Looking for a WRX or STi

[PhantomGTO]

Let me start by introducing myself. My name is Dave, I'm live in central jersey and am married with no kids. I currently have a 2004 Phantom Black Metallic GTO. The GTO has full length kooks headers with catless mids/x-pipe into SLP LM1 exhaust. I also have a Spec stage 3 clutch and 3.91 gears.

My wife has been bugging me to get her a car she likes. She has an 06 eclipse now and her dream car is an 06-07 STI that's blue with gold wheels and the big spoiler. We went out to a dealership this morning to look at one advertised at 16,999 with 85k on it. Needless to say at that price it was basically a waste of time. The car was in terrible shape and not even worth that price in our eyes.

So, we are pre-approved for a loan for 16,000 already and found an 06 WRX for 14,999. It is a limited edition according to the dealer. It has heated leather seats, a cat back exhaust(not sure which), a 5-speed manual, and 66,000 miles. Does this sound like a good deal?

Also what should I look out for when buying a car like this? Any help is appreciated, thanks!

[Sasquatch]

Hello and welcome the Club Dave!

The Limited models are harder to find and more desirable due to the extra level of refinement.

Have you priced the car out?

http://www.edmunds.com/

http://www.kbb.com/

Check it over (or have it checked) over for any other modifications. It's generally best to get a used WRX as close to stock as possible.

Read on: http://www.clubwrx.net/forums/car-purchasing-forum/

[EJ257]

Post pics of the GTO or GTFO (Pavia will probably come in and second this request soon)

As for price, go on KBB/Edmunds/NADA and get their value of the car, and use the cheapest one to your advantage (probably Edmunds). Expect them to counter you with the most expensive one (probably KBB). Expect to pay around the price of the middle one (probably NADA).

Having a non-biased third party mechanic/shop that knows Subarus look the car over would be a good idea. Depending on your location, you can probably get a performance shop to do this for you (someone from the CNJ area may be able to recommend one), and really be able to give you a good opinion; a shop in Buffalo does used car inspections for $100 IIRC. While $100 isn't chump change, it's well worth it for peace of mind alone when purchasing a used performance car.

Once you've decided that vehicle is the one you'd like to purchase, have a compression and leakdown test performed. Once you've settled on a price, see if you can work the cost of that into the purchasing price - if it passes, you pay; if it fails, they pay (they'll be able to keep it for other potential buyers).

[PhantomGTO]

Thanks for the quick replies! I plan on checking it for any major modifications. I'm pretty good with cars but only really f-bodies and GTO's I have always liked the wrx's and STi's as well. I have a lot to learn about them however! I'll definitely be comparing prices and printing the lowest one out to negotiate with. I'm not sure how I'd be able to get a mechanic to look at the car since I'll be driving almost 2 hours to see it I'll try my best though!

As far as pictures of the GTO, I will edit this post in a min after I upload a couple newer pictures!

Thanks again!

Edit: Here are a couple pictures of the GTO







I will be taking some more pictures of my wife on the GTO soon. I just took the spoiler off so I included a pic of that. I'm in the middle of ordering the last few parts for my heads/cam swap as well!

[PhantomGTO]

Added pics of my GTO!

[Sasquatch]

Added pics of my GTO!

Oooof! Black is so sexy when clean.

I had one car with a red interior ... I grew to really hate it. Too loud imo.

[PhantomGTO]

Oooof! Black is so sexy when clean.

I had one car with a red interior ... I grew to really hate it. Too loud imo.

I actually had the opposite happen. I hated red interior until I got the GTO. It's really grown on me and my wife and I love it! It looks really bright in that picture but it isn't at all! It's the perfect red and goes well with black IMO. As far as being too loud, I think that pretty much describes the exhaust! I went through a mini tunnel on our way to the dealership with the STi and my ears were hurting after. I think I need magnaflow mufflers now.. Haha

[Sasquatch]

I actually had the opposite happen. I hated red interior until I got the GTO. It's really grown on me and my wife and I love it! It looks really bright in that picture but it isn't at all! It's the perfect red and goes well with black IMO. As far as being too loud, I think that pretty much describes the exhaust! I went through a mini tunnel on our way to the dealership with the STi and my ears were hurting after. I think I need magnaflow mufflers now.. Haha

Loud V8 exhaust ... Mmmm.

Does the GTO have a red dash? Just seats and door cards might be OK.

The red interior (with red dash) started to irritate me as it seemed to have gotten picked up in my peripheral vision and "bled" into my normal field of vision. I found it distracting.

Since then I have gotten only neutral gray / black interiors and have been much happier with the view out.

[PhantomGTO]

Loud V8 exhaust ... Mmmm.

Does the GTO have a red dash? Just seats and door cards might be OK.

The red interior (with red dash) started to irritate me as it seemed to have gotten picked up in my peripheral vision and "bled" into my normal field of vision. I found it distracting.

Since then I have gotten only neutral gray / black interiors and have been much happier with the view out.

Here is a pic of the dash



I don't see much red while driving

[Sasquatch]

Here is a pic of the dash



I don't see much red while driving

Ah, much better than what I had to deal with.

I drove a white 1987 Ford Escort with red interior way back when. At the time I actually liked it.

The entire interior was red from the headliner to the carpet.

[PhantomGTO]

Ah, much better than what I had to deal with.

I drove a white 1987 Ford Escort with red interior way back when. At the time I actually liked it.

The entire interior was red from the headliner to the carpet.

I'm so sorry to hear that lol.. A friend of mine had a foxbody with the red interior, I wanted to rip it all out and put a milk crate for a seat

[PhantomGTO]

So, the dealer put pictures up of the car. I noticed a couple things. It looks like it has a BOV and an STB. I was hoping maybe someone could look and see what else isn't stock from this picture.



Here is one of the interior



I was also told it had an aftermarket flip screen dvd head unit. Picture below



Maybe somebody knows what exhaust this is?



I also noticed there is no WRX badge or any badges that I can see. Should I ask to get the badges in the deal?

Thanks for all the help!

[Heide264]

A-pillar gauges also... Be hesitant. Might have been done tastefully though, never know.

Doesn't the dealer have a full list of mods?

[lytlec]

What gauges are those?

[PhantomGTO]

A-pillar gauges also... Be hesitant. Might have been done tastefully though, never know.

Doesn't the dealer have a full list of mods?

I am going to try and find out when I get there tomorrow morning. I spoke briefly over the phone to a salesman who said it had minor mods, a catback exhaust and a head unit. About an hour later they put pictures online and I started noticing other things like the STB, BOV (I think, can't really tell), and the gauges. I went over the buyers check-list and I'm going to be looking at the turbo and exhaust very closely. Does anybody have a picture of what the stock turbo looks like so I can compare?

What gauges are those?

I have no idea. Looks similar to the "glowshift" gauges. Black until turned on type look.