the hamster

iTrader: (7)

I run my own business and times are hard at the moment. My major asset is the Impreza which takes up a lot of my attention and spare money but is just a toy.

Work has dropped significantly lately, my work vehicle is way overdue replacement and the money from the Impreza would come in handy.

IF I had to sell it, would it be worth it, or would breaking it see a better return?

Bought it earlier this year with fully documented history from the previous owner. All the work he had done was by reputable places like Zen, Thwaites, Research Subaru etc and I have a lot of paperwork from the last 3 years showing whats been done.

In the last 6 months i've done a lot of work on the car, making improvements and replacing parts including the engine and turbo (due to knocking/oil starvation).

Heres the spec

MY00 UK Classic in 95H Mica Blue
118k, Mot til Feb, Tax til December

Engine

Engine replaced at 117k with an 82k engine from Zak in Nottingham
VF35 Turbo - replaced at the same time due to shaft wear
Scoobyworld sports cat system, standard up pipes
Walbro 255 Pump - Zen
full induction kit - Zen
Front mount intercooler - Zen
ECUtek map done by Zen - 336bhp and 298lb/ft
Its not been remapped since the engine change and feel it needs a good set-up with a 3 port solenoid, de-cat up pipe, full de-cat downpipe and map tweek. I also have a replacement maf as I feel the one on the car isnt going to last much longer.

Transmission

Standard 754 5 speed gearbox with exedy clutch. 5th gear repaired by Thwaites in 2009 and centre diff replaced by Carnetix in 2011

I also have a spare 50k 754 box and rear diff which I was going to fit as an addition to replacing the engine.

There was a lightweight flywheel on the car when I got it but it was a standard flywheel which had been machined down to an extreme level and I wasnt happy with it so we fitted a standard flywheel. Theres a fair bit of clutch judder now so I was going to fit a proper new lightened flywheel when I got round to swapping the gearbox etc.

Exterior

The car was accident damaged in 2009 and a CAT D. The previous owner bought the car back and spent £3.5k having it repaired, resprayed and loads of parts replaced at the same time. I have all the reciepts for the work done.

There is some rust appearing on rear arches so these will need attention soon. The front is also looking quite stonechipped as the chips show up white due to the mica paintwork/primer.

3 piece front splitter
Black insert sidelights and headlights
Smoked side repeaters and indicators
Smoked rear lenses
Standard midlevel spoiler with brake light
Mini number plate, standard plate also included
Painted fog covers

Wheels, brakes and suspension

Newly refurbed WR1 wheels with budget tyres. If I keep the car I will be fitting new Falken Ziex tyres instead.

All calipers refurbed in 2009, new disks and EBC pads fitted 3 months ago
Braided hoses all round.
Sti Front shocks and standard rear shocks with Eibach 30mm springs
Whiteline ARB's front and rear
Whiteline adjustable droplinks
Front strutbrace

The front strut tops have started to knock so I was going to fit coilovers or STi's alround with 40mm springs (£200 used) if I keep the car.

Interior

Bugeye grey/black seats fitted
Prosport Volt and Boost gauge in pillar pod
Blue LED clocks and heater
Progressive/Programmable shift light (never seen one like this on an Impreza)
Richbrook Handbrake and gearknob
Kenwood KVT-522 DVD flip out headunit
Rear view camera
Uprated door speakers and cheapy subwoofer in the boot

I've also bought a load of parts which I will fit if keeping the car including 3 port solenoid, brake stopper kit, fresher/newer dash plastics etc.

This is how it looked in March when I bought it



and this is how she currently looks





Bottom line is, if work doesnt pick up in the next 2 weeks i'll be forced to sell it to keep my small business afloat. Problem is, its a buyers market at the moment and I dont want to give it away, but dont want to overprice it either. Its no minter by any means but its a well cared for car, decent performance within the cars limits and some nice upgrades.

Would be interested in peoples opinions before commit to putting it in the for sale section/pistonheads/ebay etc.

Fingers crossed, the phone will start ringing in the next few days and I'll stop sweating, but I have to be realistic that I might have to let it go

53

iTrader: (41)

In the words of Paul Daniels .....

Couldn't be a worse time to sell a scoob, add to that the amount already for sale and the CAT D, rust, history etc etc etc If this is your major asset you're fooked if you're relying on it. I'd be talking to my bank if I were you

the hamster

iTrader: (7)

So what you're saying is break it then? If I add up all the parts theres close to 2k at current prices if I was to break it but hopefully it wont come to that.

MattyB1983

iTrader: (51)

I hate to say it as the car looks really nice, but it really isn't worth a great deal. You would be far better off breaking it up mate.
It's a complete arsehole breaking a car but it really would be the way forward to get any real money for it.

the hamster

iTrader: (7)

thing is, what do people class as "not worth a great deal" money wise?

Martin 2010

iTrader: (9)

tbh id be very interested in buyin this mate.

53

iTrader: (41)

£2k would be good money

4evascoob

I have a 53/04 sti ppp that has done 105,000 fssh and a few mods done by B rawle and Neil@ slowboy and its really depressing to see whats its worth, I personally would not break or sell just keep it and enjoy it mate things can only get better. You will be gutted if you sell her and then buisness picks up.........chin up mate

stew

the hamster

iTrader: (7)

Cheers Stew. I'd love to keep it, the plan was to prep it for next years trip to the Nurburgring, but life has its priorities and I have to be sensible and realistic.

Sods law says that i'll be quiet until I sell it then the phone will go nuts, but if it does then i'll just buy something else and get my smile back.

the hamster

iTrader: (7)

just been doing some rough maths on breaking it and based on the engine (£500) 2 x 754 gearboxs and diffs (£500), 4 pot brakes etc (£150), 18" wheels (£300), ecutek ecu (£150), Kenwood headunit and camera (£250) plus the exhaust, tinted windows, interior, gauges, lheadlights, bumpers etc etc then i'd be a bit nuts to let it go for less than 2k.

Only time will tell I guess.

tubbytommy

iTrader: (20)

mate dont break it that would be criminal.
it looks well cared for unlike a lot of classics i have seen about lately.

Budgie

iTrader: (4)

Any chance of a blow job Debbie?
Whats that got to do with it Stu?

the hamster

iTrader: (7)

its been well cared for by me and extensively by the previous owner. Saw a basic X reg in the same colour, up in Scotland, with a lot less power etc and a 2 line description sell for £1600 on ebay last night so i'd be optimistic at selling it for over 2k thats for sure.

MattyB1983

iTrader: (51)

Remember to factor in the CAT D. Even though it may have been very minor and repaired perfectly it still has a huge effect on value, even on cars in your price catorgary.

MattyB1983

iTrader: (51)

And I wouldn't take any notice of what things sell for on eBay fella. Cars are being 'bid up' by friends/family more and more. I will admit, I've bought a couple of cars for friends in the past on there so they didn't go too cheap.

MattyB1983

iTrader: (51)

Do it mate.
I've just looked over the pictures again and it really is a good looking car.

By the way, lights fitted a treat mate. Cheers fella.

greylag

It seems a little strange,that at a time when older impreza's have depreciated nearly to rockbottom,The cost of parts and services for them hasn't followed at the same rate.Seen some nice cars broken up,these cars will be a rare sight in a few years.Hope your business picks up soon mate.

the hamster

iTrader: (7)

I bought it as a cat d and I dont wake up in a cold sweat in the night worrying about it. Seems odd to me personally, its a declaration that its been damaged then I have a huge reciept and list of brand new parts that were fitted to the car. In my book, I gained from it as a lot of the older parts on the car were replaced.

Anyway, only time will tell. With there being nearly 2.5k in parts on the car i'll happily break it at my leisure if it means keeping my business ticking over.

scoobyhyp

she`s a looker !! very clean motor i would !! im sure with a fresh mot on her 2k all day long m8.

Flaps

iTrader: (1)

It looks nice but '118k', 'cat-d', 'rust' and 'budget tyres' are all words that I would avoid if looking for a car! Might be better off keeping or breaking it.

colebags

iTrader: (2)

a cat d you can take 30% off the cars value and cat c is 40% occording to parkers

the hamster

iTrader: (7)

I'll ebay it 1st if I need to, then break it if theres no success there. Fingers crossed i'll have to do niether tho.

53

iTrader: (41)

...'not a lot' to do with it

craigfturbo2000

Keep it, where there is a will there is a way, thats wat my pops tells me any how!! try an think outside the box fella!

Take it easy!

the hamster

iTrader: (7)

spent the whole day re-jigging my advertising and online marketing so will see if that yields any results. Its a slow time for everyone but usually work picks up for me when the clocks go back as people become a bit more TV dependant.

scoobysewell69

The car looks lovely mate. like others have already said the market is rubbish for selling subaru's. me mate struggled to sell his classic and in the end it went for £1300 nd to him it was worth alot more. its a shame that we spend all our time and money in these cars and end up having to let them go for coppers. If i were you i would i break it as you will make over £2000 easy, but you may be left with a few parts for a few months.

the hamster

iTrader: (7)

yeah thats what i'm thinking mate, but it wont hurt to try ebaying it 1st. Shame I dont have any storage space as I could sell the VF35, headunit and a few other bits which would tide me over for a while until work improved.

Will see how it goes I guess