[WRXpa]

Hi - This is my first post but I've been doing a lot of research on the forum. I have always loved the WRX wagons and am ready to move out of my current vehicle.

I have a few questions regarding potential purchase of a used WRX (yes, I saw the very thorough sticky with a list of things to check).

Basics:
2003 Sport Wagon, 86,500 miles. $11,000

Mods:
"STI intercooler, pink injectors, Cobb intake, Invidia catted G200 turbo back, gutted up-pipe, VF-34, Cobb Accessport, AP Silicon turbo inlet pipe, Walbro fuel pump, 18" Kazera wheels with Hankook Ventus tires, H&R sport springs with KYB GR2's, Cobb swaybars front and adjustable rear, Hella Dual tone horns, one step colder plugs, and of course a tune from Precision Tuning in Lakewood, NJ"

Disclosed Issues:
"The oil drain plug temp sensor from the factory gauge pack has gone missing during one of the scheduled maintenances, I did not notice the gauge wasn't working for about a week, and I contacted the dealer, and they could not find the sensor, nor order a new one, the wires are there though."


Questions:
Would it be best to take the car to a Subaru dealership or local mechanic to give it a look over?
Does the list of mods lead you to believe I could have issues with the car from those mods?
The exhaust tip is discolored. Can this be corrected and is it a sign of an issue?

Thank you for your input and help!!

 

[SD_GR]

The car is not legal for use on public roads anywhere in the US.

The parts listed are not atypical, and the car may in fact be assembled with care and pride; I cant' know from a distance, and I also can't know its condition. A carefully assembled car with those parts and proper mapping will run well -- for how long and under what conditions, I can't know; this is a modified used car that's 9 years old. A car that's not received correct maintenance and has been flogged may have already failed repeatedly -- that's the other end of the spectrum. There's also a world of possibilities in between.

I'd prefer a local specialist due to the modifications, with which a dealer may not be entirely familiar.

I'd spend less money.

The exhaust colour could be due to fashion, mixture settings, a fault, no fault, or any combination thereof. It's the least of your worries.

 

[zax]

Ha, $11,000 for a modified vehicle?? You do realize that the KBB value for that car stock is about $9500 and that would be if the car was in PERFECT condition.

Keep in mind that it is a high-mileage vehicle with a fair amount of engine modifications. That could be the recipe for a headache in a very short amount of time. Furthermore, at 87,000 miles, the car will soon be due for the 105,000 mile maintenance which costs about a grand. If you're serious, I would (at the very least) get a compression and/or leakdown test performed on the motor before committing to anything. And for gods sake, don't pay more than $9K for this car EVEN if it is perfect. People who assume that mods increase the resale of a vehicle really chap my ass.

 

[WRXpa]

Not street legal? What makes it illegal?

Thanks for the quick reply and info in the above posts:thumbup: I was originally looking for a new WRX but am enticed by the possibility of breaking even with my current vehicle. I guess buying a used "sports car" is risky business.

 

[zax]

Not street legal? What makes it illegal?

Thanks for the quick reply and info in the above posts:thumbup: I was originally looking for a new WRX but am enticed by the possibility of breaking even with my current vehicle. I guess buying a used "sports car" is risky business.

The car has zero out of the original 3 catalytic converters.

 

[WRXpa]

Ah, thank you. Looks like I will continue the search.

 

[Mikie13]

by discolored tip you mean blueish?

If so, that's what the G200 exhaust is supposed to look like.

But $11k for a used and rather extensively modded 2002 WRX is a bit absurd, even with lower mileage.

I'd give Precision Tuning a call and find out if they have any records on this particular car and see what they can tell you about it. Precision is a good reputable builder/tuner in the NJ area, so if they did the work, I'd be less hesitant myself about this car. Still just way too expensive though.

 

[AndrewWRX]

The car has zero out of the original 3 catalytic converters.

His post says the DP is an Invidia Catted pipe. This should have at least one HFC. It will not pass emissions, but it is legal.

Sent from my SGH-T989 using Tapatalk

 

[zax]

His post says the DP is an Invidia Catted pipe. This should have at least one HFC. It will not pass emissions, but it is legal.

Sent from my SGH-T989 using Tapatalk

Wrong. It is illegal, according to federal statutes, to remove or replace the stock emissions equipment with anything other than OEM equipment.

Also, I said the car has zero out of the original 3 catalytic converters.

 

[Mikie13]

Point- Zach.

Andrew, everyone around here is literal as **** with the technicalities :rotfl:

Technically, federally it is illegal to mess with the emissions in anyway, no matter whether you put a cat on or not with your DP. You modified it from its OEM standard, so therefore it's illegal.

Food for thought...you have a cat that fails on the OEM system, and you need to have an exhaust shop weld in a new one, because frankly, who's gonna buy a stock DP from Subaru for $4 million...is that illegal?