Used cars Subaru WRX

Shaggz

Shaggz

A strong 7
We are in the process of looking for a car for our son, budget is $4-6K. One option is the WRX (not STI). The used car market is like the dark web as far as finding FSBO vs dealerships and pricing is all over the place. Finding on that has not been modded is a challenge, too. Does anyone have a line on something like this? Is there a better resource than FB or the usual search sites?
 
As a previous wrx owner who had a new 07 and blew up the trans at 35k miles (tuned with a cat less exhaust) and had it replaced under warranty, I’d stay far away UNLESS you know the car is not beat on. The 5 speeds are made of glass.

In that price range, I’d be scared of buying one with too many owners or obvious signs of mods/removed.

EDIT: Oh, and I’m sure I’m closer in age to your son, i can bet the barn he WILL attempt to launch it and likely will trash the transmission, which won’t 100% be his fault... either that, or destroy third gear like i did...
 
Not a Subi owner but when I was originally car shopping for my sons I figured I could find one in that range for a decent price even just a regular one or even a forester wagon that I could use for hauling stuff.
Wrong. They hold value very well even with over 100K miles some will still sell for over 6K depending on model and year.

if you are set in 4wd then you will have to keep looking. If you want to get some decent value for the money check out an older Hyundai Sonata (2009-2011) or Elantra they have good track record and repair history IMO.

I found my sons 2013 sonata on cargurus.com you can figure out pretty easily which dealership it is once you search the VIN #. A lot of times the reseller web site will be higher than the dealer or vice versa depending on sales they run.

hope that helps good luck.
 
It's a crap shoot, I'm on my 6th subie and you won't find an unmolested wrx in that range unless it's an auto and even then high miles shit show. Subies of the 00s are not as nice as those today and unless you're turning a wrench you'll be spending a lot on maintenance
 
Shaggz said:
We are in the process of looking for a car for our son, budget is $4-6K. One option is the WRX (not STI). The used car market is like the dark web as far as finding FSBO vs dealerships and pricing is all over the place. Finding on that has not been modded is a challenge, too. Does anyone have a line on something like this? Is there a better resource than FB or the usual search sites?
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How old is the kid? I wouldn't put a kid under 21 into a turbo vehicle like a WRX that is so easy to tune to much higher power.
 
I will echo what a few have said. If you’re adverse to constant maintenance I would avoid the WRX. I bought my 2010 is 2013 and it had it’s fair share of trips to the dealer and burned a good amount of oil. Glad I got the extended bumper to bumper warranty. All the fuel injectors were replaced 2 weeks after I got it, trans issues ( 5 speed ), axles, etc etc. and I went through amsoil synthetic like you would believe.

My 17 forester was a decent car. 6 speed was nice. Only issue I had was the AC compressor went. The warranty on that car was very good; the dealer assured me even the brake pads were covered for the first 36k.

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My neighbor may sell his. I’ll ask him. Only thing is it has one of those louder non-stock mufflers
 
I'm on my 5th Subaru. I've had a WRX sedan, Impreza wagon, few Legacys and now an STi hatch. Used WRXs are a total crapshoot due to the fact that they're relatively inexpensive, relatively powerful, and people modify them without knowing what they're doing. Then they beat the hell out of them without knowing what they're doing. They're great cars, but I'd definitely have a knowledgeable person check it out before you buy.

Regular Imprezas on the other hand are (in my opinion) a much safer bet. They're just as fun to drive, but less powerful. My 07 Impreza wagon was a great car.

I've had good luck with Subarus. Usual maintenance, but nothing crazy.
 
I’ve owned four Subaru wagons. I guess I keep buying them because there isn’t many Japanese wagon options. My 2011 is ok, but my all three older ones had the head gaskets go (2.5 and h6).

I have a Pontiac vibe that I picked up super cheap, originally just to have a second car. I ended up driving it 90 percent of the time and the only maintenance has been oil changes. 210k on it now, no issues or check engine light. It’s basically a corolla with different cosmetics, and a NUUMI car. I think these are a steal because they often go for less than corollas and civics. I guess I wouldn’t be a fun parent with car shopping.
 
I don’t know much about cars, but was a teenage boy once, and shared the reactions of some here.
If you’re going with teen + turbo, make sure he’s on his own insurance.
Ask me how I know. 😉
 
Buy an old one. Fix it. Hoon it! No that’s not solid advice but WRXs are fun! I would buy a pristine bug eye now if I could. Every once in a while I think about the STI hatch. More importantly than AWD is I wish someone educated me about the proper tires. I totaled my new 2002 Wrx. Yea my parents bought me it because my dad can only trust new cars. #thankful Awesome for me! I totaled it in the snow. Did a couple spins and into a telephone pole. I thought I was invincible with Subaru AWD. I just came across this gold my ex GF from high school made me in graphics class lol. Damn do I miss her... my bugeye that is
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Every Subaru I've ever worked had leaking head gaskets around 90-100 thousand miles. Otherwise, not so bad.

I have no other suggestions. Maybe a civic si but really hard to find cheap and good.
 
THATmanMANNY said:
Buy an old one. Fix it. Hoon it! No that’s not solid advice but WRXs are fun! I would buy a pristine bug eye now if I could. Every once in a while I think about the STI hatch. More importantly than AWD is I wish someone educated me about the proper tires. I totaled my new 2002 Wrx. Yea my parents bought me it because my dad can only trust new cars. #thankful Awesome for me! I totaled it in the snow. Did a couple spins and into a telephone pole. I thought I was invincible with Subaru AWD. I just came across this gold my ex GF from high school made me in graphics class lol. Damn do I miss her... my bugeye that is
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Niceeeeee
 
extremedave said:
Every Subaru I've ever worked had leaking head gaskets around 90-100 thousand miles. Otherwise, not so bad.

I have no other suggestions. Maybe a civic si but really hard to find cheap and good.
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and since this is new kid/teenager car shopping advice, just to note I had all intentions of getting my first son/driver a Honda civic something and to my surprise, the insurance cost for Honda (accord, civic) for a teenage male driver is much higher than other cars of the same category. And I might regret saying this but thats even adding him to my insurance which i have the highest Tier discounts/safe driving with Allstate.

So before you even consider going to look at any cars, get the VIN numbers and run it past your insurance company for a quick quote to see what the differential might be. I remember something like even a base model Honda civic or accord being much more expensive per year than a Hyundai. IN fact my insurance agent even told me to see if I can find something other than a Honda for my teenager due to the premium costs!.

I also almost stopped to take a pic of a for sale car for the OP the other day I thought it was a FSBO nice looking Forester in someones driveway but turned out to be one of these and it was beat to hell: ?
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Used car shopping sucks.

We backed off the WRX for most of the reasons listed above. In general, inventory is brutal, especially in our price range. I have driven to almost every car dealership in Sussex and hit parts of Warren and Morris. Either nothing on the lots, and what is there seems over priced and beat to shit. Most of the used car lots don't even have prices on the cars, and I'm not about to go down the rabbit whole of "Ask a Salesman". On line is not much better. Listings are overpriced though dealers, or the car was "just sold" and FSBO seems non existent. Ironically, once you expand search out of NJ, options open up, but at the risk of hours of driving...

Checking out a Dodge Dart tomorrow. Never knew they had really good safety ratings, they seem pretty reliable and get great gas mileage :shrug:
 
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