(Potential Purchase) What to look for during inspection ?

[GT Wagon]

http://img181.imageshack.us/img181/88/9626353xv.jpg

I've ironed out a price and now its conditional on a Subaru dealership inspection not finding anythign majorly needing of repairs. Most dealers around here will do a 100 point inspection for about 1-1.5 hrs labour to go over the car. Now I know the typical things to ask them to check for like compression etc.... but what specific to this car, a 97 GT Wagon should I be asking them to have a close look at ?

I want to know mechanical, electrical, body, suspension..... The works ;-)

He's recently done the headgasket & the timing belt at the same time so that's one (two) biggies out of the way. If it all works out this will be my next ride.

[Huffer]

Tell us more about the car - the mileage, the type of transmission etc.

If the mileage is 100kmiles +, plan on replacing the cat.
(go aftermarket if you can, only about $200 vs. $700 dealer)

[ooberdoob]

ITS MY CAR!

not really, but just like it :lol:

[GT Wagon]

Tell us more about the car - the mileage, the type of transmission etc.

If the mileage is 100kmiles +, plan on replacing the cat.
(go aftermarket if you can, only about $200 vs. $700 dealer)

1997 GT Wagon
5 speed
Sunroof, cloth seats
188km's - 115K Miles

He has full service records (original owner) and has recently replaced the headgasket, timing belt, starter ? , clutch @ 60k (dealer did it under warranty for clutch shudder from what he described), new front brakes <3 weeks ago, rears about 1 - 1.5 years ago.

Who makes that aftermarket cat you suggest ? Do they tend to get plugged up ?

[Huffer]

They don't get "plugged up" - but cats have a specific lifetime. When they go bad, they collapse and cause rough running. They can even have small particles sucked back and ruin the engine.

I had to replace my cat with one from www.ecatalyticconvertors.com (http://www.ecatalyticconvertors.com)
It was an good fit, removed the front cat (CEL came on, but went off again as the ECU adjusted).

If you are planning to go a performance route, then a hi-flow cat welded into a slightly bigger diameter pipe would be better. Stock pipes are 1.75" dia. I believe.

I would check the transmission play - making sure you can slot in and out of gears with positive feel...check for any CV joint leakage, check for corrosion around the suspension points.

A compression test on each cylinder is an excellent idea.
Also, go over the car when it's been washed and see if there was any paint/body repairs. Check to make sure the rear tailgate lines up with the bumper and the rear quarter panels (if it doesn't, it can indicate a repair job from a rearend impact).

Do the usual figure 8's in a carpark...etc.

Edit. website i listed is non-existant, but www.autopartswarehouse.com (http://www.autopartswarehouse.com) works.
http://www.autopartswarehouse.com/cats/ ... &year=1998 (http://www.autopartswarehouse.com/cats/part.php?partid=3519&year=1998)
$260 w/ free shipping (US only)

[ooberdoob]

wisconmark got a stromung from boxer4racing for the same price as an OE equiv would cost.

ask him about it.

[Wiscon_Mark]

Stromung Hi-Flow Cat- 350 bucks from boxer4racing

OEM cat assembly- 1000 dollars from Subaru

Definitely not the same as OE, much cheaper :D

It has 1 (instead of the factory 2) cats and 2.25" piping.

What I noticed:

Deeper, throatier exhaust note
Better low end torque ~1500-2500 rpms
Better mileage

:D Thumbs up :D

[Wiscon_Mark]

oh, and I didn't mention, it is entirely bolt-on, you could install it yourself, assuming you had the right parts and the ability to lift your car up a significant amount (at least 2-3 feet).

[Huffer]

You only need ramps and a raised height of 1.5ft. 3 feet is huge man!

[Wiscon_Mark]

I like my working space ;)