Scooby Enthusiast needs help with First Scooby purchase!
22 February 2011, 09:50 PM
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Scooby Enthusiast needs help with First Scooby purchase!
Hi, just a brief background about me before I ask the 'silly' questions.
I have been a follower of everything Subaru for a few years now and have spent the last year and a half scouring New Zealand and the whole of the UK for that 'perfect' first WRX. This has finally lead me to this fantastic forum to sign up and hopefully learn from some of the most knowledgeable enthusiasts in the UK.
Now the big question. I have pinpointed what may be my first Subaru and am really worried about getting ripped off. I am going to describe the best I can about the Subaru I'm currently looking at buy, with hope that some of you could shed light on if its a good deal as such.
Its a 55 plate WRX STI completely standard in every way.
Blob-eye in Blue
It has 1 owner from new
13,000 miles
PPP fitted by SGT (Includes Pro-drive exhaust etc)
Services intervals at 1800miles, 6700miles and 11,500. All receipted by SGT.
Has the upgraded interior that was later put in the Hawk-eye
Tracker and Thatcham 1 all working.
No rust, no leaks or excess smoke from exhaust and engine bay is clean.
Receipts for plenty of minor touches such as oil, rear strut replacement, spark plugs etc.
Car check shows completely clean with matching VIN number.
Downsides being that two wheels are lightly scuffed and all four tyres are barely legal and would need immediate replacement. There is also a small scuff on the back bumper and a couple of stone chips on the bonnet. (Typical wear and tear for car of this age I believe)
With all that in mind, would paying £12,000 be a good price for this condition?
Thank you all in advance and I look forward to your responses.
I have been a follower of everything Subaru for a few years now and have spent the last year and a half scouring New Zealand and the whole of the UK for that 'perfect' first WRX. This has finally lead me to this fantastic forum to sign up and hopefully learn from some of the most knowledgeable enthusiasts in the UK.
Now the big question. I have pinpointed what may be my first Subaru and am really worried about getting ripped off. I am going to describe the best I can about the Subaru I'm currently looking at buy, with hope that some of you could shed light on if its a good deal as such.
Its a 55 plate WRX STI completely standard in every way.
Blob-eye in Blue
It has 1 owner from new
13,000 miles
PPP fitted by SGT (Includes Pro-drive exhaust etc)
Services intervals at 1800miles, 6700miles and 11,500. All receipted by SGT.
Has the upgraded interior that was later put in the Hawk-eye
Tracker and Thatcham 1 all working.
No rust, no leaks or excess smoke from exhaust and engine bay is clean.
Receipts for plenty of minor touches such as oil, rear strut replacement, spark plugs etc.
Car check shows completely clean with matching VIN number.
Downsides being that two wheels are lightly scuffed and all four tyres are barely legal and would need immediate replacement. There is also a small scuff on the back bumper and a couple of stone chips on the bonnet. (Typical wear and tear for car of this age I believe)
With all that in mind, would paying £12,000 be a good price for this condition?
Thank you all in advance and I look forward to your responses.
22 February 2011, 10:02 PM
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I would also look at the likes of this http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/2391818.htm as the JDM's are better, if he is desperate to sell you may get a real bargain (plus they have more goodies than a uk car and are mechanically superior 
)
Tony
)Tony
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22 February 2011, 10:59 PM
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Is it really worth £5000 more than this one.... ???
https://www.scoobynet.com/private-fo...5-jdm-sti.html
https://www.scoobynet.com/private-fo...5-jdm-sti.html
Thanks Matty, but the main reason for the one I was looking at was the very low mileage. Would that not be very important on a car like this?
22 February 2011, 11:13 PM
#9
Obviously you pay a premium for a low mileage car as they are more desirable and I would agree on buying a low mileage UK car. A well looked after JDM car in my opinion is the better bet. Far superior to a UK car and in my humble opinion miles are not quite as important as service record. Very low mileage cars can still go bang if abused remember.
£5000 is alot of money at the end of the day, and would pay for a nice rebuild should the worst happen.
£5000 is alot of money at the end of the day, and would pay for a nice rebuild should the worst happen.
22 February 2011, 11:52 PM
#13
Easiest way I find is to catch the train and get the seller to meet you at the station. If the car is right then you have to travel. Sometimes you may get caught out and the car turns out to be wrong, but I've found that you can usually tell if a car is genuine from speaking to the seller.
23 February 2011, 12:31 AM
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Keep the suggestions coming guys, its kinda on the cusp of what I think is acceptable. It is completely safe car with the single owner, just if im going to have to pay another 500 for tyres and tax it straight off this is what makes it pretty pricey.
23 February 2011, 08:16 AM
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23 February 2011, 08:30 AM
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Yeah, the tax band changed in march 23rd 2006. So in terms of tax it hits the lower band, and I wouldn't need to do a major service as it just had one at 11,500. Its just those damn tyres and tax. I know theres a premium on these cars but I see alot of you coming back saying overpriced still.
I have priced up for 4 new tyres (Toyo's) at about £370 fitted, so that plus tax at £230 =£600.
The only other things I would be thinking of doing would be the front splitter, window tints and the small scratch/scuff in the next few months.
What keeps me hanging on over this car is that low mileage, I apreciate there may be better deals out there with mods etc but when the car is valued at about £10,300 is that premium worth going for to get an un-molested Sti?
Thanks as always for replies.
I have priced up for 4 new tyres (Toyo's) at about £370 fitted, so that plus tax at £230 =£600.
The only other things I would be thinking of doing would be the front splitter, window tints and the small scratch/scuff in the next few months.
What keeps me hanging on over this car is that low mileage, I apreciate there may be better deals out there with mods etc but when the car is valued at about £10,300 is that premium worth going for to get an un-molested Sti?
Thanks as always for replies.
23 February 2011, 11:14 AM
#23
IMHO, your making a mistake looking at mileage alone, the overall condition of the car as described is not really that good,the only thing in its favour is the low mileage.
Bold tyres, scuffed alloys scratches and scrapes on body work does not sound like a much loved example to me!! and witth that low milage on a car of that age sounds more like a well ragged weekend/ trackday toy to me.
especially the scuffed alloys and bold tyers classic symptoms of hitting racetrack kirbings while hitting the apex on entry/ exit to a corner...
One mans good sign is another mans warning!!!!!
Theres a lad on here selling a 9k ish jdm sti that is a known quantity and from what iv'e read it's a good un and more importantly so is he, if i were looking for one thats where my money would be going quick sharp before someone else gets their grubby mits on it......
But when all said and done its your money mate, but you did come on here looking for advice, the big question is will you take it or be blinded by a critiera that has not much to do with the true quality of the vehicle.
Bold tyres, scuffed alloys scratches and scrapes on body work does not sound like a much loved example to me!! and witth that low milage on a car of that age sounds more like a well ragged weekend/ trackday toy to me.
especially the scuffed alloys and bold tyers classic symptoms of hitting racetrack kirbings while hitting the apex on entry/ exit to a corner...
One mans good sign is another mans warning!!!!!
Theres a lad on here selling a 9k ish jdm sti that is a known quantity and from what iv'e read it's a good un and more importantly so is he, if i were looking for one thats where my money would be going quick sharp before someone else gets their grubby mits on it......
But when all said and done its your money mate, but you did come on here looking for advice, the big question is will you take it or be blinded by a critiera that has not much to do with the true quality of the vehicle.
Last edited by ditchmyster; 23 February 2011 at 11:30 AM.
23 February 2011, 12:48 PM
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Tony
23 February 2011, 02:04 PM
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Thanks for above post, I understand what your saying, I could definitely see why the low mileage alone isnt a good buying point, so I will have to keep up my search. Really am grateful for the advice.
23 February 2011, 02:39 PM
#27
No worries,
it's hard to find a well looked after low mileage example,but they do exsist you just need to be very patiant and remember all that glitters is not gold, but you have made the right choice in both coming on here and walking away from the affore-mentioed motor,IMHO.
These cars are fantastic but if you buy a wrong un it can become very costly.
it's hard to find a well looked after low mileage example,but they do exsist you just need to be very patiant and remember all that glitters is not gold, but you have made the right choice in both coming on here and walking away from the affore-mentioed motor,IMHO. These cars are fantastic but if you buy a wrong un it can become very costly.
23 February 2011, 03:27 PM
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I know it isn't the same car, but a friend of mine works for Peugeot UK as a dealership manager. He is currently investigating a customer claim on a 2006 207CC with only 12k on the clock.
Basically the engine is knackered and the cause is the entire block being coated in soot from all the short journeys the car has done.
Just goes to show that low mileage can even be a bad thing if it has constant short trips to the shops.
I'd say you are better off looking at one that has done 5k a year, so around 30k with full service history. £9k-£10k all day long.
Basically the engine is knackered and the cause is the entire block being coated in soot from all the short journeys the car has done.
Just goes to show that low mileage can even be a bad thing if it has constant short trips to the shops.
I'd say you are better off looking at one that has done 5k a year, so around 30k with full service history. £9k-£10k all day long.
23 February 2011, 03:40 PM
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I wouldn't spend more than £9K on a 55 plate sti no matter what the mileage was. £10k for a mint one.
General condition of the car is more important than numbers on the clock.
Don't forget its a buyers market out there for thirsty cars right now so dealers will be very keen to finally get scoobys off the forecourt.
When i bought my wrx I managed to get £2500 knocked off the price and a free cambelt change from a stealership.
General condition of the car is more important than numbers on the clock.
Don't forget its a buyers market out there for thirsty cars right now so dealers will be very keen to finally get scoobys off the forecourt.
When i bought my wrx I managed to get £2500 knocked off the price and a free cambelt change from a stealership.
Last edited by DonNedly; 23 February 2011 at 03:43 PM.
23 February 2011, 06:46 PM
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I have now fallen on this. What do people think of it as a purchase?
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2539587.htm
Thanks
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2539587.htm
Thanks