Hi gents have been wanting an impreza for years but have never got round to it. My mate has a 1997 uk car with 140,000 on the clock. It has been serviced regular and had clutch and cam belt done a while ago. Doesnt smoke and no oil leaks. He is looking for £1500 for it with a full years mot which was done this week with no advisory. What do you guys think. Many thanks

 

Standard or modified?

140k is high so £1500 is top money. Bare in mind, if you plan on doing ANY mods to it power wise you cant remap the ecu on a 97/98 car and will need an Apexi or Simtek ecu, which is a grand on its own.

My mate bought a V reg 99 UK impreza with 78k, FSSH, cambelt change, 17's and decent exhaust for £1500 with ful mot.

Its a buyers market at the moment, £1500 gets you more than you might think.

 

Thanks mate many thanks for the advice.

 

as said 1500 gets you alot of impreza these days, im actually considering buying a 99 classic for a run about as im clio is getting a bit long in the tooth now

 

just to give you an idea.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Subaru-imp...#ht_500wt_1284

crap description but you get the idea on year/mileage etc.

 

There was a 1999 UK car on piston heads, 99K with good history. Silver, looked in good shape with very sensible mods.
Was advertised for £1995 Ono. Now sold and probably went for near your budget.
Gives you an idea on Impreza prices at the mo.

 

Also bear in mind that at that mileage it will be due an engine or gearbox going bang soon, megabucks...

Don't want to decry the 97 car, mine has just clocked 166,000 miles on original engine but 2 gearboxes (spare engine waiting in the garage LOL).

Wife's had done two engines by 130,000 miles.

Happy with my 97 cars but they are modified which causes insurance hassles. For the same money you can buy a later 99 car with lower mileage, better brakes and more power out of the box.

Happy hunting

 

Cheers dudes many thanks

 

what did your mate say?

 

Nothing he can't see why the engine is due to go bang, it has been serviced regular and runs like a peach.

 

bit of a hi-jack, however I am selling my 51000mile classic, has 12 months MOT with no advisory notice and tax

Here is the link to the for sale

https://www.scoobynet.com/subaru-444...assic-wrx.html

Its up for £2300ONO - Make an offer if your interested you can only ask!!

 

As some know, I wasn't really hardcore looking at the time, but a 99 UK wagon came up on eBay and I snapped it up for £1380 a few weeks ago. Very standard and on 99,000 miles. Only fault has been a dodgy knock sensor and wire which was sorted by the first specialists visit.

Bought a new exhaust for it and still stands me under £1700 in all honesty. Why pay for high miles or older classics when cars like mine can be sought?

 

Search this forum for "big ends" and have a look at the mileage they tend to go at, serviced or otherwise. The narrow big ends of this type of engine are a known weak point and few survive high mileages, but you may get lucky. I for one accept that the major components on these cars are expendable and carry spares accordingly to minimise the inconvenience of suddenly losing a daily driver. Not only do I have spare engines/gearboxes I also have a spare car (Fiesta Zetec S) LOL

For the same money you get lower mileage, better brakes (another known weak point) and a mappable ecu if you want more power, is all everyone is saying. That said the 97 car is still a good car, I've got two. I've had them a long time and purchased them when the 99 cars were out of my price range and have subsequently paid out a lot of money bolting parts from the later cars to mine. You pays your money etc