Checking out this WRX STI today

"1337HPMustang" (1337hpmustang)
10/19/2014 at 11:48 • Filed to: Subie Quest

I have the funds to buy it and have been known to make impulsive, naive and optimistic decisions, so please oppo, talk me out of buying a 17 year old subaru.

"Very we'll maintained engine/drivetrain. only has 110,000 Kms. Rins and drives excellent! Invidia bell mouth down pipe 3" stainless turbo back exhaust Turbo timer. HKS boost controller. Stock gold rims with brand new winter tires and summer tires Rally armor mud flaps. All major fluids just changed @109,000 Kms Engine oil, tranny oil, diff oil, spark plugs. Very clean inside and out one of the nicer jdm sti's in Winnipeg right now. The only bad about the car is the front and rear bumpers have paint peeling in spots. Absolutely no rust, clean title and comes with a fresh saftey"

Not mentioned: $8000 and timing belt changed

DISCUSSION (14)

bob and john > 1337HPMustang
10/19/2014 at 11:49

any mention of head gaskets?

Stupidru > 1337HPMustang
10/19/2014 at 11:52

CP. For $8k you can buy something a lot newer, like a Bugeye with an STI swap

Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. > 1337HPMustang
10/19/2014 at 11:54

Not a fan of the colour, but otherwise seems nice. Price might be a touch high though.

1337HPMustang > bob and john
10/19/2014 at 11:58

No, but I'll be sure to ask when I test drive it today. I'm thinking I'll only buy the car on the condition that I get to take it to a subaru technician either at a dealership or tuning shop to have it looked over.

1337HPMustang > Stupidru
10/19/2014 at 12:02

nothing like that in my area at the moment. So are you saying these cars just aren't worth buying? I hear too many stories of people getting burned from used STIs because ...

1337HPMustang > Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell.
10/19/2014 at 12:03

Yeah unless it's perfect and owner isn't a "bro"-type, I'm not going to pay full price.

PowderHound > 1337HPMustang
10/19/2014 at 12:29

with the exhaust find out where the car was tuned. Run if it was never re mapped after installing the downpipe

1337HPMustang > PowderHound
10/19/2014 at 12:39

Yeah what I gathered was that this owner didn't do the mods and isn't sure if it was remapped but his guess is it was because:

"I believe it has been tuned since arriving in North America cuz my Budie had the same car and said mine ran way smoother and pulled harder than his did. Never had detonation issues and the car runs amazing." (spelling mistakes are his)

Rewriting that text is almost enough to convince me not to buy, but I'll give him the benefit of the doubt and check the car out, offer a deposit so maybe I can have a professional tell me how it's running.

PowderHound > 1337HPMustang
10/19/2014 at 12:41

could be fine. Also would give you an opportunity to offer less and spend money on a few other goodies plus a tune

DipodomysDeserti > 1337HPMustang
10/19/2014 at 13:14

You should be ok. The EJ22 is the best engine Subaru has ever made. The HG issues were with the EJ25 motor.

Steve in Manhattan > 1337HPMustang
10/19/2014 at 13:19

I'd be careful given the boost controller. If it's overboosted that can be tough on seals and gaskets. Again - thorough check by your own mechanic before purchase.

1337HPMustang > DipodomysDeserti
10/19/2014 at 14:34

It's not a ej22 though. ej20K which had an open deck block. Most open deck blocks can eat their head gaskets if they're overboosted or overrevved but at factory power apparently they can be reliable.

JDIGGS > 1337HPMustang
10/19/2014 at 17:45

Buy it contingent on a leakdown / compression test.

Don't buy into the crap that these cars aren't strong. There really aren't any other 4 cylinders that are as strong as these are and can take immense power.

The real issue is the turbo system / computer blah blah is a very complex system. Small changes require changes in the tuning. One of these setup with a good tune will last for a very long time. I've had quite a few of these cars.

I'd also make sure the tranny, axles, hubs n wheel bearings are all in good shape as well. If it has the 5 speed thats meh.

Stupidru > 1337HPMustang
10/20/2014 at 10:15

Meh, my 13 year old NA Subaru sounds like that everyday and it's still going strong. It's been 50k miles since I first started hearing it