My itch for a Subaru continues. My Crx Si is cleaned up and sitting beside the road....tear. Anyway, may go look at a 2002 2.5rs with 156,000 miles for $3850, it's a stick. Any bad spots on these cars to watch for? It'll be used for a bad weather car.
Usually a rock solid car. Look for rust near the rear wheel wells.
head gaskets for the 2.5's ... cam seals for the 2.2's... other than that great cars
My buddy has a 2.5RS, 2000, 160k on the clock, 5spd, his headgaskets are original so they 'can' last, he's had particular problems with wheel bearings, also, if the trans fluid hasn't been changed definitley recommended. There's also a temp sensor that likes to go out (if I remember him complaining about it correctly and it's like a $170 sensor) which kills gas mileage.
Other than that, when he needed suspension upgrade he went KYBs and Eibachs and loves it especially since it's an on-road only vehicle for him. Goodluck, they're cool cars, and only an STi swap away from awesomeness...
Knock sensors go bad but they're cheap ($80 at autozone) and super easy to replace. The phase II HG's leak on the outside first so get under the car and look for a damp seam between the block and head. The front main seal may leak too and it should show up along the timing belt cover. Timing belts need to be replace and the tensioner should be done too. Hydraulic tensioner alone is about $150. If these things haven't been done (proof w/receipts is a must) then make sure they drop the price.
Browse nasioc.com when you have some time.
Great cars overall.
If you had your pick between a 2000 or 2002, which would you get? Because I just found a nice stock 2000 for sale.
I love these too but to me these are all WAAAAY overpriced! The 2.5RS really holds its value.
In reply to miatame:
I actually looked it up on edmunds and kbb and they have at around $4500 to $4900. I forgot to ask if it had a clean title.
depends on price and which is beat worst 
If equal condition, I'd go with the older one. It's lighter and has a lsd rear diff(albeit a weak one). I have both generations of impreza and my 2000 is far more fun to autocross/rallycross or do anything fun. As a daily driver, my 02 is far more comfortable(but heavier).
miatame wrote: I love these too but to me these are all WAAAAY overpriced! The 2.5RS really holds its value.
That's my experience. Around here, they're going for close to WRX prices. What am I missing??
A 2000 with 115,000 miles is the other one. The guy said his wife drove it all 10 years. New clutch, head gasket, timing belt/water pump in '09. $4100. Stick. I like the older one's better in terms of looks. Never driven either. A little bit much than I want to pay for any winter car.
Paid $3900 for my 2000 sedan two plus years ago with 225k miles on it. It had been re-engined by the dealer, and had been dealer maintained it's whole life. I thought I got a good deal. $4100 is fair if in good condition rust wise.
In reply to sachilles:
Maybe a dumb question. Is any one better in bad weather or the same?
Either one with snow tires is a tank, and passable with all-seasons. Older one is more "tossable". I work at a ski area and have to get to work sometimes before the plows hit the roads. Never been stuck with either. Drive both see which you like better. It's really a toss up. You might like the interior of the newer one better. Keep in mind seats, radios, suspension....just about everything but the body will interchange to some degree. So If you don't like interior components you can swap in stuff from another year. I have 04 STi seats/interior in my 00, as well as the 6 disc changer. Even put the baby seat anchors from the sti into the 00. A friend had just caged his Sti so he had the parts laying around. Buy the one you like the most/has the least rust.
In reply to sachilles:
Thanks for the input. I like the 2000 better on paper and looks. Hopefully it'll still be available when the crx sells.
Sachilles, which ski area do you work at? I had passes to Mad River all throughout high school.
Our 2000 L has got about 156k on it. Aside from the timing belt/wp/cam seals that the previous owner recently did, it also needed an oxygen sensor (130) and a knock sensor (found one on ebay for about $50 shipped). Runs great.
Per
In reply to Per Schroeder:
Right next door at Sugarbush. I know many of the folks at Mad River very well. Mad River is largely unchanged from when you went there(I see that as a good thing). Didn't realize you had roots near here.
Yea, grew up in Lincoln—which is 17 minutes from MRG by way of a GTI. And yes, there is a mountain in the way.
Per
17 minutes of fun roads. Small world.
Both Subaru's are sold already
Didn't last but a couple days.
Raze wrote: My buddy has a 2.5RS, 2000, 160k on the clock, 5spd, his headgaskets are original so they 'can' last, he's had particular problems with wheel bearings, also,
I have a friend who had repeated wheel bearing problems on his, too, and always at the same corner. He was the original owner and never had an accident with it. He loved the car, though.
Of my three, I've only had to change one wheel bearing. That was on a junk yard hub I used to replace the original(it got bent when a rotor broke). The head gasket thing was largely a phase 1 dohc motor thing. The phase 2 sohc motors don't seem to have the problem nearly as often. Phase 1's tended to be an internal leak and phase2 external. Bummer they were sold.
btw I don't know where you are but I know of wrx wagon for sale in new england for sale in the $5k range.
In reply to sachilles:
In Ohio, so that would be too far. Thanks for letting me know. Those two impreza's were gone about as soon as they were posted. 2.5rs's are rare around here.
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