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Old 05-11-2021, 09:48 PM   #1
dan_sedan
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Default Feeling Sketched Out By Subaru 4 Sale

I found a clean blobeye for sale. All the pictures look good. Until you get to the dash cluster. The temp gauge looks kinda sus. But there’s an oil temp gauge and that looks ok. Thoughts are much appreciated. It’s a long drive if I go look at it.

https://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-sale/vehicledetails.xhtml?listingId=585473448&allListin gType=all-cars&makeCodeList=SUB&modelCodeList=IMPWRX&city=Al toona&state=PA&zip=16602&location=&searchRadius=20 0&marketExtension=include&trimCodeList=IMPWRX%7CST I&isNewSearch=false&showAccelerateBanner=false&sor tBy=relevance&numRecords=25&dma=&referrer=%2Fcars-for-sale%2Fall-cars%2Fsubaru%2Fimpreza-wrx%2Faltoona-pa-16602%3Fdma%3D%26searchRadius%3D200%26location%3D% 26marketExtension%3Dinclude%26trimCodeList%3DIMPWR X%257CSTI%26isNewSearch%3Dfalse%26showAccelerateBa nner%3Dfalse%26sortBy%3Drelevance%26numRecords%3D2 5&clickType=listing
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Old 05-12-2021, 06:39 AM   #2
pearljam11
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It's definitely reading above normal temps
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Old 05-12-2021, 06:48 AM   #3
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It does seem high but still in the normal range. Looks to be 100 miles from where you are, I take it that's about a 2 hour drive. Email the owner, ask questions. If still interested go drive the car, come back let it sit idle in the street/parking lot/driveway and see what happens. Car looks in pretty good shape, at least from the outside. He/She has a ski rack or snowboard rack, check for rust, check the paint on the hood scoop. It's not a cheap buy so if you got the money take it to a mechanic/dealer for an inspection.

Good luck and report back.
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Old 05-12-2021, 06:55 AM   #4
horsePOOGAS
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Cold air is a red flag without some sort of tune (No tune mentioned) Although not a deal breaker. When looking at used cars online and especially cars that are known to be modified to the moon I find it suspicious if there isn't a picture of the engine bay. They may have forgot or whatever and doesn't hurt to ask for one. But looking at an engine bay pic could give hints if anything else has been modded.

I'm almost positive that the coolant gauge are kind of a dummy gauge and it doesn't read that high unless the engine is pretty hot (someone corrected me if I'm wrong please) Just stay's in the middle when in "normal operating temp" Need to have something reading what the ECU see's to know for sure.
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Old 05-12-2021, 07:51 AM   #5
rtv900
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Quote:
Originally Posted by horsePOOGAS View Post
Cold air is a red flag without some sort of tune (No tune mentioned) .
yeah, it's probably only been 15 years or so with "no tune" for a cold air that doesn't need a tune.

My 2016 isn't even worth 16 grand, sheesh
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Old 05-12-2021, 10:12 AM   #6
blurred
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Thats really high. If the factory gauge has moved up its overheating. The factory gauge hasnt moved by the time it gets to 106c which is where the fans come on and is very hard to get to. If the rad is original as well as ac condenser and the fins are all flattened etc it will no longer work properly and should all be changed (on a car this old it should have ben done already) Running it this hot all the time isnt great, so I'd pass on it as it hasnt been maintained by a knowledgable owner.

This is normal temps and are rock solid before, during, and after hard driving with lots of pulls as an example





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Old 05-12-2021, 10:45 AM   #7
horsePOOGAS
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rtv900 View Post
yeah, it's probably only been 15 years or so with "no tune" for a cold air that doesn't need a tune.

My 2016 isn't even worth 16 grand, sheesh
If it's just a cone filter, sure. Anything beyond that (bigger than stock intake tubing) should be followed up with some sort of tuning, no? But how do we know it's not anything else? No engine bay pics to come to any conclusion.

So as a potential buyer I would be looking for little clues like that and make a decision to either spend my time to further investigate the car or not.
When an ad say's " All stock, except cold air intake" that is the red flag to me at least.

OP: If many of the box's are being checked on this car for you and the possibility that it's over heating is concern, reach out to the seller and chat it up over the phone. Having a conversation may sway you more in either direction.
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Old 05-12-2021, 11:11 AM   #8
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I’m gonna get a engine bay pic. At least before I go look at it. The car fax says it’s from California. So the chance of it being rust free is higher than most cars in pa. I’m definitely not interested in spending 16.5k. Considering the intake and the fact that it’s probably never had a timing belt replacement. That’s more preventative maintenance I’d have to spend money on. As far as the high coolant temp. I don’t know what to say about it unless I’m sitting in the car. I’ll check for signs of bad hg and update the thread. Thank you all for your thoughts and opinions. This is why I posted in the first place lol.
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Old 05-12-2021, 12:03 PM   #9
snow_bound26
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One thing to keep in mind is even if the engine bay is clean and almost everything appears OEM, it doesn't mean it wasn't heavily modified for a period of its life. Owner could've removed everything but found the OEM air box was cracked or had missing parts and decided it was easier to leave the CAI than to find a replacement OEM intake. I'd rather buy a car that has its mods still intact or had none at all. Though the latter is very difficult to prove.
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Old 05-12-2021, 12:29 PM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by snow_bound26 View Post
One thing to keep in mind is even if the engine bay is clean and almost everything appears OEM, it doesn't mean it wasn't heavily modified for a period of its life. Owner could've removed everything but found the OEM air box was cracked or had missing parts and decided it was easier to leave the CAI than to find a replacement OEM intake. I'd rather buy a car that has its mods still intact or had none at all. Though the latter is very difficult to prove.
The best spot to look is the downpipe. If the heat shield is still on and the bolts that attach it are nice and rusty you're golden. Those tiny bolts get so much heat soak that more than half snap when you go to remove them.
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Old 05-13-2021, 03:26 PM   #11
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if you feel sketched out just dont do it unless you have a lot of money for potential repairs.

i bought a WRX 3 months ago and i'm still sorting out problems and spent $10k on repairs so far which is almost what i paid for the car. sort of regretting it. would hate to see someone else in the same position.
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Old 05-13-2021, 09:55 PM   #12
dan_sedan
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I’m gonna go look at it. I’m sketched out, but I know what to look for. If I think it’s worth the purchase. I’m gonna offer what I think the car is worth. I’m going Sunday, so I’ll update the thread Sunday afternoon. Just recently went to a dealership outside of Pittsburgh to look at a 2011. The head gasket was starting to fail. I have a thread on that too. A bullet dodged in my opinion.
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Old 05-14-2021, 07:26 AM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by dan_sedan View Post
I’m gonna go look at it. I’m sketched out, but I know what to look for. If I think it’s worth the purchase. I’m gonna offer what I think the car is worth. I’m going Sunday, so I’ll update the thread Sunday afternoon. Just recently went to a dealership outside of Pittsburgh to look at a 2011. The head gasket was starting to fail. I have a thread on that too. A bullet dodged in my opinion.
Just curious, what do you think it is legitimately worth?
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Old 05-14-2021, 01:57 PM   #14
Diavolo_
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Quote:
Originally Posted by dan_sedan View Post
I’m gonna go look at it. I’m sketched out, but I know what to look for.
yeeeeeeah, i remember telling myself those exact same words.
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Old 05-14-2021, 03:55 PM   #15
rtv900
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yeeeeeeah, i remember telling myself those exact same words.
famous last words right

What could go wrong, it's only 16 years old
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Old 05-14-2021, 04:10 PM   #16
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Quote:
Originally Posted by blurred View Post
Thats really high. If the factory gauge has moved up its overheating. The factory gauge hasnt moved by the time it gets to 106c which is where the fans come on and is very hard to get to. If the rad is original as well as ac condenser and the fins are all flattened etc it will no longer work properly and should all be changed (on a car this old it should have ben done already) Running it this hot all the time isnt great, so I'd pass on it as it hasnt been maintained by a knowledgable owner.

This is normal temps and are rock solid before, during, and after hard driving with lots of pulls as an example





I agree that anything over that top line is dangerously hot. I would stay away if I were the OP.

But I did want to mention that my STI temp gauge is pretty responsive in real time. I figured that's why the two lines were on there for a reason. My car fluctuates all the time between them. a little colder on the highway and conversely my fan kick on as soon as the needle starts to creep up but always stays below the high mark. I can verify with an aftermarket gauge that goes to my radiator hose. Right in the middle correlates to about 190F, low is 175, and high is 210.
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Old 05-15-2021, 07:15 AM   #17
dan_sedan
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Something like this I would offer the value minus the cost of a bottom end roughly. If it wasn’t running hot and was mechanically sound. I’d say it would be worth 15k to me. But I think my top dollar would be 13k. I don’t see the sale happening because the guy isn’t really going out of his way to try to sell it. So I doubt he’s gonna take a number that low.
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Old 05-15-2021, 07:19 AM   #18
dan_sedan
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My prediction is it won’t run that hot when I look at it. Keep in mind the car is listed at 104,000mi. That picture was taken a few thousand less miles ago. That issue could’ve been covered up already. But either way there is still proof of it. If the owner doesn’t have an explanation for the overheating (I brought it up twice via text and received no explanation). Then I’m just gonna walk away. The only reason I’m even going is because it’s a clean California car.

Last edited by dan_sedan; 05-15-2021 at 07:23 AM. Reason: Adding more text
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Old 05-15-2021, 07:27 AM   #19
Einvher
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My 06 is in the shop right now for this reason. It wasn't redlining the temp gauge, but it would creep up to about 3/4 and go back down to the "normal" range. I took it into the shop and it was just at the start of a HG failure. I got lucky and caught it before it really went. This may not be the case for this car, but just a heads up.

$16,500 for an STI that's 16 years old with a possible temp issues/HG failure isn't a good idea/ imo. You can buy a WRX with a blown motor for $2k(ish), buy a staged motor from IAG and have them drop it in, along with some bolt ons, protune and still be under that $16.5k price tag.
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Old 05-15-2021, 10:50 AM   #20
dan_sedan
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Einvher View Post
My 06 is in the shop right now for this reason. It wasn't redlining the temp gauge, but it would creep up to about 3/4 and go back down to the "normal" range. I took it into the shop and it was just at the start of a HG failure. I got lucky and caught it before it really went. This may not be the case for this car, but just a heads up.

$16,500 for an STI that's 16 years old with a possible temp issues/HG failure isn't a good idea/ imo. You can buy a WRX with a blown motor for $2k(ish), buy a staged motor from IAG and have them drop it in, along with some bolt ons, protune and still be under that $16.5k price tag.
I use to have an 05 wrx. I like the idea of an sti because of the tremendous difference between the two transmissions. I had my song and dance with my Blobeye. Now I’m looking to upgrade.

Last edited by dan_sedan; 05-15-2021 at 10:52 AM. Reason: Typo
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Old 05-15-2021, 01:05 PM   #21
Einvher
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I hear you. If it's the STI that you're after, I'd look elsewhere. This one is showing you signs of problems before you've even bought it. I'd stay away unless you're willing to sink more money into it after spending that much.
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Old 05-17-2021, 10:36 AM   #22
dan_sedan
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Final update: I didn’t go look at the car. I asked the seller for an engine bay pic last week. He said he would send one Friday. Well it’s Monday and I’ve gotten no text from him. He just doesn’t seem very interested in selling the car. So I’m done wasting my time trying to give it a chance. Back to the listings.
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Old 05-17-2021, 11:59 AM   #23
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Quote:
Originally Posted by dan_sedan View Post
Final update: I didn’t go look at the car. I asked the seller for an engine bay pic last week. He said he would send one Friday. Well it’s Monday and I’ve gotten no text from him. He just doesn’t seem very interested in selling the car. So I’m done wasting my time trying to give it a chance. Back to the listings.
good call

snapping an engine bay pic when every phone on earth has a camera would take exactly 12 seconds of effort.
If he didn't send that within 12 hours of asking it is because he is hiding something.
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Old 05-17-2021, 05:20 PM   #24
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good call

snapping an engine bay pic when every phone on earth has a camera would take exactly 12 seconds of effort.
If he didn't send that within 12 hours of asking it is because he is hiding something.
I just think he’s being lazy about it. When I’ve sold cars in the past I hustle to make the sale. I answer questions and or send pics immediately. But if someone doesn’t want to hustle like that then I can spend my time elsewhere.
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