Timwinner

iTrader: (3)

I am looking for a weekend toy type classic. In the past I have only had low mileage Subaru experiences.
For the budget I have, somewhere in the £4k mark I seem to be finding lots of cars with 120k ish on the clock.
Now if it was a GTi, or an A3 this would not concern me at all as I am sure they are good for 250k on the whole.
But when it comes to turbo charged wrx or STi engines how important is it to get a low mileage example?
Anyone running a high mileage car? What are the major points to look out for with high mileage ones?


Thanks in advance for any input.

Ste98Turbo

Mines done 80k and not even an oil leak as yet but the Type RA does have a stronger engine than the std WRX, think it mostly depends on how its been looked after and driven, am happy just plodding along in mine and when i do have a bit of a play its only for a short bursts and never taken to extreme top end speeds.

chocolate_o_brian

iTrader: (22)

Depending what you're looking for, you should be able to get a mint reasonable mileage UK classic for £4k. WRX or STi variants may be slightly more due to the market being flooded with earlier models. Don't see many later classic WRX's about, mainly STi version 4/5/6.

I presume you've looked on Pistonheads and possibly Ebay as a guide.

Timwinner

iTrader: (3)

I have had a good look about, I have seen a few bits and bobs but I just worry about high mileage stuff.
I saw a nice Catalunya but its high mileage, A few nice classic wrx's too but again all over 100k.

girl-in-a-scoob

Dont worry so much about the mileage its the way its been treated that matters, and how serviced. MY04 went pop at 30k after just having a service.

Look at the mods been put on, have they been cheap aftermarket ones or has the owner gone that little bit further and spent a bit more on after market mods. Have a look round the Subaru Clubs, people in clubs tend to look after their cars a little more, especially if they attend shows and the suchlike

999wrx

iTrader: (1)

There out there mate, i've only just bought a 95 plate WRX import, 46,000 miles, keep looking n you'll find one! Don't settle for a high miler if you don't want one cause sods law says a low mileage one will come around the week after!

mgcvk

I think a lot of high milers are just used on the motorway a lot like mine. Mine has never missed a beat, is regularly serviced and has a high mileage due to having been cruised up and down the M1 a lot. Its a 2003 with 86k on the clock. I only ever give it some beans when it is truly warmed up. Personally I think low mileage is overrated - particularly if its a weekend warrior car that only gets hammer at weekends and nothing else!

SunnySideUp

High Miles are fine ............... IF you know how it has been treated and serviced.

Mods. generally tend to shorten the expected life, so I would not buy a modified high miler ..... standard spec is good for starship mileage.

As few owners as possible and decent service history play a vital part - as does the 'attitude' of the current owner (if he/she is more interested in sharing tales of thrashing then RUN away!).

EddScott

I sold the front seats from my old car to a chap who had his car from new and it was on 170K. It looked absolutely fine. He wanted the front seats from mine because his front seat and collapsed. The body and engine all looked spot on.

He also claimed it was on the OE clutch but I wasn't convinced.

chocolate_o_brian

iTrader: (22)

Thats probably as the guy buying you seats was PSLewis

Did he still have the original brake pads on too

RB5 Boyo

A high miler wouldnt put me off if i knew the car and it was well looked after!!

I know a fella with a UK 2000 Turbo, running 356bhp with 156K miles on the clock ....and the fella who owns it competes in Scooby Shootout, Ten of the best etc every year, so beat that

The engine in the car has never been opened up, however the car is serviced every 3K miles since first bought when it had 30K miles, and it gets whatever it needs, so regular servicing definately helps keep things ticking over in my eyes!!

Get looking, there plenty of good high miler cars out there

mit

iTrader: (10)

It's probably just me, but as soon as a cars done more than 100k, i tend to not even look at it. I got my 95 RA as a fresh import, with 61k on it, verified, with full Jap service history. Not only do Jap cars tend to have lower mileage, but they are cleaner underneath to. The RA is immaculate. The UK car i had before it had the usual grime and general corrosion you get on our roads.
I've changed headers, full exhaust, brakes, both roll bars, all 4 struts, drop links and alk, and not used a single squirt of WD40 to get anything off, try that on a 14yo UK car!

New_scooby_04

iTrader: (4)

How important is mileage? Very, but it is heavily qualified by how a car has been treated and looked after.

Ns04

dexster81

iTrader: (1)

I wouldn't worry too much about it, mine has been running on standard internal at 330bhp for about 35000 miles so it is now sitting at 115000 miles and still no problem, just make sure you have an oil change every 3000 miles or so.
oh and don't boot it everywhere but i do enjoy opening it up (A LOT).

DaveD

iTrader: (2)

The original clutch in my WRX was changed at around 150,000 miles, and even then I only had to change it because the release bearing had gone - there was still some friction material left!

I would say that how the car is driven - mechanical sympathy, allowing the car to warm up /cool down - is probably more important than absolute mileage. Also, a higher mileage is more likely to indicate hundreds of motorway cruising miles, rather than a few full-bore weekend miles.

My car's now on about 200,000 miles - no minter, but it still pulls like it should do. Not bad for a 16 year old car!

85rob

mines on 141k and origonal clutch. only things to be done due to failure that i can see on the s/h is two maf sensors. i should see 150k on the clutch imo. ppp from nearly new aswell.

hodgy0_2

i bought mine (MY00 Wagon) last July on 96000 miles I have since done 25k since July (now done 123000k)

kiss of death but, yesterday drove back from Exeter to Cambidge, and was thinking how smooth it all sounded on the Mway

I do change the oil every 4/5k (only takes 10 mins)

LeeMac

iTrader: (1)

123k, no oil leak, still very tight, no rattles or squeaks (except something in hatchback area)

I bought it at 115k and 1 owner

looks like it may be going next week tho, will be missed

SunnySideUp

10 minutes??

You cannot be doing it the right way then??

Chris.B

iTrader: (4)

IMO you are best going on instinct.
Seller 1 is an older enthusiast... 140 clicks on it etc...
Seller 2 is a 22yr old lad who says innit and tis rapid mate but his car only has 80k

Does everything sound like it should?
Does the seller sound genuine... Or is he edgy?

A mate who knows his cars would be a great advantage...

Chris.B

iTrader: (4)

Don't you start
It only takes me 10 minutes too (well 20 in the real world )