NickPotts2

Hi Guys
I am new to this site but am looking for some advice.

I am about to test drive a '99 Impreza Turbo Wagon at lunch, and am really looking forward to it. One thing though - is there anything I should look out for? Im expecting the car to be quite fast (I currently drive a Toyota Supra).

Is this a particularly good/bad year of Impreza to purchase?

Thanks in advance for any tips or advice on this

Cheers

Nick

MattPiece

Morning and welcome . I'm assuming is a UK wagon? Are there any mods?

If its a standard UK then as long as car has a *good* service history then you should be fine. Some owners *may* (not all ) thrash their car, so look and feel for clutch wear/judder and notchy gear change. Turbo should be quiet.

The car will be nimble but not really fast - but it depends on what you're used to . The MAF sensor tends to be a bit weak during later life (symptom is searching for idle and/or staggered hesitation around 4K) but only is £80 change.

45K is the cambelt change service BTW.

Enjoy the ride!

Cheers

Heple

Welcome. Some common faults : -

Check for a snick into 5th

Unplug the MAF sensor (sensor just before the airbox / Induction) while its running it should stall if its working. These are a very weak component on 99-00 cars.

Then its just the usual stuff service hist,brakes etc.....

NickPotts2

Thanks for the replies guys - thats just the sort of info I was after.

I will check the MAF, as well as all the history and cambelt change.

I am assuming the car is a UK spec, so will also check this.

I will let you know how I get on later!

Regards

Nick

Heple

Also check what petrol the previous owner was using and the oil thats in it.

Should give you an indication of what type of care the car has had.

The Trooper 1815

iTrader: (31)

If its a standard UK then as long as car has a *good* service history then you should be fine. Some owners *may* (not all ) thrash their car, so look and feel for clutch wear/judder and notchy gear change. Turbo should be quiet.

Read First.

http://www.sidc.co.uk/faq.htm#3.5

MattPiece

Seconded. Also have a look at tyre wear and condition. Should really have all the same tyres, certainly same tyres on the same axle. If not the latter, walk away as different tyres on the same axle is no-no and will lead to diff probs. Wear on the inside tread on both fronts indicates likely toe-in setup to minimise understeer; this is what most owners will have their car setup to (not a factory standard BTW). And check that you have a space-saver spare wheel!

MattPiece

Agreed. My MY99 JDM wagon still occasionally has early morning clutch judder for the first few mins. After that, its fine. The point is, the clutch judder shouldnt there throughout the test drive.

NickPotts2

Thanks for the messages guys - goes to show how good this Forum is for advice!!

I didnt know about the toe changes or thought about the tyre differences so will spend some time looking at them as well as the oil, fuel and spare wheel.

One thing - what sort of exhaust fume colour should I expect?? If the turbo has blown will this give me some indication??

Cheers

Heple

It shouldnt have any colour simple as!!!

Should look like the same as your average car.

See BLUE = RUN HARD AND FAST AND DONT LOOK BACK !!!!

Heple

Also the turbo's are very reliable so you prob wont get any smoke from it - suppose it all depends on the milage.

MattPiece

Should run clear all the time. Blue is a Heavy carbon deposits on the tailpipe usually means a rich-running engine - not really a problem but not ideal. If the car does have replacement exhaust, ask if the cat has been taken out (and available). Getting an MOT without a cat is a problem, especially in the future as MOT emissions are getting very tight and regulated (as I'm about to find out...). If so, a quick swap in of a cat will see you right.

A real blown turbo sounds like a jet engine and has no power! You'll know it when that happens... . All you should hear in the cabin is a gentle, subtle whine.

NickPotts2

Mileage is circa 60k. I will definately watch out for non-clear smoke!!!
Is it worth noting the engine/chassis number to confirm it is what it says it is?

With the Supra's (which I own at present) there is a clear cut way of identifying the model/engine type etc, by looking at the engine stamp inside. Im assuming there is a similar thing with most/all cars including scoobs?

Apologies for lack of techie knowledge here guys!!

Nick

MattPiece

http://www.sidc.co.uk/faq.htm#2.1.1 .

Oops scrap that! Thats for JDMs!!!

Houghton

iTrader: (1)

There's some info on UK engine/chassis on the IWOC site here:
http://www.iwoc.co.uk/ukcode.html
Not much info yet but it includes a MY99 wagon.

NickPotts2

Hi Guys
Just got back from the test drive.
The car is in superb condition, with not a mark on it. The engine was cold when I arrived and gave a nice clean exhaust fume once I started it up. No sign of MAF damage or clutch problems.

The car drove nicely, and was immaculate inside. All four tyres were the same (Goodridge). Overall I was very impressed. The car picked up well and had clearly been looked after. Came with full Subura service history, and was unmodded apart from an exhaust at the back (original supplied as well)....

All in all a good UK spec car from the looks of things. Price is 7k, but I managed to talk him down to £6,700 including full service, MOT and valet.

Cheers for all the help guys, much appreciated. Lets hope one day I can return the favour!

Nick

bullet917

cool, get some pics up

Heple

Sounds like you've got a good one.

NickPotts2

Only got the advert image, so not the best quality. Im struggling to find out how to attach an image though - only seems to be an option of adding one in from a html page - any ideas or am I being blind??!!

Nick

Heple

You'll have to host the pics at another site such as www.photobucket.com then link to it from your post

The Trooper 1815

iTrader: (31)

He's in the club!!! Get on to the Wagons Roll Thread. Some top Wagons.

punkie

Welcome to the wonderful world of Scoobies !

NickPotts2

Cheers guys....

Follow this link for a piccy - hope this works. I will get some more next week when I collect it to post.

Nick

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y41...y50/scooby.jpg

punkie

Lovely mate. Get it de tango'd by the way (Orange repeater's and indicators must go).

Enjoy.

corradoboy

What a lovely tale. Fair warms the heart

Welcome

NickPotts2

Yeah that will be the first job on the list. Some nice clear ones should do it!!

Nick

Jamo

iTrader: (23)

very nice mate

what interior did it have?

NickPotts2

Erm, good question!
As far as I can remember it had racing style bucket seats in black. Rear black seats as well in black, neither of them leather (not too sure if this is an option or not). It had a Momo steering wheel, although I think I am right in saying that this is standard for a '99 car?

Are there many interior options available for this model do you know? I take it some are more desirable than others?

Thanks

Nick

Jamo

iTrader: (23)

most of the uk ones ive seen are pretty plain interiors. or even worst the tweed

little_idiot

welcome to wagon ownership! I've had my MY99 wagon for just over a year now and it's superb.


The momo wheel is standard, plus on the MY99 you get an ECU that can be remaped without the need for a piggy back chip, better brakes than the previous years, facelift front end and the stage 2 engine.

Just for your own piece of mind, replace the MAF, for £70 from a main dealer it's worth it to save your engine. Mine appeared to be working fine, but i thought i'd replace it anyway last week. the difference is that through the rev range the car is even smoother and drives better. Granted mine has 80k miles on the clock but some people change it every year as a matter of course but most say every 50k miles

The part number is 22794AA010

So, next thing is de-tango - scoobyworld do packs where you can get crystal indicators, repeaters and side lights

here's mine with said crystal bits


Appart from that, enjoy it - it's also practical!

James