Hi everyone, don't know why I didn't register years ago when I bought my car, but I've done it now.

Due to the (mis?)fortune of life, my 2002 Bugeye is no longer fit for purpose (i.e. it doesn't have ISOFIX and baby is due in March). The "For Sale" section looks like it's been dead for over a year, but I was hoping for a bit of general advice regarding pricing. I've tried searching on autotrader etc. but it's difficult finding a similar year/spec car for comparison.

I was thinking around £4,500 (FSH, 3 owners, 90k miles approx., no modifications etc.) but really don't know if I'm going over or under on price.

Apologies if I'm too vague or stingy with info, or if this is in the wrong place, or if there's a thread I've missed for this exact thing! Haven't sold a car in about 9 years and I'm not particularly happy about selling this! I would attach pictures, but it's getting valeted today.

Thanks!

 

Hi mate and welcome. Is the ISO fix the only reason you are getting rid.

Price seems good because they have gone up. It should sell quite quick at that price.

 

Being sold pretty much because:

1. lack of ISOfix
2. it's cost a fair bit in repairs this year (bonnet respray and radiator replacement)
3. it's expensive to run
4. it's not a "practical family car"

As much as I can argue the toss on the last point, the first three are pretty much dealbreakers!

Ah, that's good, thanks mate!

 

I had my '03 wrx saloon with two kids. You can fit child car seats very securely with seatbelts. I found it quite practical. Drove it to south of France and Spain etc a couple of times. I didn't buy a second hand P1 at the time for less money as I thought the two doors might be impractical! That was my mistake.

 

If it is in good condition and completely standard that is what some people want. The mileage is low and standard car should start to appreciate in good condition. I would ask £4995 at least - more if condition good - and maybe be prepared to drop to £4,500. Have a good scour round autotrader at the standard ones as a few on there. I have just bought a heavily modified 400bhp '03 wrx wagon for £4k with 85,000 miles, but is a hard ride and wouldn't appeal to everyone. No back seats in it etc.

 

My mate had the ISO adapter thing and hated it. He preferred the seat belt option.

 

My Imprezas have been great, practical family cars. Ok if it’s too dear to fuel but don’t forget the bigger picture! ie buy some soul destroying diesel for example and aside from the fact it’ll need all the usual modern diesel repairs it’ll also depreciate like a stone. People always forget this. Yes my imprezas aren’t that frugal but they’re worth more than they cost me to buy.

Mate of mine thinks I’m mad doing 25 to the gallon yet lost £13k on his last ‘cheap to run’ car in depreciation!

 

All Newage models have ISO fix? I have a Bugeye and has ISO fix. Classic models never had them.

 

I had an early bug estate that also didn't have isofix, which was an unwelcome surprise when I went to fit an isofix base

 

Really, that's odd. Never seen a newage model without them. There not easy to find. And I don't think there even marked in mine. You have to put your hand through the centre and feel around for the isofix mounting points.

 

Hmm, that's interesting - I might be talking rubbish in that case, and I just couldn't find them... My 2003 definitely had isofix labels on the rear seat, but not the actual guide holes.

 

My 2002 Wagon has ISOFIX. It's not marked on the seats as you'd expect. Neither is it listed as compatible on child seat lists but the connectors are there. They are metal hooks about an inch square between the back of the bench and the bottom of the seat back.

Trade price is maybe £3k so £3.5k private if you want to sell it anytime soon.

 

Price wise I would have said 4 to 5k sounds a bit strong to me, but if it is a mint and original car, if you have time to sit on it, then you could get in that ballpark. As said above, if you want to shift it in a reasonable time frame you could be looking more 3.5k.

On the family car front, I needed a family car and went and bought my Impreza 15 years ago and it still serves well as a proper family car. Driven across France many times with the family packed in it and loved every moment. Fuel wise though, its not very friendly I know.

Good luck with the sale mate!

 

One thing I’ve found over the last night on 20 years of imprezas is the ones with a decent remap are better on fuel when you want them to be more frugal. My STI is noticeably better than my WRX on the motorway and cruising, only real difference is the STI has been remapped (both 2.0L 5 speed’s)

 

Because they run leaner and more efficiently to create more power with a remap. And as you have more power you don't need to rev so high or work the engine so hard in normal driving.

 

Yeah I can push 30mpg on a run if driven sensibly, about the same as my Diesel Tucson daily, not very friendly on fuel either lol!

 

Swap the seats if iso is that much of an issue. Paid 2k for my bug wrx 3 years ago next month, slightly modified and only needed a bit of paint on the bonnet and an arch saving but it wasn't rotten. Use ours as a family car every day. Don't see any other car being as fun or saving you much money as all cars require some maintenance, proper maintenance and they will serve you just as well as any other car imo

 

My kids are way past the age of car seats but I thought Iso fix points on a car are mounting points on the chassis, not the rear seat, so regardless of changing the seat base (mine 52 plate blob has isofix labels on seats) will make no difference if the locating tabs are there or not.

Echo your sentiment though, had our car for nigh on 13 years and pound for pound has probably been the best value for money as not a lot has ever gone wrong with it.
My sons Mini for example has probably cost me more in one year for repairs than the Subaru has in a decade.

 

I did my fuel pump sock the other day (tiny *** aftermarket one back to oem which was 3 times the size) and the bottom ones are held on by 4 bolts each side and part of the rear seat support bar that you remove when getting to said fuel pump without having to crawl into the boot. Top ones are part of the rear deck (if that's what it's called) so it's not actually the seats that need replacing, it's the rear deck and 2 seat support bars

 

Oh no have to guide holes. Pain to locate sometimes.