buying info

[riggy4]

hey guys , over the next month or so im looking at buying a blobeye sti

looking around £5.5 - £6k and about 53-54 reg will be using it as a daily also

im really after some help on what i should be checking for specific to this car

so things like history , belts , services are granted

just is there any tip or tricks to check things that fail on these cars or have heard about weak clutches and piston slap etc , is this more the wrx or is it a sti prob aswell

any info you think might help then fire it up

thnaks
carl

[ScoobieWRX]

Piston slap is history (c.1999-2000) on these, the odd bugeye WRX (mine included had a bit but can live with it), but generally sorted on V8 onwards. With that sort of money i'd be looking around for the odd unumolested 2005 UK STi that comes with DCCD, well sorted car, alternatively straight JDM 2003-2004 inport STi, they come with DCCD as well and IMHO the preffered option.

Rear shocks can knock, easy fix, chuck some bilsteins dampers on with Eibach springs all round. They handle and go well out of the box but loads of potential for more go (mods and remap) and tighten up the handling to dial out understeer (minor mods).

Otherwise they are bullet proof, and you've just got to keep on top of servicing and interim oil changes and you're good to go.

I'd be looking for cars with full service histories either main dealer or Subaru specialist or mix of both, and as low mileage as possible. The car should feel very tight and well planted on the road. When you go for a test drive make sure you give it a good seeing to on the straight and around corners as that will let you know fairly quickly if the car is ok or not. Try and buy private as you will pay a premium at main dealers (up to £1500 OTT).

Other than that, take your time and look around for the right car. It's a buyers market so there will be some amazing cars for sale at the right price. don't worry about whether or not a car has been used well or otherwise, they can take a lot of abuse and come up smelling of 99RON.

Always use 99RON. Have fun.

[riggy4]

Cheers for the reply , what's the difference between the uk cars and the jdm ones , and how do you tell , sorry if it's really obvious but new to the jap scene lol

Have looked at the 2005 model on the net and they have a wider rear track yes ? I dont like the arch extensions hahaha how sad is that lol

I've always been a vauxhall boy so has lived with understeer all my life haha still have my nova with a XE for my toy now

Glad to hear that they are pretty bomb proof though , As said shocks are nothing

I don't think I'll be keeping up with dealer or such services will be doin it all myself, I know it might hurt the resale value a little but think it will be worth it overall

Where are the vin numbers etc located so I can check them etc

And what security do they have from factory

Sorry for the essay but I appreciate the help

Carl

[ScoobieWRX]

UK cars have an immobilser, JDM usually don't.

Vin number tag under the bonnet by the strut top and some diagnostics kit will give you vin number as well.

Vin number will tell you if JDM or UK car but owners are usually very happy to say they have a JDM car. ECU model number will tell you and the most obvious give away is 2003/2004 JDM cars have DCCD switch/buttons right next to door mirror adjuster between the handbrake and gear lever, if the clocks haven't been converted they will be in KMH not MPH. 2005 JDM STi will be more money than a UK car and are usually in excellent condition with lower mileage.

[riggy4]

Thank you

Deffo worth fitting a tracker then if it hasn't already been done

Any other little hints ? Are the diffs pretty strong on them and noise free , heard about a few knocks when parking or low speed manoeuvres , but that is normal

[ScoobieWRX]

riggy4 said:

Thank you

Deffo worth fitting a tracker then if it hasn't already been done

Any other little hints ? Are the diffs pretty strong on them and noise free , heard about a few knocks when parking or low speed manoeuvres , but that is normal

Gearboxes and diffs are incredibly strong. The gearbox is rated at 600ftlb torque, the diffs must be more than that as i know of 700-800bhp cars using the standard diff. Low speed full lock manouvres generate some noise but that's par for the course, and you have two LSD's.

Engines have been known to take over 500bhp on standard internals and like anything else you're probably living on borrowed time at that but it should safely take somewhere between 400-450bhp all day long. 2.0Ltr v8 STi engines are the strongest out of the box and they come with AVCS (Active Valve Control System) for better low down torque.

With just a few choice and relatively inexpensive mods (exhaust, Air Filter, Fuel pump) and a remap you could see near on 340-350bhp from the standard injectors and turbo on 99RON fuel.

All you've got to do now is buy one

[riggy4]

Good to hear , Ive kinda set myself on a wr blue sti maybe with ppp , if not I'll fit exhaust and have a remap

Should be fun and as reliable as its going to be then

Is there any good books that people would recommend that I could purchase ? Or any guides on the net to download

Just hope the month or so flys bye haha

[ScoobieWRX]

Just don't buy the first one that comes along. Take your time and get the right one. Test drive as many as you need to in order to give you a good feel for how these cars drive. You'll know when you've found the right one.

When it comes to haggling make sure you don't take any money with you, maybe a couple of hundred pounds, just enough to put down a small deposit on the car if you need to. This way if you can't get it at the price you want to pay you can walk away as you don't have a wedge of dosh burning a hole in your pocket.

View this as a capital purchase rather like buying a house and you won't go far wrong.

Good luck with whatever you buy.

[paulmoonraker]

ScoobieWRX said:

Piston slap is history (c.1999-2000) on these, the odd bugeye WRX (mine included had a bit but can live with it), but generally sorted on V8 onwards. With that sort of money i'd be looking around for the odd unumolested 2005 UK STi that comes with DCCD, well sorted car, alternatively straight JDM 2003-2004 inport STi, they come with DCCD as well and IMHO the preffered option.

It will be a higher mileage car for that money. I just sold my mint 2005 STi with 44K on the clock for 8K...

Make sure you can afford the fuel if you using it a daily

[paulmoonraker]

riggy4 said:

Deffo worth fitting a tracker then if it hasn't already been done

Any other little hints ? Are the diffs pretty strong on them and noise free , heard about a few knocks when parking or low speed manoeuvres , but that is normal

You don't need to fit a tracker. These are not stolen to order now and insurers won't mandate one.

They are bullet proof cars. Also, don't discount a WRX PPP as a daily...

[ScoobieWRX]

Don't listen to him, he sold out to the germans!! Now he's porking a porker!!

More likely a 2003/2004 UK STi then, forget the PPP WRX unless you want a sportwagon.

[riggy4]

Lol yeah have been concentrating my search around 53-54 reg cars , can get them with 50k for less then 6k

I prefer the look of the sti , and also has the better brakes and interior that I'd end up fitting aswell if I went wrx

Think I'd prefer to have a tracker fitted also , as the m24 postcode isnt that great lol , and it will be living on the street haha

As for fuel , meh no kids so might aswel have a car I want lol

[ScoobieWRX]

It doesn't matter if you have a tracker fitted or not these days. If a thief wants your car he'll take it away and more often than not you'll never see it again because it's been sent abroad in bits, stripped down already or been ringed.

Theives are very clued up these days and will know all the places where your tracker might be stashed so it'll be disconnected in no time.

Shame really but it seems to be the way of the world.

[paulmoonraker]

ScoobieWRX said:

Don't listen to him, he sold out to the germans!! Now he's porking a porker!!

More likely a 2003/2004 UK STi then, forget the PPP WRX unless you want a sportwagon.

Yes, a good 2003/2004 car is in budget

[paulmoonraker]

riggy4 said:

Lol yeah have been concentrating my search around 53-54 reg cars , can get them with 50k for less then 6k

I prefer the look of the sti , and also has the better brakes and interior that I'd end up fitting aswell if I went wrx

Think I'd prefer to have a tracker fitted also , as the m24 postcode isnt that great lol , and it will be living on the street haha

As for fuel , meh no kids so might aswel have a car I want lol

If you want an STi, then you won't be happy with a WRX, so get the STi.

Most of these cars actually already have a tracker fitted (both my previous cars did), and thieves assume this. A tracker might actually be effective, because it's probably more the oppourtunist that would nick it, as there is not the value in it for shipping etc (no offence, just stating a fact).

They are not to too bad on fuel. Round town can be bad, but on a run if your not in a rush 30mpg is achievable. Francis and I have had a long running debate on my figures, but once mapped I was getting 34mpg square on 65mph (it would be my penance for track days - drive all the way there at 65)...

Don't worry to much about a PPP on an STi. Instead, get one of the lads on here to advise and also map it for you.

See my garage for my old car, to give you an idea of what is required for 350bhp or there abouts....

They are truly ballistic when set up right.