So I'm looking at a 2000 Subaru Impreza, sedan, 51,000 miles, new timing belt and water pump..... for $4,500. Thoughts or concerns for this model? Seems like a pretty good gig to me, although I'm worried something must have happened to it for the price to be so low. Any input is appreciated

<<Seems like a pretty good gig to me, although I'm worried something must have happened to it for the price to be so low.>>

 

could be:

 

1. odometer rollback (even though it has a digital one)

2. flood car

3. salvage title

 

buyer beware

The odometer rollback I get, and I'm going to guess that flood car means it was in a flood (unlikely since I live in the desert), but what exactly is a salvage title?

It might just be a motivated seller or maybe cosmetically it isn't in the best of shape or something like that. I don't know why at that mileage it would have had the timing belt done already.

 

Salvage title is 'brand' or 'mark' that may be on the title if the vehicle was 'totalled' in an accident. How exactly it shows up varies from state to state. Vehicles can be totalled and 'repaired' without having a salvage title brand; some insurance companies got in trouble for this for selling cars totalled in accidents to rebuilders without doing the appropriate steps.

 

A vehicle sold in a desert could still have been brought in from a flood area. There are things you can check, like stains or water marks on the upholstery etc., and some other stuff.

Good deal, but the 99-2001 Impreza's have more electrical issues than the other years. Mostly from the computer limits being set so tight for emissions.