1)

welcome back

wilmabeast

cheers bighead

i like buying cars that are a bit different, and forums like this are a godsend for ironing out all the little problems