65 Fury Convert

I've been looking for a used WRX non STI for a couple weeks now. I've used Egag to buy a car before and won't be doing it again . So I've been looking on the dealer lots. I keep my cars for a long time to get my moneys worth out of them and wnat to find a car that was taken care of. The 4 WRX's I've looked at have all been modified with turbo timers, intakes, exhausts etc. This tells me the car was beat on. Am I right to assume this? What should I be looking for to find a WRX that hasn't been abused?

GIBSON6594

A tranny that still works is the first step

te3point5

Look at the tires. If the tires are stock I think you'll be ok. If they are a new set of tires, and they are performance tires, then maybe the car was beat on.

check the rotors for any warping. (you'll feel the wheel vibrate violently during braking if the rotors are warped.

Check for performance mods. If the stock intake looks signifigantly newer than the rest of the car, chances are the previous owner had an intake on it. etc.

Test drive it and see how the clutch feels.

gdubb

agreed but with WRX's being turbocharged most people dont mess with the intake. But I would look for aftermarket blow off vavles, thats a common mod.

quantmonkey

I've heard that buying used turbocharged cars can be really risky - especially if the vehicle wasn't maintained. Is there a way to tell if there has been coking of oil passages that supply the bearings? Also I've heard of blocks warping from running excessive boost and high engine loads.

2003TLSNKC

Look for a little old lady who only drove it to church on Sundays. Its true though, turbo cars are risky to buy used. You have to trust the seller about how they maintained it. Often times that is hard to do.

Bdog

Most dealers are getting their cars from auction houses or trades, so you don't know what you are getting. I would look for a private sale car over dealer. I have actually seen a bunch of older people (40yo+) driving WRX's, and their car still looks stock.

My friend bought a stock looking Civic Si (35,000 miles) at a dealer, then found out the car was completly built (turbo, intake, sensors... even injectors) after the previous owner saw it one day. Said it was one of the fastest around and no one could touch him.

savage

make sure its still awd...i know a kid who traded in his wrx after blowing the rear diff away...

he first heard a grinding sound coming from the rear diff, so he then uses his immense intellect and launches the car a few times till the noise goes away...so apparently now his car is only FWD...

too many nutty drivers on those things so being extra cautious is probably a good thing...

HQuakers

No mods (usually) = not beat on.

Johnny Rad

Make sure it's still wrapped in plastic from Subaru. Make sure its still on the transporter truck.

Before I bought my CL, I test drove a WRX. Brand new '03 or so with something like 50 miles on the clock. Guess it was a new salesman (or pulling my leg) and he tells me to punch it because he wants to see what it'll do. OK, I don't have to be asked twice to open it up and off we went. Fast car. Very fast. After all that rambling my point is that I'd bet they get folks to race off just to make them smile nad get attached to the car. In doing so, these beautiful autos are getting beat on test drive after test drive until it's finally bought. No gentle break in.

All that being said, Consumer Reports rates the Imprezza line up as very reliable, including the WRX. Yes, it's turbocharged and people drive them hard, but it's a hearty automobile.

What's harder to find ... clean Jeep that hasn't been off road or an unraced WRX?

65 Fury Convert

Depends on the Jeep The only off road my 02 Grand Cherokee has been on is a gravel drive to my camping site. I bought it to pull my boat, carry my dog and for the AWD for the Wisconsin winters. No off roading here...yet...

SC TL

Check out the cars for sale on nasioc.com and i-club.com. You can check out the car's history by looking at the poster's past posts.

A lot of guys that mod their WRXs treat them better than those that leave them stock. The WRX engine and turbo are pretty reliable. However, the stock tranny does not like abuse. If the tranny feels funny, I'd stay away from it.

Also, if the owner/primary driver is in his teens, I'd pass. If he is in his early 20s, I'd be careful. If the driver is a girl or guy in his late 20s or over, I'd feel better about the abuse issue.