Buying a JDM 2001 Legacy GT-B

[ItsJustARide]

I'm a Brit in Vancouver, BC and considering buying this:

http://jdmcarimport.com/listings/subaru-legacy-gt-...

However service history only goes to 19k km and it has 90k km. No idea if cam belt has been changed. Is a cam belt change just on mileage or does time also come into play? As it has only done 50k miles perhaps the cam belt hasn't needed to be changed.

BC has a safety inspection on all imports so it has been through that and the tyres were changed and front rotors and rear pads. Otherwise it passed that basic inspection. Limited drivetrain 12 month warranty comes with the car but only covers first $600.

Test drive was perfect. Nice and tight and no unusual noises. No nasty emission from exhaust on startup and high revs. Felt like new TBH.

I will get it a 3rd party mechanic to do a generic "150 point inspection".

But my big concern is skipped oil changes and therefore worn turbos. Is there any way, short of removing and inspecting them, to know if they are worn? When turbos let go do they always/sometimes/never let you know before hand? If they do go is it not just a case of replacing the turbos but also engine stripdown due to all the metal fragments from the disintegrated turbo?

Can anyone point me to a pre-purchase inspection guide for this model? What sort of issues are they known for suffering from?

Thanks for any and all suggestions.

I had a year 1998 Impreza turbo from new and it was fun to be back in much the same feeling vehicle :-)

[vxr2010]

Hi , I went over that way a while ago , cycled coast to coast , lovely country , normally if a jdm cambelt is done at a dealer there is a sticker stamp on the cambelt cover with the mileage and date put on it , if it's a 2001 it must have been done or I would expect it would have broken , it is easy to remove the cover and have a look if its new it's obvious , it is probably due a cambelt change again , service wise unless it's written down then no proof , I would expect cambelt and services to be done as most cars are , I've had a number of jdm Subaru cars and only one has had service history , I would check cambelt sticker if it's not there it must of been done but I would be doing it soon any way no point taking a chance and just do all fluids , is current oil clean if it is it probably has been done , I assume it's not smokey a sign of wear due to lack of oil change , based on my expierence I'm sure its fine , if the car is clean then that again reflects it is looked after , and I would say it's the same sort of things to look at on your previous car

[MDMA .]

None original front seats too. If that bothers you ? Always buy on condition. Paperwork easily lost and for peace of mind, youd really be wanting to replace the belts soon as you got it, if no proof of them being done.

Check in the glove box too for stickers. My FSTI has loads of service stickers but inside the glove box and also the centre arm rest box !