Hello new guy looking for help
 

Hey everyone,

I am currently looking to buy and was wondering if anyone could offer some advice. I am after an aus stock ver 6 sti in steel blue with kms on the lower end. The main problem I have is what do you guys consider low kms? I am from a classic car background so I'm not sure what would be considered low for these cars? I am thinking 60-70000kms.

What do you think my chances are of finding something like this?

I've asked the question on another australian wrx forum but haven't really received much help.

Appreciate any input.

Buckleys to none mate. I know 2 12 yr old cars with those kms. 1 is in bits at MMS, the other is driven by a short bald man named Daryl.

Look at 100k to 150k examples. Just get them compression tested and checked out

Thanks for the input mate. The reason I thought those kms was there is a couple of white ones on carsales atm like this one [url=http://www.carsales.com.au/all-cars/private/details.aspx?__Qpb=true&R=10233179&keywords=&trecs=12&__sid=12FF397FAE5A&__Ns=pCar_LastModifiedDate_DateTime|1&__No=0&__Nne=15&Cr=3&seot=1&__N=1216%201246%201247%201252%201282%204294963800%204294963801%204294788106&silo=1011]1999 SUBARU IMPREZA WRX STI VERSION 6 AWD N MY00 Private Cars For Sale in SA - carsales.com.au[/url]

So compression testing the main thing that i should be looking at with a 100km cars?

Cheers

If you are considering buying to keep as a collectors item dont bother.

Buy the best your budget allows, and go and enjoy driving it.

I plan on keeping it but not as a lock up and throw away the key for 30 years and hope to get a million bucks sort of thing. I've always wanted an sti and thought why not get a nice stock one and keep it looking like it rolled out of the factory. (Probably a remnant attitude from the classic car scene). It'll be my daily but because of my lifestyle it wont get massive miles put on it so was thinking of getting a low km one to start with.

Yeah its a valid thought process.

But I can assure you, you would rather one with 200 000km on it that BALISTC has owned, rather one that I have owned for 30 000km.

KM doesnt always reflect condition, especially with turbo charged cars that can be modified poorly with ease.

Find a car that you think meets your wants, and pay to get it inspected.

Thanks for the input mate. Are compression test and an RAC check the general process you guys would go through if you cant get to the car yourself?

I wouldnt use a RAC report on a performance car to wipe my ass (pardon my french, I dont usually swear)

They would barely have a clue as to what they are looking at.

Get a performance shop to look at it. Depending on where you live there are different options for reputable performance workshops to look at the car.

Compression test definitely, but also the driveline. Gearboxes and diffs/shafts etc = dollars too.

You dont sound like an 18 year p plater idiot, so Im guessing you will be wise enough not to jump into the first one you see and go omg it goes woosh ill take it.

RAC Dont do mechanical inspections anymore...

for a car of that age a compression test is probably a piece of mind thing than a nessesity... just because it has good compression today doesnt mean it wont do a big end tomorrow... thats the way i see it anyways.

i would trawl the workshops thread, once you find the/a car your keen on, organise one of the workshops to inspect it as they know all the bugs and bits to look for on most subis.

For me, when i was lookin at cars to purchase not long ago, it cost me a bit of money to have them inspected but saved me buying 1 rebirth/dodge repaired sti & another that just seemed to good to be true.

[QUOTE=ImPreSiV;566321]Buckleys to none mate. I know 2 12 yr old cars with those kms. 1 is in bits at MMS, the other is driven by a short bald man named Daryl.

Look at 100k to 150k examples. Just get them compression tested and checked out[/QUOTE]

nice Kym very nice

Get the car inspected by a Subaru specialist. A few dollars for them to check it out can save you big in the long term.

Everyone gets fixated by low kms, but given it is an STi do you want the daily driver who looked after his car but put more kms on it or the guy who kept it in the shed all week, took it to the track on a Sunday and it spent it's life at 7000rpm, but has very low kms?

Worst case scenario, budget to slap a EJ207 bottom end into a very high km car. Then it's ready for a new round of spanking.

Thanks for the help guys it is really appreciated[FONT=Verdana][FONT=&quot][/FONT][/FONT]. I am now on the same page regarding the kms so I will redirect my search based on the new knowledge. Out of curiosity what is the cost to rebuild an engine, gearbox and diff? I know that they will vary a lot compared to the old simple pushrod v8s and 4 speed manuals!

Cheers

Diffs $500ish a pop
Gearbox $3500+ for a 6spd
Motor $7000+ for a 207

Hmmm ok those prices are almost exactly what i paid except my diff needed new gears so it was around $1500

I can see why youd avoid the trouble if you could!

[URL="http://www.perth-wrx.com/vb/sale-cars-only/42110-subaru-wrx-sti-version-6-a.html"]This one??[/URL]

:)

Pretty much exactly what i want minus the mods.
Nice car for someone happy with mods though :icon_thum

Swap wheels, remove gauges.

Someone will be more than happy to swap exhausts and turbos for stock items.

From experience it is a lot more economical to start with a car that hasn't been modified if you are heading in the stock direction. Correct me if im wrong (I usually am) but isnt the general consensus that if someone modifies a car they tend to drive it a bit harder too?

True, if you want a stock one, it is definitely easier to find one with minimal mods or dead stock (which might be a bit hard considering the age of the car)

And most people dont mod their cars and then dont use it...

not necessarily, some people pour the money in and then treat it like their baby because they have invested heavily. You get just as many people flog the shit out of their bog stock bangers. Each car is unique and needs to be taken on its own merits.

[QUOTE=ImPreSiV;566781]Diffs $500ish a pop
Gearbox $3500+ for a 6spd
Motor $7000+ for a 207[/QUOTE]

Diffs and gearbox, I'd be budgeting double that for a drive in drive out solution.

[QUOTE=Foresight;566888]Correct me if im wrong (I usually am) but isnt the general consensus that if someone modifies a car they tend to drive it a bit harder too?[/QUOTE]

Mate, you are looking at WRX's. You will be hard pressed to find one that hasn't been driven 'hard'. They are built to be drivent that way.

There are some stock examples around, but you will find, a lot of version 6 sti's will have been owned by 'enthusiests' thus they may have minor mods. Exhaust and wheels are hardly even considered mods ;)

I know where you are coming from and agree those things arent really mods. Its more when you start talking turbos, injectors, intercoolers, lightened flywheels etc that i get iffy.

As I've said before, I'd rather someone who has done quality mods and has a passion for a car over someone who has flogged the living shit out of a stock car.

For me, modifying usually upgrades the parts, making them suitable for a flogging. The car is then serviced at a higher rate with better quality oils and parts.

I'd be very cautious of finding a stock 11+ year old subaru, unless it has a very good history from the owner. There would be a lot that have been butchered and then returned to stock.

Also, a well modified car gives you great mods you would probably do yourself for a lower cost. Win win!

Thanks guys, like i said this is all very helpful.

I got a bone stock v6 :)
Welcome and good luck with the hunt

I saw the thread that you picked your car up from and it is very nice.
Hows the car been going? I hope its for sale!

Yea car is good. Won't be selling anytime soon. It's gonna be my baby for the next couple of years until I get the funds for the latest sti :)

Got a car inspected today but it was sold before I got a chance to talk to the guy...

Im officially looking for a stock steel blue v6 sti so if anyone knows one for sale let me know!

don't know if its been posted but there is one on car sales for 25k. Its not stock but, but says it has 25k worth of mods from MMS. Anyone know of the car?

Also there is a stocko one from a dealer, was that the one you looked at?

The one at the dealer is too far gone for what im looking for. The one that has had 25k spent on it I might be interested in (just because of the dollars spent) if someone knows the car. The work was done 6000kms ago but that could be a lot of qrt miles and circuit time!

No harm in contacting him and having a look. Then take it to someone who knows how to look at subarus. Could be right that it has alot of 1/4 mile times ect. But for a car that has spent that much on mods, im sure that they have also looked after the car

[QUOTE=red dragon2002;570362]But for a car that has spent that much on mods, im sure that they have also looked after the car[/QUOTE]

LOL! Interesting assumption.
I (and many others here) have poured that and more into my car with the soul intention of thrashing the tits off it.

^ i see what you mean. but also like looking after the car as in service wise.

[QUOTE=red dragon2002;570349]don't know if its been posted but there is one on car sales for 25k. Its not stock but, but says it has 25k worth of mods from MMS. Anyone know of the car?

Also there is a stocko one from a dealer, was that the one you looked at?[/QUOTE]

Yes. It was mine but sold on Saturday. I am sorry, but just came across this thread or would have offered it up to forum member first.

keep up the search.

No worries, thanks for replying and congrats on the sale.

Is there maybe a better place we could move this thread or a better area I should start a new thread in with a title more inline with what im looking for?

Yes, i think in the Wanted section is going to be the best (or maybe both). But keep checking the for sale...one will turn up!

I will let you know if I see one.

Cheers mate I have created a new thread in the wanted area as per your suggestion

[QUOTE]the other is driven by a short bald man named Daryl.[/QUOTE]

hee hee