Chelms

Hi all,
ive been viewing here for a few days as i am soon to be purchasing an impreza [ remortgaging house for extension and should have some left to buy one ]and have been trying to get as much info as possible.
i went to view an imported car today, it was a silver `95` estate wrx covered in dust and japanese writing all over the windscreens with jap fuel reciepts in the glove box, the clock was in mph but only went as far as 100mph but apparently the `milage` was recorded in kilometres which showed 69500.
the reason for viewing today was that primarily my wife will drive it but she is so short i wanted to make sure she could reach all the pedals and see over the bonnet.
anyhow, this car was available for £6200 and in need of a valet but purred beatifully, i am a little uncertain about purchasing an imported scooby for reasons such as not having any history and future servicing
any advice and price assistance you can give will be very much appreciated
regards
steve

scunnered

iTrader: (1)

I bought a jap import about two years ago. I wasn't even going to consider a UK model. I've done about 60K miles since I got it and the car hasn't let me down once. Over 130K miles on the clock and the car still looks like it left the showroom yesterday. Apart from the fuel consuption it's by far the best car I've ever owned. See if the dealer will give you a test drive and I'm sure that will convince you.

padgee

I've just bought a 94 wrx estate for £5500 , not stopped smiling yet !

Vinnie Mac

I bought an import about 3 years ago, had it checked by the RAC and thouroughly cleaned, it is a superb car and other than regular servicing no time spent in the garage. It was standard and in good nick to start with, about the same milage as the one you are looking at. You will need to sort some security for it, as it probably doesn't have any at the moment. Keep visiting here and ask questions, someone will know the answers

5cby

hehe a fellow brummie
where in brum are u

dhorwich

£6200 for an MY95 WRX estate is a bit expensive..!

Dan

petes555

Its only done 43000miles But if your worried about service history then you spend some money on it ie timing belt and full service etc etc

Or you look around ! £6200 is about right keeping in mind whats already been said about security
When I got mine Tracker and Cat1 alarm was the first mods

GOOD LUCK !

mr smash

picked my 96 wrx v-limited up last thursday i purchased it from a company in japan...[ramadbk] on receiving the car at the docks the clutch was gone and sterio was knicked destroying centre consul cover.after getting the gearbox off i find it needs a new flywheel 2 about...350 quid in all fitted myself....apart from that and a few minor dents im chuffed 2 bits.I got the car in all 4 about 5500 quid only done 38k;}so even with the problems its a steel.

naughtybutnice

Got a 94 wrx wagon imported by TEG Sport, lancs,and, touch wood, have had no problems. Shes running now at 135,000km and apart from a clutch, all i've spent is on wear and tear ****.
martin
the jap imports just seem to be better built!!, It wouldnt suprise me if we (UK) were given what was known as the 'Friday car'.If i go for MOT or service, the mechanics comment on how clean the underside is and struggle to believe that my beauty is almost 10 years old!!
If you can afford the extras to keep the insurers happy ( Cat one and 24hr tracker) then go jap!
try tesco, egg and marks & spencer for good prices.

[Edited by naughtybutnice - 9/18/2003 10:29:52 PM]

Chelms

thanks for the quick replys
i think my major worry with buying an imported car is how do i make sure that i dont buy a stolen car, what sort of paperwork should accompany the car, how many keys should come with the car and where do i stand legally if i do unfortunately purchase a stolen one .

the trader i went to told me that the imported cars run 280 bhp compared to uk cars which run 230 , was he telling me fibs ?

5cby
i live on the posh end of Chelmsley Wood :0







[Edited by Chelms - 9/19/2003 8:34:47 AM]

Scooby96

Imported classics say MY93-96 probably run at 260 in Japan (100ron fuel) but on SUL or Optimax (97/98ron) its probably nearer 240. No idea what the output is on later cars though.

MY93 WRX was running 253 with full decat & ITG panel filter

Edited to say:

Get yourself a scoobyecu remap - I think mines running nearer 275/280 after this

[Edited by Scooby96 - 9/19/2003 8:41:18 AM]

wrrjones

i have a 1994 sti1 wagon 55k miles 107 0f 200 £5995.... chris

wrrjones

i have a 1994 sti1 wagon 55k miles 107 0f 200 £5995.... chris

MattN

saloons run at various levels but the estate (hatchback) version is (only) 220bhp until 96.

Cars from 96 did run 276bhp.

Sounds to me like the dealer knows close to **** all about the car.

Also, why has the speedo not be done properly, I.e. recalibrate and amend the miles, so it shows in miles and counts in miles.

SOunds like he's cutting corners to me.

So he knows nothing about imports and nothing about preping the car properly, and it's expensive.

I've imported about 20 cars and no horror stories, some turn up with the stereo missing or a minor engine prob etc. but at the end of the day they are cars bought at auction.

If you import a car it is now checked before leaving Japan for any history.

These stories about imports all being stolen or written off is crap. more cars get stolen in one month in the UK than in a year in Japan,

Also, not to make you feel bad, but your car in japan is probably woth about £1500-£2000 tops so hardly a big earner for theives.

5cby

hehe posh end of the wood
im in smiths wood m8
u may have seen my motor around the wood the inlaws live 2mins from shopping centre
mine is a black 5 door uk turbo l reg with tints and gold alloys
hope u get yours sorted soon :-)

Jay m A

iTrader: (2)

if its from a dealer then it should be SVA'd, which means it should have a rear fog light and the speedo calibrated to MPH at least!

it sounds that all they have done is placed a MPH dial sticker over the dial, this means its still limited to 112mph (180kph which is what the dial should go up to) and the clock will still count up in kms. The proper way to do it is to put a 1.6:1 gearbox in the speedo cable, then the only sticker needed is the M to cover the K in KPH.

Be aware that the car will have minimal underseal (£60 to sort).
Do not be worried about servicing, there are loads of independants around.
be aware that the car should be run on SUL minumum.
I believe the pre 96 WRX 5doors are 220 - 240 PS depending on year model, that one should have 240ps
A scoobyEcu can be bought for £70 and can be tailored for more power or to run on NUL
It probably won't have an alarm fitted as std, and although it has central locking the alarm fitter will have to put another solonoid in to activate the CL with the alarm - an extra £50 on top of the alarm.
If its come straight from the jap auctions it should have a grading, anything above 4 is OK.
Stolen cars from Japan are rare, don't believe the hype spurted by certain 'journalists' with vested interests in the 2nd hand car market.
If you're unsure of what to look for when buying (any type) then a RAC or AA check is great for peace of mind.
If its your first turbo car then don't forget to warm it up / down before and after you thrash it

Good luck

hixton

Go for the Jap model, and not an sh1te watered down uk version!

Jay m A

iTrader: (2)

oops, forgot to say.

Cambelt needs doing at 45K miles, so budget for that, the 45k service is about £450.
Add to that a cat1 alarm £350 fitted? and you're not getting much change out of £7000.
There are alot of WRX's about for sale, granted wagons are rarer, I'd hang around this site a bit, use search and look in the For sale section, I'd wager you could pick up the same car with an alarm, UK service history from a loving enthusiest for £6200

But give it a test drive anyway so you can compare, and try a cheeky offer of £5200 due to the reasons above.

carla_wrx

Is that the price svad and registered for the road? You need to check this. You'll also need to cost having an alarm fitted.I'd offer less for the car it's not cheap at that price.
The wrx's have a better spec than the uk ones as people have said before it's only the fuel thats a problem but my subaru has run fine on Optimax

As for short people these cars are fine i'm only a short **** and i can see fine

TonyBurns

iTrader: (3)

If your going for a wagon then get as said the **** uk version.
Differences are:- bigger turbo on the uk wagon in MY95 form, uk dealer network and runs on unleaded fuel.
The wrx wagon your looking at has 220ps on 100 ron fuel (218bhp) the td04 turbo (as fitted to my97+ uk cars).
You will get folding mirrors and aircon but you may not get abs (optional extra on most wrx's upto around 96).

Tony

MattN

def 220Ps not 240.