Subaru Impreza WRX - 6K or less?

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Chaps,

Been reading the motors section quite a few years but now the time has come to actually post !!

Can a decent example of a wrx (late 2003 to 2005) be picked up for around about the 6 grand mark? if so should i be looking out for any particular variants?

By decent, I'm looking at a standard wrx, full service history (Inc cambelt where applicable)

For what i want the wrx seems to be spot on, daily drive equates to an approximate 20mile round trip (Nearly all motor way) so running cost should be affordable. However with a enough power to bring a smile as an when required ;)

Got a few insurance quotes via price comparison websites, not great but affordable (26, 4 yrs ncb).

Generally the scoobs are ment to be bullet proof engine wise but can anyone suggest on what to look out for?

I'm planning on seeing a few locally just to get a feel of what there like.

I look forward to your replies.....
 
Yes, 6k will get you an MY05 model which came with some revisions over the earlier ones.

I wouldn't want to spend 6k on a pre my05 model.
 
Yes, 6k will get you an MY05 model which came with some revisions over the earlier ones.

I wouldn't want to spend 6k on a pre my05 model.

Evo, Thanks

I do prefer the updated dash on the 05 model, however it seems like decent priced versions arent to widely availble. I've seen my05 models advertised just under 7k mark.

I've seen an old post from yourself, Do you mind me asking how your getting on with your WRX? Great colour by the way

Any other opinions are most welcome
 
It's been great, only downsides to my previous 172 are the increased mpg (which isn't exactly unexpected) and that whilst being bigger with a bigger boot, it can be annoying the seats don't fold down!

It's not massively faster either, but then it is a bigger car (which is why I changed), it's comfier believe it or not. And whilst not that much quicker being turbo/4wd it drives pretty differently.

I'm getting about 310 miles to a tank which averages just over 28mpg, standard car bar a pro drive back box. It's been pretty cheap to run so far although only done about 6k in it.

I had to do the 60k service which is another big one (belts done at 50k, 60k is all the fluids) so might be worth finding one with that already done.

Overall it's exactly what I wanted from a car at this time, not a bad all rounder with the potential to be quite a bit quicker for not much money.

Paid just over 6 for mine with 58k on the clock, was in great condition. Whilst choice at that price isn't massive, there is stuff about and the odd cheap one does pop up now and again. But from when I was looking the good priced ones don't seem to hang around for long.

I know it's a wagon but I'm starting to really like them, and with ppp in that colour this one looks pretty nice :) http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201041370742333 It's also got the optional Momo gear knob that's a lot nicer than standard (I picked one up off ebay for about half price).
 
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It's been great, only downsides to my previous 172 are the increased mpg (which isn't exactly unexpected) and that whilst being bigger with a bigger boot, it can be annoying the seats don't fold down!

It's not massively faster either, but then it is a bigger car (which is why I changed), it's comfier believe it or not. And whilst not that much quicker being turbo/4wd it drives pretty differently.

I'm getting about 310 miles to a tank which averages just over 28mpg, standard car bar a pro drive back box. It's been pretty cheap to run so far although only done about 6k in it.

I had to do the 60k service which is another big one (belts done at 50k, 60k is all the fluids) so might be worth finding one with that already done.

Overall it's exactly what I wanted from a car at this time, not a bad all rounder with the potential to be quite a bit quicker for not much money.

Paid just over 6 for mine with 58k on the clock, was in great condition. Whilst choice at that price isn't massive, there is stuff about and the odd cheap one does pop up now and again. But from when I was looking the good priced ones don't seem to hang around for long.

I know it's a wagon but I'm starting to really like them, and with ppp in that colour this one looks pretty nice :) http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201041370742333 It's also got the optional Momo gear knob that's a lot nicer than standard (I picked one up off ebay for about half price).


Thats great bang for buck. Its shame I'm not after a wagon...Maybe one for the future tbh....

This one is pretty close to me

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201027362905676

Slightly high mileage but worth a look non the less

Not to keen on going the private dealer route as they dont tend to know much about the actual cars in my experiance
 
iirc the old man paid £5500 at the start of the year for his 05 plate pre facelift, had high mileage but proof of 2 replacement engines under warranty from Subaru so mileage on the engine wasnt too high in reality and the rest of it was in good order
 
iirc the old man paid £5500 at the start of the year for his 05 plate pre facelift, had high mileage but proof of 2 replacement engines under warranty from Subaru so mileage on the engine wasnt too high in reality and the rest of it was in good order

2 engine replacements, unlucky.

I suppose as it was done under warranty, it wont detract to much from the value?
 
[TW]Fox;17785505 said:
I am amazed you can get 05 plate ones for £6k now. Cracking value that!

I think it's down to a number of things, including high insurance for younger people, older people generally don't want them :p

Plus they have the stigma of high running costs, but tbh I've not noticed it to be any different from the Clio bar an extra few quid in petrol a week and slightly higher insurance.

And they are 5 years old, with a lot being bought relatively cheap when new, could get them for 16/17k I believe. But definitly thikn they offer decent value for what you get, ok it's not a plush car with loads of toys, but at least it has leccy windows in the back :p
 
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Does it have to be a WRX?

£6.5K will get a Prodrive STI - its the bugeye version (which shockingly I like a bit more than the blobeye) but more goodies etc.

A friend had a 05WRX with PPP and I was surprised how quick it actually felt - having always driven classics up to that point I'd expected it to feel slower than my mapped UK car and it felt on par.
 
Does it have to be a WRX?

£6.5K will get a Prodrive STI - its the bugeye version (which shockingly I like a bit more than the blobeye) but more goodies etc.

A friend had a 05WRX with PPP and I was surprised how quick it actually felt - having always driven classics up to that point I'd expected it to feel slower than my mapped UK car and it felt on par.

A WRX seems to be the best option for me, so a daily drive with sightly lower running costs/insurance and initial outlay is lower.

It does bring up the wrx vs sti debate, May be if i see a good example of an STI i may be swayed...but at this point im sticking to a wrx as its well within budget including insurance and maintenance costs
 
For the budget I'd rather go with a newer WRX, but that's just me :)

And for most people the WRX offers what they want.

I did see a lovely Spec D sti for sale cheap a few months ago, was about 8k for a 2006 model with decent miles. Think the dealer priced it up way too low, it was gone very quickly.
 
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Evo, My thoughts exactly

Leccy windows in the back - I'm sold :)

Just out of interest, any thoughts about getting the full ppp pack?

The WRX probably does 80% of what an STi does for most people, people who want that extra will go for the STi every time and the slightly increased running costs it brings.

The thing where people do go wrong is in buying a WRX, then modding the hell out of it. No point, get an STi and use that as the base imho.

I really like the idea of PPP, however buying it if a car doesn't already have it is just bad value, although will actually help resale. At this price point though it's probably only a couple of hundred over a non ppp example, when it costs 1.6k/2k (i forget which) to do it's probably not worth it.

The backbox can be had for not much from well known auction site, a centre pipe isn't really needed unless you want more noise. Then a £700 Ecutek remap will give you the remap, some say it'll be better than the prodrive one as it won't be generic, it'll be mapped to your car and will be using the promap map as a base.

But that won't help, and would probably harm, resale value if you didn't return it to standard after.
 
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I really like the idea of PPP, however buying it if a car doesn't already have it is just bad value, although will actually help resale. At this price point though it's probably only a couple of hundred over a non ppp example, when it costs 1.6k/2k (i forget which) to do it's probably not worth it.

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201044372291768

With that in mind what are your thoughts on the above?

Granted it compleatly contradicts my orginal post of wanting a standard wrx without mods, but with a full PPP and subaru history i feel myself wanting to go have a look.

Alloys arent bad either, tbh i actually like the standard wrx alloys.
 
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