[AjL227]

So, like usual my day consists of being bored and looking up STi's and other cars on cars.com. Today, however, I notice a new STi posted up. An '04, the year I'm looking for, +1. The mileage, 500? Whoa, +3!! Where's it located? MY TOWN?! +infinity

So, I called the guy and he says the STi is in the shop getting a brand new 2.5 engine put in, because the old one wasn't working right with the timings. He says I can test drive it and see it Friday. He claims he has upgraded the suspension, and put a stainless steel turbo catback exhaust on it.

The car is going for $23,500, which I think is a great price especially for a car with a new motor getting put in and the rest of the car at 500 miles.

I just have a few questions for those of you more experienced and knowledgeable STi owners, and enthusiasts. Please don't just say use the search button, I'm trying to get answers from a variety, I can communicate with, and not just one answer I find in a search.

1. Whats the brand new dealership sticker price on the '04 STi?
2. What's the full name of the stock turbo on the '04 STi?
3. How much psi is an '04 STi pushing stock?
4. Do you think this a good deal that I should definitely jump on ASAP?
5. MOST IMPORTANT! What kind of questions should I ask about the "upgraded suspension" and "turbo catback exhaust set up" so that I can make sure hes not just making something up and that it's a good set up for the car???

I can see he doesn't have the stock muffler on from the picture, but I can't tell anything else until I actually see the car. He didn't have too good quality pictures. Here's one where you can see the aftermarket muffler at least.



Thanks all for your replies!! I CANNOT express to you in words how excited I am to get this car. Hopefully nothing stands in my way, and I will move from not only an enthusiast, but an owner of a 2004 World Rally Blue Subaru Impreza WRX STi.

[chargedvette02]

Originally Posted by AjL227

So, like usual my day consists of being bored and looking up STi's and other cars on cars.com. Today, however, I notice a new STi posted up. An '04, the year I'm looking for, +1. The mileage, 500? Whoa, +3!! Where's it located? MY TOWN?! +infinity

So, I called the guy and he says the STi is in the shop getting a brand new 2.5 engine put in, because the old one wasn't working right with the timings. He says I can test drive it and see it Friday. He claims he has upgraded the suspension, and put a stainless steel turbo catback exhaust on it.

The car is going for $23,500, which I think is a great price especially for a car with a new motor getting put in and the rest of the car at 500 miles.

I just have a few questions for those of you more experienced and knowledgeable STi owners, and enthusiasts. Please don't just say use the search button, I'm trying to get answers from a variety, I can communicate with, and not just one answer I find in a search.

1. Whats the brand new dealership sticker price on the '04 STi?
2. What's the full name of the stock turbo on the '04 STi?
3. How much psi is an '04 STi pushing stock?
4. Do you think this a good deal that I should definitely jump on ASAP?
5. MOST IMPORTANT! What kind of questions should I ask about the "upgraded suspension" and "turbo catback exhaust set up" so that I can make sure hes not just making something up and that it's a good set up for the car???

I can see he doesn't have the stock muffler on from the picture, but I can't tell anything else until I actually see the car. He didn't have too good quality pictures. Here's one where you can see the aftermarket muffler at least.



Thanks all for your replies!! I CANNOT express to you in words how excited I am to get this car. Hopefully nothing stands in my way, and I will move from not only an enthusiast, but an owner of a 2004 World Rally Blue Subaru Impreza WRX STi.

Well, the thing that would scare me would be why is the engine messed up with only 500 miles on it? Seems kind of fishy to me.

(I may be wrong on some of my answers but will try to answer)

* New sticker price was around $28-29k for an 04 sti. I may be a bit off but I think that is close.

* I believe the turbo is a VF39.

* PSI should be 1 bar which is 14.5 PSI.

* Price sounds reasonable with that low of miles but again why would the motor be bad at 500 miles?

* Ask what kind of suspension and exhaust so you can post back here. Also ask who is putting in the engine, some random shop or a Subaru dealer.

[AjL227]

All he said was that something with the timings was messed up, so it went to the shop for a brand new engine, that he said is warranted till May 2009.

If you want, you can check out the ad.

cars.com: 2004 Subaru Impreza WRX Sti

And if anyone feels nice enough, go ahead and give him a call tomorrow and ask him a few questions, so maybe we can learn a little bit more about the modifications and what was wrong with the previous engine. But I doubt anyone will help me that much.

Once again, I get to see it and test drive it Friday. If all goes smoothly, It should be mine sometime during that weekend.

[AMTEXX]

Strangest thing I've ever seen! Why would you even look at this one? Only 500 miles? New engine? What?????

[boondocksaint]

Sounds fishy to me.

[AjL227]

Originally Posted by AMTEXX

Strangest thing I've ever seen! Why would you even look at this one?

Because it's in my town, and I might as well take a look at it. I don't know about you, but I don't see STis too often in my town for sale or even driving by. You could suggest some specific questions I ask to find out the real reason behind the "new engine"??

[-andrew-]

Originally Posted by boondocksaint

Sounds fishy to me.

yup, me too. I'd be really careful.

Edit: defiantly find out more about what happened and why it needed a new engine.

[mdefalco25]

He states this in his post:

Selling Points: For sale is a very reliable & well maintained 2004 Subaru STi in excellent mechanical and cosmetic condition: -6 Speed Manual Transmission -Beautiful World Rally Blue Exterior -New Engine (Subaru warranty through May 2009)

So if it is well maintained then why in the world did he need a new motor???

I would look some place else. Also, I live in IL and know there are a lot of places w/n driving that typically have people selling thier STi. I have had two people in Bloomington sell their 04's and one buddy sell his 04 and then his 07. In other words, I live in a smaller town then you and there is an example that there are plenty for sale w/n reason. Just my 2 cents!

[boondocksaint]

Originally Posted by mdefalco25

He states this in his post:

Selling Points: For sale is a very reliable & well maintained 2004 Subaru STi in excellent mechanical and cosmetic condition: -6 Speed Manual Transmission -Beautiful World Rally Blue Exterior -New Engine (Subaru warranty through May 2009)

So if it is well maintained then why in the world did he need a new motor???

I would look some place else. Also, I live in IL and know there are a lot of places w/n driving that typically have people selling thier STi. I have had two people in Bloomington sell their 04's and one buddy sell his 04 and then his 07. In other words, I live in a smaller town then you and there is an example that there are plenty for sale w/n reason. Just my 2 cents!

If he had a faulty motor, maybe? Which would also explain the mileage?

I'd still search elsewhere.

[-andrew-]

Second owner started at 70,000 miles and only owned it for 2 months.

I have the carfax if you have any questions.

Also, why is the license plate all bent on it? (in the ad pictures)

[mdefalco25]

^ Don't disagree if it is just a bad deal on the motor, but to say it was timings seems really vauge. I am not an expert by any means...

[AjL227]

Thanks for the quick replies. I'm still searching elsewhere in the meantime, but I'll have more information for the thread after I test drive it tomorrow, when it comes out of the shop.

[3k1n]

500 miles on the car? and its only going for 23,500? you should be cautious about it. That sounds too good to be true.

[AjL227]

Originally Posted by 3k1n

500 miles on the car? and its only going for 23,500? you should be cautious about it. That sounds too good to be true.

Yep. But also another reason why I got interested in it. But like I've said, he lives arond 2-3 miles away from me, might as well check it out and test drive it.

[sti_kris]

run a carfax which is what i think andrew did