Does mileage really matter if it has FSSH or FSH on a UK car?

I'm still looking for a wagon for about £7/8k, I have driven three; An L'reg with 50k, P'reg with 84k and an R'reg with 106k.
They all seem to drive the same, make the same noises and look the same inside.

This has got me thinking: would it be safe go for a high mileage R'reg facelift or do I go for a later car with half the mileage?

When does the turbo need replacing?
When does the clutch wear out?
When do I stop asking these inane questions?

Thanks
Dave

 

Well ill give some input back for you
I myself would prefer FSSH over FSH unless the FSH was from an independant Subaru Speciallist in which case FSH would be ok
As for mileage... well, an r reg with 103k miles is quite high but if those 103k miles were all motorway miles then you would probably have a better engine over a car that has done 60k around town (it would heat up and stay hot and not have the sort of wear and tear a town car would).
Other components would suffer though, bearings, brakes, diffs etc as they would still wear at the same sort of rate as any other scoob.
My honest opinion is that i would keep on looking, i would rather have the knowledge that a car of its age had average miles rather than nearly double the mileage as those other parts will cost you in the end and the fact is that the engine shouldnt show any real signs of wear for atleast 150k miles and by that time its engine overhall....
Both high and low mileage cars can be risky, if you find a good one though, no matter what the mileage that has had a few wear and tear bits replaced then snap it up as these are normally the cost parts so you wont have to pay out for a while

Tony

 

My 96 UK 4 door turbo's clutch expired after 70k miles, along with the front dampers - probably helped on my using -35mm lowering springs The ARB droplinks could also do with being replaced, but that's not serious yet.
I have replacement parts going on this week.

The car hasn't had the easiest of lives, but I think these milages are reasonably typical. Touch wood, engine wise the car is fine - oil changed every 4k miles.

There seems to be nothing wrong with high milage Imprezas (there have been a few threads about that recently), and since nobody seems to want them, you could get a bargain. (and the facelift models look nicer...) Good luck, and welcome to Scooby ownership

 

YOU WANT TO SPEAK TO A GUY I MET FROM DUNDEE. HE HAS A GREEN
TURBO WITH WELL OVER 200K MILES, A1 CONDITION AND THE WAY
IT WAS GOING ROUND KNOCK HILL I WOULD'NT WORRY TOO MUCH
ABOUT HIGH MILEAGE. I FORGET HIS NAME BUT HE WILL BE ON SCOOBYNET.
MURRAY.

 

Just sold a p reg wagon with 115000 fssh,car was mint and
drove no different than my rb5 with 45000.the bloke that
bought it has been looking at others in garages and they
want top money with high miles saying that scoobys are
good for 200000 as long as there serviced properly
personally i think buy the r regand enjoy

cheers mouse

 

I agree with Mouse, that wagon was mine before and would anialate babbers standard MY00. They are like golfs better with more miles on.
Head mechanic at our local dealer says they have never replaced a Turbo on an Impreza in the 8 years he's been there. They never go

Buy the R-reg you won't regret it I bought the above wagon with 105k and FSSH and never looked back.
When will people get it into their heads that these cars aren't Cortina's that should be thrown away at 100K

 

As long as you have documented main dealer history I wouldn't worry too much about the mileage...as long as it's offset by the price of course.
I have MY98 on S plate with 103k and it runs sweet, has full FSSH which I would prefer to independant but thats me and the remainder of extended warranty till Oct03, absoulutely no problems at all I bought at 70k for £8k a year ago and reckon I got me a bargain compared to the 'lower' mileage M plates same price!!
Look around and you should beable to get something with history and warranty, one thing I did do when buying mine was speak to the dealer and ran through the cars history, any bits replaced etc.
My honest advice would be for a later model with complete history but just remember to keep up with the servicing

In answer to your questions:
1- How long is a piece of string
2- How long is a piece of string
3- When you buy yourself that Turbo!!

Cheers...Melon

 

I agree with all the above HOWEVER......if it's been driven particularly hard you can follow my lead (my99 with 82k) and have a new gearbox at 77k along with wheel bearings, etc etc and 3 clutches!

You take your chance...!

 

just another thought if you are wanting to buy a scoob on a budget,i looked at similar cars early stuff,early spec,but in the end bought a 98 model for similar cash,with just 58k on it which could be traced back,how?the car had been taken with keys in a burglery and the owner was paid out top book at the time and the only work i had to do was a valet,AND ALTHOUGH IT CAME WITH THE KEYS i swopped the lockset.i the found the local agents were helpfull enough in supplying a new service book etc.the car now looks mint,61k fsh,cat 1,and has now got 17" rims bottom books at £9k i would take the sort of cash you are looking to spend dave and don't forget this is a 98,uk car, with average miles, and have had it 6 months and its never missed a beat its for sale soon i have located a year 2000 exactly the same just waiting clearance.
not ideal i know but these cars do get pinched/bumped etc so why not try that route its not all doom and gloom you can end up quids in newer car etc??just a thought

 

What is your source for getting these cars from?
It almost sounds too good to be true.
Does your insurance company need to know the previous history of the Car?

Also I have seen in the trader a W-reg Turbo with 30K, for £8995ono
'professionaly damage repaired' AA inspection welcome.
Would this be better to go for than:
S reg FSSH turbo 51K no mods?
£9,250

both are uk cars
thanks for your time

[Edited by Fast boy - 10/10/2002 1:18:03 PM]

 

Lol, Sideways your / Mouses wagon would beat my standard MY00, I thought the drove exactly the same when we came back from getting it ??

My RB5 with 22k on the clock drove the same as the wagon did with 115k

Anyway, I agree with all the above apart from Tileys have a Scooby down there with a wanked turbo. So they are strong, but not unbreakable

Cheers Phill C

PS Sideways has an amazing ability to break cars, and we were shocked he had the wagon for 9 month without breaking anything

 

not to good to be true,just a perk of the job i deal in second engines and gearboxes and salvage etc and deal with loads a breakers and insurance companies etc and i just let it be known to people i know that myself and a few friends will buy and sell anything impreza!obviously to a lot of breakers an impreza to them is just stock offer them profit on stock and human nature takes its course,the only downside can be that because the values in these cases relate to book prices and those prices can be a little up at times but generaly you end up in front, i would not recommend a front end bumped impreza personally but i am often getting offered pinched recovered sold with keys and reciepts all above board so why and try to source front end parts??seems an easy route for me to own the car i want at a reduced rate,your insurance is only affected in respect that you would not generally get paid out top book on an car which has previously suffered a claim,but if you have not paid top book why be greedy,as long as you get reciepts for anything you purchase to repair the car to get it back on the road you cannot loose in the unlucky event of a claim.not everyones cup of tea but i was not keen on imports!!happy hunting

 

I've had 4 Subarus - 2 Legacies and 2 Imprezas.

When things go wrong, don't kid yourself - parts are expensive but there are lots of breakers and specialists around now.

I would say that if there is any chance of you finding a just under 3 year old 60k FSSH 99 model privately for under £10k it would be worth a bigger loan.

You can then buy the warranty from Subaru to protect you as much as possible.

I say this because I picked up a genuine FSSH 5 door wagon privately for a tad over £10k with Aircon and 40,000m on it earlier this year. 10,000m later, it needed a new short engine at a cost of £2000 which was covered.

So, I remain a big Subaru fan but things can and do go wrong.
With the 99/00 model you also get better brakes and the engine is basically the same as the current WRX.

 

Flat 4 has made a good point, I would go for the later model as they are better spec. (i.e. Four pots, etc)

Cheers Phill C

 

TonyBurns,

So should I start saving now

MY95
153,000 miles

 

i've got a 94 silver wrx wagon (jap) 73k miles, full powerflow, k+n, razo quick shift, clear front end (lights). any ideas how much shes worth?

 

I bought my my97 200 turbo a few months ago, it had 89,000 mile on the clock with a full scooby history.
After looking threw the glove boos i spotted a recipt for new pistons at 75k.
This did not put me off, rather, it made me more sure of buying it,
knowing that the one owner it had spared no expense £1700.
payed £7.500. (simply the very best 7.5 i'v ever spent)