Back! Looking for a used WRX, is 110-145k bad for budget? Would you all recommend?

[SnatchedHatch]

I'm looking into getting a car to replace my Summer bike.

Looking around, the only cars I've found that aren't mundane Rollas and Civics, not to mention with 175k+ mileage, are Subies!

I've looked at a few other types of cars, but they usually are not maintained properly or have too many miles for my taste.

 

 

SO!

I'm honing in on an Outback Sport (2003+ gen), yet I'm plagued by the thought of being bored with the level of power of that kind of ride.

I'm searching for stick-shifts, to get some fun in the snow, but a WRX would certainly bring me up to a comfy level of power.

//I almost hopped on a low mileage 5 speed Baha, thinking there's no way I'd be bored with so much practicality 

 

 

 

 

Under my budget, I have found a few 2002/2003/2004 WRX's with either 120-147k miles, or one or two with about 100-110k but some risky mechanical issues.

 

For those in the know, what do you think about buying such a WRX? I hear tell the Turbo repairs are frighteningly expensive, and I also don't intend on buying a car I have to replace the H.G. on

 

I'm fine with a little work on my car, but I don't want that in a higher budget ride. For my last Sub, '87 Standard Hatch, that was alright.

 

 

What should I look out for when buying a used WRX?

Are the bug eyes renown for some kind of faults?

 

A family member's friend bought a New WRX back around 2000-2003 (idr), and I heard he had some costly repairs with his turbo setup which became common-place starting that year. This is what I recall from a decade ago, any merit?

 

I'm going to browse the marketplace, hope to get back some useful info as per usual on here!

Thanks y'all

 

 

EDIT: I have also found a few rides with 150-200k but a rebuilt or swapped engine. I frown away from that kind of setup, is there any chance of that working or will I end up with a lot of suspension and trans repairs?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And if you are the lad from Chicago who sold your Baha hours before I came for it, I despise you!! (lol jk)

Edited June 8, 2014 by SnatchedHatch

[Fairtax4me]

A big problem with any turbo engine is going to be maintenance. You just have to expect to shell out some cash for parts and repairs on a fairly regular basis, especially if you drive the hell out of it.

 

Anything used, you have no idea what kind of maintenance history it has, or the driving/maintenance habits of the previous owner or owners. Turbos do need more frequent oil changes, and require certain driving habits in order to get the most life out of the unit.

 

Around 03-06ish there were issues with a screen filter in the turbo oil feed getting clogged and starving the turbo for oil. The bearings cook and the turbo chews itself up.

 

There are also problems with rod bearings on the turbo engines. Hard to say if that's due to lack of maintenance or other factors, such as driving habits.

 

Head gaskets are the least worry on the turbo engines. Youre much more likely to have to put head gaskets on the OBS than on a WRX. The turbo gaskets are hefty and don't fail at nearly the same rate as the n/a engine HGs do.

 

Broken or jumped timing belts and burned valves are much more common than failed head gaskets on the turbo motors. Both resulting from lack of proper maintenance.

 

 

Engine swaps from the 2.5 to the more reliable 2.2 engine are very common and are nothing to stray from.

If its a swap from an NA engine to a turbo, that's going to be a can of worms, and probably not something you want to be involved with, unless you have alot of money to spend and time to kill.

Edited June 9, 2014 by Fairtax4me

[zombieforce]

Most of the ones I see in my area with that kind of miles still pull pretty good money and are usually modded too. Stockers command a premium but guys who spend a ton moddi g their cars also think its worth a goldmine too. The best bet is an adult owned stocker with svc records and a turbo thats already been replaced.

[SnatchedHatch]

Thanks for the informative replies, unfortunately it looks like I may be returning to the Nissan family xD,

but I'm still open to one WRX I found.

 

Based on what you, Fairtax4me, said, I'd still bring my mechanic and thoroughly inspect the car.

However, it has 120k and is one of the modder cars. Always a risk of being beaten on, but it has had upgraded parts and a recently replaced turbo!

 

I'll put the link here, if anyone wants to comment on it, please feel free.

 

http://chicago.craigslist.org/chc/cto/4517709394.html

[1 Lucky Texan]

cheap sports cars are often handed to 'kids' that may be abusing it. As said above, folks like me (an adult that tries to respect the car's mechanicals and doesn't side-step the clutch or try 3k rev clutch dumps to launch) are rare WRX owners. Not unique, just hard to locate.

 

Shopping for ANY cheap sports car would require a LOT of extra diligence in determining who has been driving it and how it was treated and maintained. Maybe getting in good with some local mechanics/tuners would help you locate a car that at least has visited a capable technician once in a while.

 

 

IMG_3120 by alckytxn, on Flickr