I am having a '02 WRX wagon w/61K miles that has a salvage title checked out about 420 miles away at a very reputable shop. The salesman at the lot that is selling it is telling me that it was a theft recovery and it was stolen for the body kit that was on it. He hasn't told me about any other mods besides the body kit. I already checked out the insurance and our provider has no problem with insuring a salvage title car. I even got quote, not too bad. I don't care about resale value, just a good condition vehicle and saving almost $5K. I am a 48 yr old WRX noob and just sold my '67 Plymouth GTX w/440 cu in (300+whp, 9 mpg); I miss it, but not that much.
Anyway, what am I missing about this WRX? I think I have my bases covered, but one rarely knows all!

 

See if its been modded at all....Have them esp. check out the tranny.

What are you getting it for?

 

Haven't made an offer yet. Should be just below $10K if everything looks OK. Has some minor body damage on the roof by the rack. Otherwise looks pretty good on the pics, but I'm not putting too much stock in that.

 

"What are you getting it for?" Two way to figure that question!

1) Just under $10K
and
2) To commute to work (backroads) and to haul my paintings around sometimes. I want performance with some versatility and better gas mileage. Same ol same ol.

 

I meant meaning #1 :0

Good luck!

 

1) assuming they are being straight with you on the history, under 10G is a great deal, from my personal experience a 61000 mile old WRX wagon should be good for another 100,000 miles at least.

and for item 2) as long as your paintings fit, I think you'kll be hard pressed to find a better backroad hauler.

For sure a turbo 2l isn't going to pull like a 440 GTX (I hope you made out OK on that deal- those are getting to be worth a lot of corn to mopar fanatics), but you should see about twice the mileage for a gallon of gas, and once you get the hang of pitching the AWD around, you should be having a lot of fun with your commute.

I'd say go for it- heck you could probably part it out and break even if you find it isn't your cup of tea.

 

Thanks for the replies.

Probably will be my cup of tea. I always felt odd in the GTX (folks checking the car out ALL THE TIME it seemed) and I knew the car was dangerous on corners. It was fun on the straight aways and off stop signs, but otherwise it was a boat. I sold it in one day off craigslist and got my full asking price. It is in SF now. I'm ready for something a little more lo profile.

In the 80's I had a 510 that I fixed up a bit and that was a fun car, but not very fast.

I measured an '05 wagon and I figured I could put in a 36" x 48" with no problem. I think on a '02 the dims back there are the same.

Should get a call later today from Easy Street telling me whether its a go or not.

Wish me luck.

 

Had a ECU piggy-back at one time, maybe new gauge cluster so mileage was ? and had some more minor body damage, but the thing that made decide not to make an offer was that it was in a minor front end collision. I was told that they thought it was an okay deal for less than $10K, but it is too far away for me; so no offer. Next time.....

 

... yea salespeople are bastards ... (except for me)

 

eh, don't believe him. He's still a bastard

salvage titles are pretty tricky. That car is one serious candidate for a carfax report.