Hi all,

I'm new to all this and hopefully pick up a 95 WRX Import Scooby this weekend.

Am I correct in saying they are more powerful than the equivalent UK models?

Also is there any Scooby Specialists down here on the coast in Sussex. Would like to know what to look for when purchasing these types of cars. Know the obvious stuff when buying a normal run of the meal car, but what do I look for, especially on WRX imports?

Got a quote for insurance:-

29 yrs old
12 yrs no claims
Brighton post code
Garaged
3 points TS10 (the lights were orange!)
Third party fire and theft
Tesco £593

Sound realistic?

Thanks for any help.

D

 

insurance sounds a bit ott, do you have any sports car driving experience?

with these cars check they have been serviced regularly, specifically oil and cam belt, check which type of oil. start the engine from cold and look for coloured smoke and any knocking noises from the engine.

get under the car and look for obvious fluid leaks, look on the floor where the car is usually kept.

check the tyres for unusual wear on the edges etc.

import cars are usually of a higher spec and do have a higher bhp.

hth, and welcome to scoobynet

 

Budget for an engine rebuild (the bigend will fail sooner rather than later). Ask the previous owner what fuel they run it on if they say anything other than super unleaded walk away.

 

^^ thats rubbish, the engines in these cars are excellent if they have been looked after, just make sure that when you buy one your happy with what you are being told by the seller, if they say its been well serviced and they can back it up with history, theres no reason why you would need to allow for it. I am on my 9th impreza and so far have had to have no engine re builds!

 

You have been very lucky then. I had a WRX from almost new and drove it with as much sympathy as anyone has ever probably driven a scoob and bigend went at 60k. When I looked into rebuild options I was told by lots of respected menders that I'd done well to see 60K out of it.

Failures of Jap WRX's are FAR from uncommon.

 

was your engine modified?

 

My WRX has done 90k miles now, and if i am honest does get quite a hard life. Have a FMIC, de-cat exhaust and uprated fuel pump, and is still going (fairly) strong. (touch wood)

Make sure you always run it on super unleaded, preferably 98 ron or above, and put good oil into it.

Don't pay too much attention to people who say the engines let go, i have spoken to hundreds of people with WRX's who haven't had a problem.

Enjoy the car, and have a look at www.sussexscoobies.co.uk (have monthly meets at Pease Pottage, so not far away from you)

 

Standard. Not even an aftermarket filter. Most of those miles were part throttle sub 4k commute type stuff as well.....

A search on here will throw up lots of failures. I think Jap cars may be more prone to problems than UK cars due to being set up to run 100ron not the 97ron which super unleaded used to be here untill recently.

I think I made a valid point about failures and I whish I'd known the risk when I bought mine. At the time I had mine I could not find anyone to remap it either. I think that may have changed now and is something worth looking into if you are looking to buy an early WRX.

 

Very very true.

The RON in fuel has risen in the last few years, and with the induction of Apexi ECU's the cars can me mapped to run a lot safer.

 

I'll be there .