Purchasing an STi

[GrassyKnoll]

Hey guys,

So I am finally at the stage of picking out my new car. I'd like to buy a WRX STi with under 25,000 miles for under $22,000. Prefer 04 / 05. I have been looking extensively on NASIOC and Ebay and locally too (but prices are way too high locally). I have come up with some alright stuff but the first really promising suggestion I've seen is with the following:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayI ... 0111350921 (http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&viewitem=&ru=http%3A%2F%2Fsearch.ebay.com%3A80%2Fsearch%2Fsearch.dll%3Ffrom%3DR40%26satitle%3D230111350921%26category0%3D%26fvi%3D1&item=230111350921)

Anyone care to give some feedback on how this car seems? Carfax is one owner + clean. If I consider purchasing I would swing it by the dealership down there to have them take a quick look at it.

Oh and I know the auction is over, he didn't sell for reserve on ebay so I am talking with him outside of ebay now :wink:

Thanks for your thoughts!

[Huffer]

Looks like a good clean car.
Can't really tell because of the lack of info given on ad.

Make sure it's completely checked out before you buy.

[peugoby]

The STi on ebay looks pretty clean. I would be skeptical though because he only replaced the front tires, on an AWD you need to replace all 4 at the same time (or so I hear)

There are a lot of dumb people driving around very nice cars (subarus included) so I, myself, could never purchase a car like that not meeting the owner face-to-face first.

Good luck on your search though, STi's are so baller!

[Wiscon_Mark]

heh, yeah, I don't like the sound of that front tire deal...you'll have to see if that DCCD is working properly...

[GrassyKnoll]

yea I thought the same. The other thing I thought of was that if the backs are so worn maybe he just set DCCD rear and romped the shit out of it. However, I think for the price it is worth a look. Even if it was driven moderately hard, 20k miles is attractive.

[GrassyKnoll]

well the other guy has an offer on it, he said he'd let me know if that falls through.

In the mean time, what do you think of this one? I've had my eye on it for a while, the dealer can't seem to get much over $19,000 on the auction (im sure reserve is a few higher). Any thoughts on the car? If it looks good, I might consider flying out to check it out this weekend.

Thanks for the thoughts guys

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayI ... 953&rd=1,1 (http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ih=020&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT&viewitem=&item=300097087953&rd=1,1)

[peugoby]

Hmm, that silver STi looks like its had some body work done. I can tell a color difference in the pass side doors. Look closely at the second picture. Notice how much lighter in color the front door is in comparison to the rear door. You can also note this in the twelfth picture down.

I could be very wrong though.

[GrassyKnoll]

wow nice spot. Could be the light but I see what you're talking about. Definately worth looking in to.

[sansMYSTi]

A clean Carfax report means nothing. I have owned cars in the past with major accidents that also had clean Carfax reports. That being said, I am Canadian, so maybe CarFax is not accurate north of the boarder. Check the date of the Carfax report - if is not recent, it also may mean nothing.

[GrassyKnoll]

Well I have an account so all of my reports are current. Also, Carfax guarantees certain cars (such as this one). So if there are major accidents that go unreported, they will buy it back for full cost.

[SHOfast]

Don't count on that Carfax guarantee, I do not think it is as easy to cash in as you think, several cars make it through without a blemish on the carfax report.

Take a good look at any STI's before you buy them, I'm sure you know better than to just buy it on ebay and never take a personal look at it, thats what I understand from what you wrote but I want to be sure. Body damage is really not a big deal as long as its done well. The two different age tires on the first one shows the person selling the car knows nothing about these cars, maybe it doesn't have many miles on the new tires or the air pressures have been adjusted to account for the additional thread. Eitherway I would lower my offer by the cost of either 2 more tires or a new set. These cars are too new and expensive for things like that.

[badbasser98]

Hmm, that silver STi looks like its had some body work done. I can tell a color difference in the pass side doors. Look closely at the second picture. Notice how much lighter in color the front door is in comparison to the rear door. You can also note this in the twelfth picture down.

I could be very wrong though.
Not saying you are wrong, but sometimes silver looks like this. I have seen many silver cars that were brand new and you could see 'color differences' in the paint. Normally you see this between doors and fenders as you see here, or fenders and bumpers. I believe this has to do with one panel being at an ever-so-slightly different angle than the other giving you an illusion of a different hue due to the reflection off the flake in the paint. I'd look into it, but not sure that its a big deal.

[GrassyKnoll]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayI ... 916&rd=1,1 (http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ih=019&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT&viewitem=&item=290102289916&rd=1,1)

latest interest... Not sure what the reserve is but it looks flawless. Thinking of putting in for 25g but not sure if it will clear reserve.

[badbasser98]

I'm starting to like the 06+ more and more...

[GrassyKnoll]

agreed. That white one is hot + clean.