Options?

This summer I'm in the market for an 02-04 WRX. Do I want a nice priced stage 2 or a stocker? I've been told by Scuba Steve I want to start stock. What should I do?

 

starting stock and unmolested would be best, but either way would obviously work, look for misfire codes and tranny issues

 

http://www.mnsubaru.com/forums/showthread.php?p=293093#post293093

 

Love that car! Just a little out of reach as far as the price. Silver is my color though good looking Dream.

 

Chet, you should be able to pick up a nice car in your price range. However, most will probably been modded by the previous owner. Compression test, checking the tranny (as mentioned above), etc....you should be okay. But you should know that any used wrx will probably need some sort of maintenance work after you purchase it...just plan on it.

You find a car you're interested in and I'll look at it with you..if needed.

I will be doing back flips for ya the day you actually bring one home....

good luck!!!

 

BTW- you bring a subie home and I'll sell you my grocery cart wing cheap!

 

Whats your budget?

 

^^ I'm hoping to keep it under $16000

 

02-03 typically run from 11,000 up to about 14,500 from a dealership.

Please note folks I said TYPICALLY before you all start ranting and raving and telling me that I don't know what I am on about.

 

find a 12K car and put 4K into it!

 

I'd kinda like to keep the mileage around/under 65k is that foolish? I was more or less thinking 14k car and 2k in parts.

 

no that isn't foolish as so many of thse got parked over winter...god knows why. Winter aint winter without a Subaru.

 

A wise man once told me "bad taste is bad taste no matter who you are". So that being said I guess I'm kinda picky after looking into some of the WRX's that I have. I just wanna find the perfect car. Also which is the better way to go private party or dealership?

 

depends.

 

Private Party means you can POSSIBLY pay less for the car. But you have no real protection. Take the car to a mechanic and get it FULLY checked over.

Dealership means that the car has been looked over, any major issues have been addressed and minor issues give you room to move. There are so many laws in place to protect you as the buyer also. They can organise financing on the spot if you need it. They can offer you a warranty on the vehicle that is typically better then a new car warranty. On that same hand they aren't always aware of how the car was treated but it's not that hard to figure out. Often times you may be able to pay the same as a private party.

So, in short -

Private Party = Saving $500 and knowing the history of the car IF they are first owner.

Dealership = Perhaps pay a little extra but have issues fixed and also purchase a service contract to give you a better piece of mind.

 

I would much rather purchase a used car privately seeing how many abused cars simply get dumped at dealerships. At least with a private party car you can feel out the person who owns it and get an idea at how much of a knucklehead they really are.

 

^^ agreed!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

But seriously though, if you are going to be that anal about it, you're better off just buying a new one and extending out the financing (which more than likely will be at a lower rate because it's a new car). Typically the monthly payments will end up being about the same, assuming you have good credit.

 

lets face it, they've all been abused.

 

man I would almost sell you mine for that... stage 2... hardly abused... hardly.. ha ha ha... had it since 900miles.. just clocked 60k... Mobil 1 oil changes every 3K since about 20K.... Had a respray (new roof and hood) about 10,000 miles ago (hail storm), 19in rims, quaife LSD, H6 conversion in rear, self-built TBE (magnaflow muffler), self-made x-over, put down 212.3whp on Cobb off teh shelf stg2 map.. has since been tweaked and re-tuned by Tom...

but not sure if I can part with it...... if my wife saw this she would yell sold... ha ha

what to do... some days I would sell.. get an earlier conversion, and finish my RX7... hmm hmm hmmm

 

Considering that you edited your original post to list everything that you've done to the car it sound slike you would sell it

 

I'm not in the position to buy a new car, plus I love the bug eye! What I meant before is ... I don't want white powder coated wheels, hand made grills, ... ya know stuff like that. Otherwise I'm open minded.

 

Beware of insanely cheap WRXs. Fair chance it's a salvage title. I was offered a 04 WRX STi for $11,000 just yesterday. I figured I had to take a look at it.

My suspiscion was aroused when I realised the VIN said it was an 03. It had an 04-05 front end on it. Then when I lifted the hood the intercooler was a dead giveaway as to it being a WRX and not an STi (obviously with it being an 03) Further inspection found black hood with CF graphic laid on top. Misaligned panels from an RS and a interesting looking SS hose dangling around the engine bay. Upon opening the trunk I found a NOs bottle that I'm guessing was from the previous engine which also found to be replaced.

Told the kid I would take it off of his hands for $5,000 due to the CARFAX stating that it was a Salvage Title.

 

lol i saw that car once. I was like WTH is this? It was an 04 front end on an 02 chassis, all frankensteined to hell. It was at the prokart in savage 2 winters ago. Can't be two of those messes around here.

 

yeah, I still shudder just thinking abbout that mess. I wonder if the guy is on here.

Charlie I think his name was....