newbie getting a use 03 WRX - anything to look out for?
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newbie getting a use 03 WRX - anything to look out for?
Like the title says, I'm looking at a 2003 WRX with about 18k miles on it. Anything I should look out for?
It looks stock with the exception of tinted windows. I will look at the engine when I visit the showroom. Anything to check out in the engine bay?
thanks in advance.
chikai
It looks stock with the exception of tinted windows. I will look at the engine when I visit the showroom. Anything to check out in the engine bay?
thanks in advance.
chikai
03 which is this year. 18k miles which is a lot. hrm. check the wear and tear of the tires if it's still the 92s? uhm...i really wouldn't know, sorry can't help much
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may I ask how much you are paying? Depending on how much you might be able to get them to come down close on a new model.
The '03 is a great model - the clutch shudder of the '02 is fixed out of the box on later models (and still covered under warranty on earlier models). Should be good to go. I've had mine since Febrauary and haven't had a problem yet
The '03 is a great model - the clutch shudder of the '02 is fixed out of the box on later models (and still covered under warranty on earlier models). Should be good to go. I've had mine since Febrauary and haven't had a problem yet
I have had my 03 for over a year. The only problem that I had with the car was the tranny blew up at 8,000 miles, and lost a power steering pump, both were warranty. Be careful with the tranny. Mine has 19,100 miles on it. Nice choice on cars.
Nick
Nick
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get it... make sure it still has the factory waranty, and that it is passed along to you. try to get them to extend it if all possible. good luck !
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Originally posted by chikai
asking price is low $20k. what do you mean come down on a new model?
asking price is low $20k. what do you mean come down on a new model?
If it helps, they're asking $20,000 for a car with 18,000 miles on it, all of which were likely within the last year. Who knows how that car was driven in that time - it could have been really beat up or abused in that time. And why would someone get rid of such a bad *** car after so little time?
I paid $23,200 for my WRX brand new last February - only about $3,000 more than you're going to pay for that used one. Other people buying '04s are getting as good or better deals. I think I would spend the extra $3,000 or so and make them work me a deal on an '04.
Check out the www.edmunds.com TMV (True Market Value) indicator. It'll give you a good idea of what invoice price is, and what people are paying for new cars in your area. In addition, they have sections that will give you tips on bargaining with dealerships to get the price and options you want. That's what I did - I still have the window sticker for my car that was asking $27,865!! I knocked them down nearly $5,000 and that's the first time I ever purchased a new car.
Good luck and take pics of whatever you buy!
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I bought my 03 Wagon in April just when the 04's were becoming available, my car already has 13k miles on it and it has not been abused (I don't understand how people casn draw a correlation between milage and abuse).
I paid $21,900 new so you really should be looking at paying in the region of $18k to $19k for the car you're looking at. Anything over $20k and you are so close to a new car that you should buy new.
As far as wear goes my RE92's are 1/3 worn, tranny has loosened up nicely from new (1st and reverse) and the car feels every bit as good now as it did when new, but I do look after it well (no silly *** launches). This is the risk you take when you buy used, if the previous owner paid for the car with their own money chances are they looked after it, if it was a gift to some rich kid from his parents then who knows.
I paid $21,900 new so you really should be looking at paying in the region of $18k to $19k for the car you're looking at. Anything over $20k and you are so close to a new car that you should buy new.
As far as wear goes my RE92's are 1/3 worn, tranny has loosened up nicely from new (1st and reverse) and the car feels every bit as good now as it did when new, but I do look after it well (no silly *** launches). This is the risk you take when you buy used, if the previous owner paid for the car with their own money chances are they looked after it, if it was a gift to some rich kid from his parents then who knows.
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Originally posted by eluminex
I bought my 03 Wagon in April just when the 04's were becoming available, my car already has 13k miles on it and it has not been abused (I don't understand how people casn draw a correlation between milage and abuse).
I bought my 03 Wagon in April just when the 04's were becoming available, my car already has 13k miles on it and it has not been abused (I don't understand how people casn draw a correlation between milage and abuse).
Thing about turbo cars is that you have to be good to them to make them last. It's easy to damage a turbo over time without proper maintenance.
Don't know how often you read the forums (or clubwrx.com) but there's few WRX that haven't been modded, and if you check those forums a lot of people talk about drag racing (legal or no), auto x, track days, etc. This is abuse, even if you're a really nice guy about it.
My point about abuse is this: I'm a pretty soft driver. I don't beat up my car daily on the way to work or the store or wherever I'm heading. However, I have taken my car to the local drag raceway, I've auto crossed my car and I've run it down some pretty nice back roads. While these incidents have been few and far between, there are many people who run their car in this manner much more regularly.
Given that many WRX are modded, and that many have been abused by their drivers (just look at the number of tranny failures on guys cars who race them a lot) and given that the WRX is a turbo charged vehicle, one must take care when purchasing a used WRX. You don't want to inherit problems that were caused by someone else, especially considering the cost of a new turbo.
So, no correlation between mileage and abuse, but rather correlation between posts I've seen on all of the forums I read DAILY.
Last edited by nachomc; Nov 13, 2003 at 10:44 AM.
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Car Info: 2004 Impreza Outback Sport
I'd be cautious. Echoing what sonicsuby said, having read this forum as well as others I've seen people do things to their WRX's that would be a used car buyers worst nightmare(the picture with the WRX with all four wheels off the ground immediately popped into my head 
) so if you're gonna get it, get a good warranty, and do a solid inspection. Good luck!
) so if you're gonna get it, get a good warranty, and do a solid inspection. Good luck!
Originally posted by sonicsuby
The asking price at the dealer is rarely the price you will pay, and almost never the price you should pay.
If it helps, they're asking $20,000 for a car with 18,000 miles on it, all of which were likely within the last year. Who knows how that car was driven in that time - it could have been really beat up or abused in that time. And why would someone get rid of such a bad *** car after so little time?
I paid $23,200 for my WRX brand new last February - only about $3,000 more than you're going to pay for that used one. Other people buying '04s are getting as good or better deals. I think I would spend the extra $3,000 or so and make them work me a deal on an '04.
Check out the www.edmunds.com TMV (True Market Value) indicator. It'll give you a good idea of what invoice price is, and what people are paying for new cars in your area. In addition, they have sections that will give you tips on bargaining with dealerships to get the price and options you want. That's what I did - I still have the window sticker for my car that was asking $27,865!! I knocked them down nearly $5,000 and that's the first time I ever purchased a new car.
Good luck and take pics of whatever you buy!
The asking price at the dealer is rarely the price you will pay, and almost never the price you should pay.
If it helps, they're asking $20,000 for a car with 18,000 miles on it, all of which were likely within the last year. Who knows how that car was driven in that time - it could have been really beat up or abused in that time. And why would someone get rid of such a bad *** car after so little time?
I paid $23,200 for my WRX brand new last February - only about $3,000 more than you're going to pay for that used one. Other people buying '04s are getting as good or better deals. I think I would spend the extra $3,000 or so and make them work me a deal on an '04.
Check out the www.edmunds.com TMV (True Market Value) indicator. It'll give you a good idea of what invoice price is, and what people are paying for new cars in your area. In addition, they have sections that will give you tips on bargaining with dealerships to get the price and options you want. That's what I did - I still have the window sticker for my car that was asking $27,865!! I knocked them down nearly $5,000 and that's the first time I ever purchased a new car.
Good luck and take pics of whatever you buy!
wow 23G for a brand new WRX that's hell of a good deal i can never get,i went to 3 different dealers yesterday and more likely that MSRP lowest was like 24G and+ handling fee and blah blah = ALOT more..
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Originally posted by NaVaWRX
wow 23G for a brand new WRX that's hell of a good deal i can never get,i went to 3 different dealers yesterday and more likely that MSRP lowest was like 24G and+ handling fee and blah blah = ALOT more..
wow 23G for a brand new WRX that's hell of a good deal i can never get,i went to 3 different dealers yesterday and more likely that MSRP lowest was like 24G and+ handling fee and blah blah = ALOT more..
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Originally posted by sonicsuby
I heard Irvine Subaru has good deals. Never been there myself, this is just what I've heard.
I heard Irvine Subaru has good deals. Never been there myself, this is just what I've heard.
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Car Info: 03 WRX Sedan MBP/17X7.5 SSR Comps/225 Kumho MX
Go for a deal on a new one. I paid 22.9K (cash) for a new '03 midnight black WRX sedan with short throw and turbo gauge last January.
Bought the stock spoiler in correct paint, used but like new off of eBay for $150. Installed it myself.
Paying cash is sweet. Did that when I bought my previous car ('90 Eclipse GS Turbo..got 260K miles on it before I sold it) then made car payments to myself for 13 years before buying the WRX. I'm already making payments on my 2013 brand X turbo.
The WRX is a performance car and you want to make sure not to get one that's been abused. High performance glass gearbox does not suffer fools. Buying a new one is the best bet.
MSRP is up on the new '04s over last years' models.
Bought the stock spoiler in correct paint, used but like new off of eBay for $150. Installed it myself.
Paying cash is sweet. Did that when I bought my previous car ('90 Eclipse GS Turbo..got 260K miles on it before I sold it) then made car payments to myself for 13 years before buying the WRX. I'm already making payments on my 2013 brand X turbo.
The WRX is a performance car and you want to make sure not to get one that's been abused. High performance glass gearbox does not suffer fools. Buying a new one is the best bet.
MSRP is up on the new '04s over last years' models.