I think I've found the one

"CB" (jrcb) 09/22/2016 at 20:24 • Filed to: NPoCP

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!!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! . Looks to be in okay shape, already certified. Checked insurance prices and this could be one of the least expensive cars for me. Give me two weeks to figure out if I should pull the trigger on this. What say you, Oppo?

S65 > CB 09/22/2016 at 20:28

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I want one, go for it

bob and john > CB 09/22/2016 at 20:28

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nice!

personally, i’m not a fan of buying cars with more then 175K on the odo....weird thing of mine. but by all means, do it!

then STI drivetrain swap and we terrorize toronto together

CB > bob and john 09/22/2016 at 20:31

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The kilometres are a little high, yeah, but it should be able to hit 300k kilometres.

Or it’ll explode. One of the two.

TheTurbochargedSquirrel > CB 09/22/2016 at 20:31

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Be warned, the drivers rear fender is beginning to bubble.

CB > TheTurbochargedSquirrel 09/22/2016 at 20:33

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A smidge, yeah, but I’m not super worried considering the rust we have on the Maxima. And it being a first car, I don’t mind a few flaws.

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > CB 09/22/2016 at 20:37

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Price seems good, I had a 2002 model of the same car and it was a very nice driving car. Dynamically it is really good, excellent suspension and well balanced. It actually feels a bit like a rally car and likes to go fast on dirt roads. The 2.5 feels peppy in a car this size.

Pros: interior is built really well for durability, typically long lasting body and paint, handling, 2.5L peppy.

Cons: sucks gas, like 24 mpg highway 20 city. Head gaskets go, cv axles go, wheel bearings all the damn time, exhaust rots, and brakes suck.

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > CB 09/22/2016 at 20:40

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Really love the way these look. Know nothing about them.

CB > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever 09/22/2016 at 20:42

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I’m coming from a 2003 Nissan Maxima, so I’m not too hurt over the fuel economy. I’ll keep what you said in mind.

Granted, I would hopefully only have it for a year, then move onto something else.

And thank you for your input!

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > CB 09/22/2016 at 20:50

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Perfect one year car and probably way better than a tired Maxima. I was really impressed how well it held up during the 11 years we owned it. It was just having those 100,000 mile issues and it was our primary “reliable” car. I can’t have a car that randomly breaks down in the middle of Nevada in January.

E90M3 > CB 09/22/2016 at 20:50

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Needs more gold rims.

CB > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever 09/22/2016 at 20:51

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To be fair to the Maxima, I wouldn’t exactly call it tired. It still has under 150,000 kilometres on it. It’s just got a fair amount of rust on it.

CB > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 09/22/2016 at 20:56

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I think it looks great, too. And considering how inexpensive it would be to insure versus everything else, I’ll take the odd repair here and there for it.

GolfR Guy > E90M3 09/22/2016 at 21:11

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HEY!!!! THAT’S MY.... FORMER CAR

E90M3 > GolfR Guy 09/22/2016 at 21:16

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You mean this car?

Boxer_4 > CB 09/22/2016 at 21:19

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Highlander covered most of the issues to watch for. I’ll just add to make sure the timing belt (and water pump, idler pulleys, and tensioner) was replaced. I believe the replacement interval is every 170,000 KMs (or 105,000 miles). The EJ253 is an interference engine, so a broken timing belt is bad news.    

CB > Boxer_4 09/22/2016 at 21:21

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Gotcha. I’ll be sure to ask that if I go look at it.

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > CB 09/22/2016 at 23:04

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Great cars, I had a 2002 Bugeye and miss it dearly. That being said, they are THIRSTY (I had the same engine). Try and get it looked over before buying to make sure the front and rear subframes aren’t swiss cheese - known issues on these (there is a recall out on the rusty subframes, so look into it). Otherwise, timing belt of course, check the rear strut mounts for rust too if you can.

Didn’t have any major issues with mine once until I sold it when the subframes and body rusted beyond financial logic to repair :(

They are UNSTOPPABLE in bad winter weather with a good set of snow tires! (Pic posted again for emphasis and awesomesauce) :P

AfromanGTO > CB 09/23/2016 at 00:35

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Get it and find a wrecked STi, and swap everything over. :)

GolfR Guy > E90M3 09/23/2016 at 12:42

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Yesssssss. that one.

Jezzus that front end though... needed some work. Also, wheel rub.

NJAnon > CB 09/23/2016 at 22:21

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If its going to be your first Subaru, its not a bad selection. Some may know this about me some may not: station wagons suck. BUT outliers such as one having 4WD, rally engine, manual, good drivetrain do not suck and are #oppositelock

(Knowing my luck, I might have to look for used CTS-v station wagons or subaru stations wagons as well)

Schaef_Camaero Z/28 > CB 09/27/2016 at 14:44

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Be sure to poke around in the upper front portion of the rear wheel wells to look for rust. It’ll be on the front face of the shock tower where the rear seat back latch is. I bought an ‘05 9-2x wagon back in June, and unfortunately it had rust pretty bad back there. After a few minutes of research, I found that it is a known issue with the Impreza wagons of this generation, mainly due to 2 layers of overlapping metal, and the 2 bolts that hold the seat back latch bracket going through both with insufficient thread sealer/undercoating. So I figure that water can make its way in between the two layers of sheet metal and rust from the inside out. Unfortunately the only good way to find out if there is any rust is to take out the whole interior from the rear seats back and check it out. It’ll most likely be hard to tell the extent of the rust (if any) from outside, because of the factory undercoating. Before I tore into it I could tell mine had a small hole about the size of my finger, but by the end I had cut out and replaced about 6" x 10" of sheet metal on each side of the car.

As someone else said, there are a couple recalls out for it, passenger air bag & rusting front control arms.

Aside from that.. I really like the car. Steering is excellent, brakes are good, the ride is comfortable, and I like being back in a wagon/hatchback. I can’t speak to the 2.5L engine, since mine is the 2L turbo from the WRX. Really looking forward to a new set of tires & seeing some snow this winter.

Good Luck!