1999 Subaru Impreza for a first car?

__BIG__RICH__ · Post by **__BIG__RICH__** » Fri Feb 24, 2012 11:51 am

i live in QLD, and my friends uncle is a mechanic and hes selling a 1999 Subaru Impreza for $5000, but he said he would give me a deal. it has done appox, 160000 km, i just wanted to know if thats a good price for my first car? if not could you recomend a car? thank you

niterida · Post by **niterida** » Fri Feb 24, 2012 11:59 am

Not sure about the price - sounds reasonable - but the car is an excellent choice for a first car. Safe, reliable, reasonably powered, good resale value.

And you can always throw in a WRX motor in a couple of years

YouTube · Post by **El_Freddo** » Fri Feb 24, 2012 12:01 pm

Welcome to the forum Big Rich.

More info is always good to allow us to try and help you out the best we can.

160k km is alright, you'll find many subarus still going strong at 300k km if they've been treated well. So a few questions for you to find out:

Manual/auto - sedan/hatch?
Km's primarily around town or on the highway or a general mix of both?
Engine runs well - no knock on start up, no smoke blown?
Service history/crash history?

It's also a good idea to find out how much it's going to cost you to insure it. I reckon you should be alright with that though, subarus aren't exactly the hoon car of choice when naturally aspirated (non turbo).

To me from the info you've given it sounds about right, the price could be lower (as always

). Other than that if your mate's uncle is looking out for you he should know about the car and tell you wether it's a good deal or not - that is if you trust him.

Other's will have input as well to share

Cheers

Bennie

d_generate · Post by **d_generate** » Fri Feb 24, 2012 3:45 pm

LX it would want be mint, GX it sounds ok for the price provided everything works, 160k is nothing if it's been looked after.

__BIG__RICH__ · Post by **__BIG__RICH__** » Fri Feb 24, 2012 4:41 pm

thanks for the replies... ok im told its an RX model.. its a manual sedan and is in good condition, never crashed, as far as i can tell and its been serviced regularly, i'll try post back with more details about the car, but any more info u have would be terrific.

sven '2' · Post by **sven '2'** » Fri Feb 24, 2012 6:44 pm

RX = very nice car

Well balanced, looks good (esp if you look after it)

It is blue? Or white?

__BIG__RICH__ · Post by **__BIG__RICH__** » Fri Feb 24, 2012 6:49 pm

its sortof grey, but i wouldnt mind painting it blue one day

taza · Post by **taza** » Fri Feb 24, 2012 6:49 pm

Sounds like a good buy and for that price too.
Subies are great first cars and the 2.0l has enough power in an impreza

Can you post up a pic?

Low km for something of its age and if its mechanically reliable then well worth the extra bit of money in my opinion.

__BIG__RICH__ · Post by **__BIG__RICH__** » Fri Feb 24, 2012 6:54 pm

heres a pik

__BIG__RICH__ · Post by **__BIG__RICH__** » Fri Feb 24, 2012 7:03 pm

arite i dnt know if the pikture is working... so i'll upload one wen i get home on monday

d_generate · Post by **d_generate** » Fri Feb 24, 2012 7:05 pm

No pic working but RX in good cond = bargain, probably silver.

alang · Post by **alang** » Fri Feb 24, 2012 7:24 pm

hmm 1999 model new was $22k for the base model redbook saying between $5100. and $7000 with 190k on the clock

http://www.redbook.com.au/cars/research ... x=4&eapi=2

__BIG__RICH__ · Post by **__BIG__RICH__** » Fri Feb 24, 2012 7:25 pm

i'll post back more info during the weekend....

__BIG__RICH__ · Post by **__BIG__RICH__** » Fri Feb 24, 2012 7:27 pm

but from what i can see its in good condition and it seems to be a good deal,, i just need to see wat the insurance cost for it is...

Brumby Kid · Post by **Brumby Kid** » Fri Feb 24, 2012 9:18 pm

El_Freddo wrote: It's also a good idea to find out how much it's going to cost you to insure it. I reckon you should be alright with that though, subarus aren't exactly the hoon car of choice when naturally aspirated (non turbo).

You obviously havn't tried to insure an STi then Bennie.
Convo I= insurance company D= dad
I= What car have you got? D= Subaru; I= Very nice; D= Impreza; I= Good choice; D= WRX; I= OH; D= STi; I= OH.
A bit of money, and strict rules like no one under 25.
But anything under a WRX is nothing, and thats what the insurance companies think as well.
And on any given night with your skyline's there are always as many Subaru's.

Cheers Cam

YouTube · Post by **El_Freddo** » Fri Feb 24, 2012 9:45 pm

Brumby Kid wrote:You obviously havn't tried to insure an STi then Bennie.

Obvious because I'm still playing with an L series

But since it's Naturally Aspirated as I've mentioned above he should be fine with the insurance - just don't go modding it!

Cheers

Bennie

Brumby Kid · Post by **Brumby Kid** » Sat Feb 25, 2012 8:54 am

El_Freddo wrote:Obvious because I'm still playing with an L series

But since it's Naturally Aspirated as I've mentioned above he should be fine with the insurance - just don't go modding it!

Cheers

Bennie

^^^ YEP!
You can't play around with an STi as much as the older cars.
Too much stuff computerised.
Our current Problem is that it is running rich on one side. Subaru havn't tried anything, and don't know what it is. Runs like a bit(h on start up.

Cheers Cam

sven '2' · Post by **sven '2'** » Sat Feb 25, 2012 10:33 am

Brumby Kid wrote:^^^ YEP!
You can't play around with an STi as much as the older cars.
Too much stuff computerised.

Bollocks!

Drop into S&J one day to see what one can do with modern cars.

Just need cash, lots of cash...

Back on topic, I don't think you can find a more sensiable car for a <25 yo from both a hardware and insurance viewpoint.

And they look good!

taza · Post by **taza** » Sat Feb 25, 2012 11:00 am

sven '2' wrote:Back on topic, I don't think you can find a more sensiable car for a <25 yo from both a hardware and insurance viewpoint.

And they look good!

Agreed, the first gen Foresters are also a good buy (although milf wagons) as they are abit bigger in size, still cheap to run, reliable and from an insureance point of view 'safe'.

sven '2' · Post by **sven '2'** » Sat Feb 25, 2012 4:31 pm

taza wrote:Agreed, the first gen Foresters are also a good buy (although milf wagons) as they are abit bigger in size, still cheap to run, reliable and from an insureance point of view 'safe'.

Also the quietest of the Foresters too