I'm off to have a look at and test a 52reg STi in a couple of days and I'd be grateful if you guys can tell me if there is anything in particular that I should be checking or looking out for that could lead to a large bill or signs of abuse/excessive wear?

Thanks in advance

 

No such thing as an STI 7 reason being that if the numbering continued then the japanese car built in 2001 would have been a 7, 2002 would have been an 8, 2003 would have been a 9 etc, but your saying a 2002 model is a 7, people also call the 2005 car a 9 etc, so it gets confusing as the markets are different (my03 jdm cars are twin scroll units, uk are single scroll, they cannot be the same version and then there is the 2.5....)
Anyway, just state if the car is a uk one and the model year, so this will be a type uk, maybe a blobeye or a late bug (prodrive or none prodrive model if it is?).

Its all the usual turbo issues, smoking turbo's, worn parts, knocking shock absorbers on the rear, service history, belt changed on time, running full decats without a remap etc.

Tony

 

I'm taking it as a bugeye, one of the main issues is knocking rear shocks over rough ground when your testing it, Cambelt history and Service history to be checked but other than that as long as your looking for the obvious boy racer abuse, they are pretty bullet proof.

 

Confusing, I've always used the term STI7 to describe a bug as I'm sure using the term MY01 STI can be a classic or an early newage

Either way, I'd also check there's no grinding noise on full lock as it's quite common for the wheel bearings to go around 30k.
Oh, and check what the owner is like. **** tend to drive like ****

 

Last of the classics will be version 6 STI's which are MY00 cars, MY01 cars are all newage as this is the model year, not the registration year this is why it gets confusing if they kept with the numbering then the jdm cars would be up to version 15 now, uk/eu cars would be at version 8 as we never had a production STI produced specifically for our market (includes the 22B and P1).
Mike Wood from Prodrive explained it better

Tony

 

Ok guys, not to get bogged down over model specifics, it's a 52reg bugeye UK STi in standard form with no modifications.
It has FSSH, cambelt recipts, loads of other service and wear & tear item receipts. It's sitting on 79k miles and will have full mot. I'm buying from a dealer so won't be able to see/speak to previous owner at time of purchase.

Cheers for your tips so far. If you can think of anything else I should check, just keep them coming.

Thanks

 

I take it they will be giving you a 1 year warranty on this if you get it?
Look to see if it has the Prodrove Performance Pack fitted (PPP) the prodrive version has the bigger spoiler and bodykit, but if its an unabused one, you wont be going far wrong

Tony

 

Cheers Tony .

It's coming with 3 months warranty, as it's not a Subaru franchise dealer and it's on 79k. I don't think it has the PPP fitted, but will check for sure.

P.S. Does the thread title now reflect the correct model ?

 

As right as Tony is

I feel the "shorthand" works for us....

But as stated with jdm cars being so different it is a minefield.

IMHO

dunx

P.S. Knocking rear struts, smoke, noisy gearboxes/diffs, slipping clutch.... just the usual suspects.