Hi everyone,

Was looking at a Scooby with reg DN05 HBH - does anyone know this car? It's a nice example with a (I know it's cheap) toyo sports turbo back exhaust, PPP and speedline GT1 alloys. Only covered 43,000 miles and advertised at £7,500.

I was also wondering about the reliability nowadays of a 11 year old blob wrx? I've read numerous threads of bullet proof engines and less forgiving gearboxes from a long time ago, but how are they getting on now? I do a 40 mile round commute a day and would rather not be stranded anywhere - cost much more than normal maintenance and regular servicing?

Thanks

 

Subaru's are built like tanks 1993-2005 impreza's are solid. The problems tend to lie with how they have been treated in the past. Poor servicing and heavy modified cars on standard internals are ones to avoid. Full history and unmodified ones are what to look for.

 

They are far more reliable than most high performance 11 year old cars in daily use. There are a few common things that go wrong, standard shocks fail and cause a knocking noise, rocker cover gaskets weep and drip oil on the exhaust, radiators cores fail after time and standard wrx calipers seize. Plus being 11 years old a few things like bushes and drop links may need replacing to eliminate various rattles.
But if you get one with a solid engine and body then they are very tough cars.

 

I have an 04 WRX PPP, which I have owned since it was 6 months old (dealaer demo car with 5K). I have had the usual issues as mentioned above including rocker gasket, seized front calipers, shocks, and 5 spd gave up at about 70K, just had second 5spd replaced by 6spd at 106K. The engine is a little tired too, compresion is below min on all four cylinder but it still goes like !?it off a shovel.

If the mileage is real then its probably got lots of life in it but expect some of the above issues, especially when you get over the 70K mark. Mines been driven pretty hard so cant complain really about its reliability.

Ian

 

169k on an '02 WRX. If you are handy with the spanners and keep on top of preventative maintenance, then they will do huge miles. Properly engineered cars. If however, you wait until things fail and then pay someone to do the work every time, then they may prove expensive.

 

Parts aren't too pricey, easy to get hold of and there are quite a few interchangeable parts across the range.

 

The MOT history indicates between 2 and 5k per year since 2008, therefore the mileage is genuine.

Registration number: DN05HBH

Vehicle make SUBARU
Vehicle model
IMPREZA
Date first used 18 May 2005
Fuel type Petrol
Colour Grey

MOT history of this vehicle
Test date 18 July 2016
Expiry date 20 July 2017
Test Result Pass
Odometer reading 42,601 miles
MOT test number 8825 5854 0344

 

The UK cars have pressed steel wishbones to save on cost, these can fail due to rust (as can the engine sub frame) and are a Subaru recall notice item.

The fuel pipes can leak around the inlet manifold; again a know fault with a Subaru recall notice.

Rust is now common on the arches.

The near side calipers have a tendency to seize; they are the ones nearest to puddles and crud on the kerb side of the road;£90 fix for stainless.

Otherwise a good all round purchase but pay cheap for parts or servicing and YOU WILL pay twice.

This is from my experience of eight different versions of a Subaru

 

Without wishing to tempt fate, they are reliable and easy to maintain. £7500 sounds like a lot though, even with that low mileage...

 

I have a 05 WRX PPP too and very reliable in the 2 years -14k miles ive done only front calipers needed replacing...got it with 48k on clock

£7500 tad expensive but That WRX has been for sale a couple of months so may be able to get a few quid off?!

 

How much did you pay for yours? Similar mileage to the one the OP was asking about.

 

nearly 2 years ago I paid £6350 fsh 3 owners

 

I have a 2005 WRX and also had knocking shocks, seized calipers (check the rubber boots) but considering the hassle friends get from similarly powered cars, its been very reliable and never broke down. My car only had 19k on the clock when I bought it 3 years ago and has 50k now. Sadly rear end shunt means its a write-off.

 

Exactly, so add a couple of years and unless the 'future classic' tag has hit the 05 WRX yet, which I doubt, a similar car now would be worth £5K, maybe £6K tops?

 

UK WRX-Sti been dear and prices pretty much stuck for a few years now personally If he can get It for £6500 thats decent....Should of had 2 cambelts by now though really too!?

 

Recently sold my 54 plate WRX Wagon, bought on 92k and sold with 126k only problems in that time was new rad and hoses.

Totally reliable if you give them regular oil changes and don't drive it like a complete idiot, always let the oil reach temp before giving it beans, I did my oil changes DIY every 6 months of 5k miles whichever came first and I always used quality oil, Motul 300V was my oil of choice, it's a little more expensive than most bit it does a good job imo, they're very easy to work on too for the simple stuff like pads etc no special tools required.

Pretty decent on fuel when kept off boost and cruising on the motorway, 25/28 urban and 32/36 on a run if you're gentle on the throttle and stay under 3k rpm.

 

I bought my 05 wrx 4 years ago with 100k on the clock, I put it on the rolling road and it made 242bhp

It now has 330bhp and 115k miles, the only thing that has been replaced due to a problem is the rear shockers, I have uprated other parts that haven't though.

My last problem was during a track session, the top hose slid off the rad pipe and touched to alternator pulley, thus rubbing through and losing coolant. I got pipe sorted, topped coolant up and drove home

I usually get about 20 mpg, but it's my weekend toy. On a run I get up to 36mpg. On the trackday I got 8 mpg


The price seems a bit high, I know there aren't many around with such low mileage but..... has it been a short trip granny mobile? Has it ever got up to temp on a trip?