Up until now, I haven't owned a subie newer than my Loyale Wagon. But it was finally giving in to a bad head gasket just as I got TTL'd by an Audi. Kinda nice of them to hand me a check toward a new/used Impreza Outback Sport. I'm looking at two sales, both are clean.

 

2000, 116K, 2.2L, Auto, private party, with a list of replacements:

*Replaced Front Rotors and Brake Pads

*Replaced Rear Drums and Brake Shoes

*Replaced Timing Belt

*Replaced Water Pump

*Newly Purchased set of WRX 2005 rims and tires

*Balanced Rims and Tires

*Four Wheel Alignment Performed

*Replaced Radiator

$7K - Steep for the miles, but negotiable. (he just today dinged the rear bumper on a pole and I'm waiting to gets pics and hear more about that. Doesn't faze me if it's minor)

 

and

 

1999, 79K, 2.2L, Man, from a small used-dealer, no list of replacements/ improvements, stock wheels/rims - $7K

 

I do a lot of road trips, and go up into the Sierras often. I've always driven Manual, but end up doing all the driving when my buddy inevitably doesn't drive stick. So I figured Auto could be an interesting change of pace.

 

Inevitably, I'll take the car to my Subie mech. But which one looks more enticing on the surface?

 

thanks,

-Michael

I'd say get the 2000 down a bit and go for it. The rear bumper can be poped back into place with a heat gun (blow dryer) and your hand. Just heat t up and push it out. Doesn't even need to be that hot

 

Just make sure you see the paperwork for the work preformed. Do tight circles in a parking lot to make sure it doesn't bind. Search "torque bind" . Make sure that the FWD fuse is NOT in the fuse holder, then do the tight circles

The 2000 seems like a good car. Find out why the radiator was replaced. Sometimes non-subaru mechanics replace the radiator if the car overheats due to head gaskets. It's very rare for a 2.2 to have bad head gaskets, but it does happen. Take a long test drive, be sure it doesn't get hot and check for tourque bind. 7,000 is kind of high, I would offer less.

EDIT: If the FWD fuse is in the fuse holder when you look at the car, run away and don't look back.

 

The fuse holder is in the engine compartment on the strut tower or the firewall, I forget. Passenger side for sure...

Thanks guys,

 

I searched for "torque bind" and know what to look for: a shudder during acceleration in a low-speed turn.

 

I'll look for this FWD fuse, if it's installed in the fuse box as mentioned, this puts the car in FWD and disables AWD, correct?

 

What temp does this car normally settle into? My EA82 ran hot, always, which put it just under the half way mark on the guage.

 

I'm lining up a test drive tomorrow and then a trip to my Subie mech if called for.

 

thanks again,

-Michael

My 2.2 was always a little under half way. That was a 1996 legacy though.

 

The fuse holder is its own special thing. It is not in the fuse box, just kinda mounted on the strut tower or firewall. No box, no other fuses. When a fuse is installed into it, it puts the car into FWD. Again, if it is installed just run away no questions asked.

 

Take it to the mech. no matter what. Get it in the air and look for leaks. The 2.2 is notorious for oil leaks around 120k.

I'd check on ebay, autotrader.com and local classified ads for the car you want. Even if you had to drive to a neighboring state to buy it you could still save a grand. $7k sounds a little high for a 9 year old obs.

A local dealer near me has a 2000 auto OBS with 53k for only ...........

 

 

 

............

 

 

 

 

 

 

...........

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$10,000

I checked out the car today. It drove well, no overheating, very solid performance. No torque issue. No FWD fuse.

 

There's an average to high amount of cosmetic blemishes: dings, rear driver corner dent, bits of chipped paint, a tight group of odd vertical marks scribed into the driver window (from rolling up or down?), the "brush" he had with a pole against the rear bumper cracked a bit oft paint away in the middle but no dent. Interior is... used, slightly worn: the rubber around the door handles are a little over used, but the upholstery looks clean, no rips.

 

Kind of an odd history to the car: it was previously owned and used as an undercover/surveilance car by a law enforcement agency (thus the degree of cosmetic issues?), I'm not sure what to make of that. He's had it for under two years, needs the money so he's selling. I already mentioned the replacements, repair, and has full service records since he's owned it.

 

Right off the bat he tells me that his asking price of $7K was too high and was thinking more of $6200 (Kelly-Fair), what with the cosmetic issues. If I were to offer, I'd probably go $5800-6000. But I'm pretty wary of it with the odd history. Whatcha guys think?

 

thanks again,

-Michael

 

This just posted just today:

http://losangeles.craigslist.org/sgv/car/552058728.html

I checked out the car today. It drove well, no overheating, very solid performance. No torque issue. No FWD fuse.

 

There's an average to high amount of cosmetic blemishes: dings, rear driver corner dent, bits of chipped paint, a tight group of odd vertical marks scribed into the driver window (from rolling up or down?), the "brush" he had with a pole against the rear bumper cracked a bit oft paint away in the middle but no dent. Interior is... used, slightly worn: the rubber around the door handles are a little over used, but the upholstery looks clean, no rips.

 

Kind of an odd history to the car: it was previously owned and used as an undercover car by a law enforcement agency (thus the degree of cosmetic issues?), I'm not sure what to make of that. He's had it for under two years, needs the money so he's selling. I already mentioned the replacements, repair, and has full service records since he's owned it.

 

Right off the bat he tells me that his asking price of $7K was too high and was thinking more of $6200 (Kelly-Fair), what with the cosmetic issues. If I were to offer, I'd probably go $5800-6000. Whatcha guys think?

 

thanks again,

-Michael

 

This just posted just today:

http://losangeles.craigslist.org/sgv/car/552058728.html

 

Usually the undercover cars cops have are aquired as seizures from drug arrests dwi etc. I guess it could be a good or bad thing? Offer 5,000 maybe?

 

If you really take the time to look there are better deals out there.

I agree, there are better deals out there. Very few subies sold on ebay reach Kbb book prices. Those prices are a rough guide and generally too high. I bet he'll take $4500. Tell him you're looking at another subie that isn't all beat up. Offer $4500 and stand fast on it. He'll call you back and say yes within a couple days.

edmunds is a better judge of vehicle pricing. KBB is way way over priced

edmunds is a better judge of vehicle pricing. KBB is way way over priced

 

KBB is a joke, edmunds is better, but I prefer NADA, its very close to real world.