I'm looking to move on from my current 1994 WRX to a more modern one.
Test drove 2 2003 WRX's today, 1 with 57,000 miles on it, one with 37,000 miles.
The lower mileage one was the 2nd one I drove a few hours later and as soon as I depressed the clutch pedal I though 'Woah, this has a pretty stiff pedal'
Biting point also seemed quite high.
The deal I am getting on this car is just about acceptable for p/x'ing my own car but the clutch issue is really making me have 2nd thoughts
Other than that both cars were pretty clean, 1st one maybe pulled a wee bit better but they spool up quite differently to my own so that might just be my unfamiliarity with thse more modern cars characteristics and really the only question mark is over the lower-mileage one's clutch.
I am not aware of there being a weakness with these at such a low mileage but is it likely ? Will it be the plates (expensive, won't be spending close to £8k for that problem) or is it more likely to be the cylinder (cheaper, not sure of how cheap yet tho').
Any comments ?

 

stop trying to fool yourself into thinking it will be a cheap fix , lets be serious its gonna need a clutch

 

Yeah,you're probably right - not a good sign that someone has managed to screw the clutch so quickly, either a granny driving it, riding the clutch at every opportunity, or it's had numerous traffic light G.P. starts. Damn - car looked to be ideal for what I wanted and could afford to pay but I'm not going to risk getting hit with big bills in a few months down the line, current car has been superb for me, never giving any real big problems in 6 years.

 

whats £400 on a clutch when spending £8k on the car !!!!

either knock off the £400 or buy another car

 

Well its 400 on the clutch and you may need to replace the flywheel also but with that mileage its probably had some serious abuse to get it to wear out, ok its a performance car but clutches should last 100k, then think of the gearbox.....

Tony

 

Subaru's with low mileage & heavy to operate clutches are usually cars with high stop/start use in town/city driving.
Does the pedal rubber look worn, as with the carpet in the clutch area.
Heavy operating clutches does not always equal abuse.

 

Cheers guys - I just don't think I have as good a feeling about the lower mileage car as I do the higher one. Higher one is from a Subaru dealer offering a 12 month warranty (other one only gets 3 months), higher mileage one seemed to pull better,drove superbly, lower mileage one didn't seem to have the same urge to it. Think I'm heading for the safer option.,

 

Tony you scaremongering gimp!

Andyr,
As Motors s gt has said...... this is probably down to a lot of stop/starting, town driving.

If the box changes gear fine as the syncro's seem ok.... don't EVEN worry about the 6sp box failing, they are as tough as nails.

 

It's not so much the sort of life that a worn clutch necessarily makes me think that car might has led, although it does make me wonder a little but it's the thought that in 10kmiles or whatever, the clutch will maybe be knackered and will need replaced, costing £400+.

 

Me scaremongering Shaun?
Its one of 2 things that wrx, driven very short distances so the engine is in need of de coking (not cheap but op has stated it doesn't feel as responsive) or its been hammered from cold/standing starts, and either way I personally would avoid it, any my first scoob did a fair bit of town driving (36k when sold from new), the clutch on that was definately not high, so I'm going for an abused car out of the 2 options, and both will be costly in the long run

Tony