Is there anything I need to know before I buy?

1702 Views 21 Replies 9 Participants Last post by Jenkins651, Oct 22, 2013

Jenkins651

Discussion Starter · Oct 20, 2013

I'm looking at buying a 2010 with 48k on it. The guy has put some serious work and money into it and is selling it below blue book which is why I'm asking. Below is everything he listed. Is there anything that stands out to anyone that would give a reason for me to stay away from the car being an ignorant sti newbie? Since you obviously can't see the car I will just say that it looks very nice and clean. The only thing visibly wrong with it is that it has a small door ding that you have to look close at to see. Also he says with these mods he is putting down 398 whp, but he lost the dyno sheet or so he says. Is that realistic with what he has done? I appreciate any info you are willing to offer!

Engine:
AMR CXR500 Tubro
Perrin cat back exhaust
Perrin Downpipe
Agency Power Up pipe
Deatchwerks 850cc Fuel injectors
Walbro 255 fuel pump
Cobb Air intake
Cobb Access Port tuner
Gimmick Motorsports Turbo inlet
Grimmspeed 3 port boost control solenoid
Turbo XS front mount intercooler
Grimmspeed air oil separator
Cusco Oil catch can

Clutch
exedy stage 2 cerametallic twin disk clutch kit

Suspension:
ISC N1 fully adjustable coilovers
GT Spec rear lower adjustable control arms
Tanabe 4 point under front brace

Exterior:
Rota Grid 18x9.5 +38mm offset wheels
245/40/18 Falken tires
Paint matched Grill and fog light covers
Blox Red lug nuts
Extended wheel studs
Blacked out tail lights
Torque Solutions license plate delete

Interior:
Pioneer 7" screen DVD stereo
AEM digital boost gauge
AEM digital Wideband gauge

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1 - 20 of 22 Posts

8cd03gro

· #2 · Oct 20, 2013

Get compression and leak down test.

boatsnhos

· #3 · Oct 20, 2013

He better have motor work done if you want that to last

Jenkins651

Discussion Starter · #4 · Oct 20, 2013

^What are stock internals rated for?

Jenkins651

Discussion Starter · #5 · Oct 20, 2013

8cd03gro said:
Get compression and leak down test.

I have owned a 350z for the past five years so this was never talked about in our forum. I myself know how to do a compression test, but not a leak down. Would any local shop be able to do this, or would I have to find a Subaru dealer?

All this is good advise, so keep it coming.

boatsnhos

· #6 · Oct 20, 2013

Of course there will be freaks and duds from the factory but if you wanna be reliable generally the rods are good to around 450 whp and pistons around 350. The 07+ pistons are cast, so no bueno. The 10+ cranks are heat treated so youll be good although ive never heard of problems woth the old ones.

Jenkins651

Discussion Starter · #7 · Oct 20, 2013

^So this may be a really stupid question, but I'm ignorant enough about turbo motors to ask. Could I detune this setup to put down around 350 whp for piston conservation? For example it is tuned for 18psi, but could I set it up for say 16psi?

Also if it puts down 398 whp in sport sharp mode what does that mean for the lower modes? This is obviously a new concept for me.

Sabrewings

· #8 · Oct 20, 2013

My number one question would be why is he selling. You don't just dump that kind of money and get out when everything is peachy for less than blue book.

boatsnhos said:
The 07+ pistons are cast, so no bueno.

04-14 pistons are all cast hypereutectic.

Jenkins651 said:
^So this may be a really stupid question, but I'm ignorant enough about turbo motors to ask. Could I detune this setup to put down around 350 whp for piston conservation? For example it is tuned for 18psi, but could I set it up for say 16psi?

Yes, but depending on the turbo (I'm not totally familiar with that one) you will still have some lag of a larger WHP turbo.

Jenkins651 said:
Also if it puts down 398 whp in sport sharp mode what does that mean for the lower modes? This is obviously a new concept for me.

It depends on who tuned it. When Cobb tuned my STI Sport was 2-3 PSI less than Sport #.

Jenkins651

Discussion Starter · #9 · Oct 20, 2013

^ Great info, thank you! That was my number one question as well. He just said he was in debt and needed a cheaper car plus some extra cash for bills, but there is no way to know is this is the whole story. I'll always be taking a risk, but no one knows these cars better which is why I posted this.

olenderc

· #10 · Oct 20, 2013

I'm not sure what this car is being listed for, but it can't be that far from just buying a brand new STI. Save yourself the likely agony of dealing with someone else's problems and just buy something that you know the true condition of. Besides, it's lame to buy someone else's work/build; buy a stock STI and slowly build it yourself. Trust me when I say you will have that much more satisfaction from knowing it is your own, and having something you know will be reliable (if taken care of properly).

Too many people buy WRX/STIs, do not do enough research, have no idea what the hell they are doing, then try to get rid of their problems because they don't know how to deal with them or cannot afford to. I try to do as much research as I can before I decide to modify anything or change something about my car, even something as seemingly simple as which motor oil to use.

Good luck on your car endeavors and I wish you the very best.

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Jenkins651

Discussion Starter · #11 · Oct 20, 2013

Thank you and I agree with everything you said, but you are wrong on assuming a new one isn't that much more...try 20K more! I could literally blow this one up, buy a new engine, build it and still come out well under what it would cost to buy a new one. You guys have given me some great advise and info. I think I want to take my chances and probably detune it for around 330-350whp and call it good until/if I ever have the play money to throw some forged pistons in it. Every mod he has seems to be a well respected name brand part so with some luck I'll be safe.

olenderc

· #12 · Oct 20, 2013

Jenkins651 said:
Thank you and I agree with everything you said, but you are wrong on assuming a new one isn't that much more...try 20K more! I could literally blow this one up, buy a new engine, build it and still come out well under what it would cost to buy a new one. You guys have given me some great advise and info. I think I want to take my chances and probably detune it for around 330-350whp and call it good until/if I ever have the play money to throw some forged pistons in it. Every mod he has seems to be a well respected name brand part so with some luck I'll be safe.

You said he was selling it below blue book. I tried doing quick search of private party value of a 2010 STI and came up with around $26,000 for a car in excellent condition. I could only find the value of a hatch STI since KBB's website apparently lacks the competence to list the correct trims available for a particular year. I'm still not sure, since you haven't mentioned it, how much the car is actually selling for.

However, I'll take a wild guess and assume it's somewhere around $25,000 give or take. IF your engine blew, you're probably looking at a solid $5000-8000 for a decent rebuild, maybe less if you just plan on just the basics and not actually building it (which at the point would probably be the only logical route..going built engine that is). That would bring you roughly into the same ballpark as a brand new STI. Granted, not everyone can just justify another $8k-10k for the sake of buying a new car, but I'm just playing with numbers here. In the end, it all comes down to what you can afford and what you're comfortable with.

Personally, I find it hard to trust the reliability of a used STI (even WRX) unless it's someone I personally know AND have all service records on top of any and all work ever done to the car. Even then, it's still like playing russian roulette. But that's just me

.

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olenderc

· #13 · Oct 20, 2013

Actually, a quick copy-paste google search of the mods you listed brings me right to the particular car/thread you are looking at: FS: (For Sale) MO: 2010 Obp Sti Hatch Need Gone Asap - NASIOC

$31,000 OBO.

Granted, considering the amount of money put into it, the price might seem alright. However, sellers are naive if they think their aftermarket performance parts add much, if any value to their cars. The car might be in perfectly sound running condition, I'm just basing my opinion purely on the fact that it's a used STI with hardly any information regarding running history, services, issues, etc. At $31,000 I would rather throw down $3k-4k more and just have a brand new car.

olenderc

· #14 · Oct 20, 2013

I stand corrected, the car's most up-to-date price is $25,500 I believe (http://www.iwsti.com/forums/used-cars-sale/262640-2010-subaru-sti-hatch.html).

As such, refer to my prior post where I was assumed (correctly) at around $25,000. Either way, I hope you find what you are looking for and you get a car you are satisfied with!

Sabrewings

· #15 · Oct 20, 2013

olenderc said:
I could only find the value of a hatch STI since KBB's website apparently lacks the competence to list the correct trims available for a particular year.

In 2008-2010 STIs were only available in hatches.

Jenkins651

Discussion Starter · #16 · Oct 20, 2013

I stand corrected, I was reading that assuming you were crazy the whole time until I check kbb for a 2014. I fully thought they started around 44K. I'm pleasantly surprised to find out they are about 10k less! We agreed on 23,500 which is less than I can buy any 2008 with more miles for sale on this very site. That goes for most of the 2006-2007 as well. I have looked at every sti and evo within 500 miles of where I live and this is literally the best deal I can find which is also why it made me a little nervous of course.

Subie_Pb

· #17 · Oct 20, 2013

Same turbo but built, about the same price: http://www.iwsti.com/forums/used-cars-sale/262631-2009-wrx-sti-wrb-built-motor-brand-new.html

08, built and makes 400/450, worth a look, about the same price: http://www.iwsti.com/forums/used-cars-sale/262885-450-hp-2008-graphite-gray-sti-sale.html

and another one i think is worth a look, also built, only at 305whp: http://www.iwsti.com/forums/used-cars-sale/261015-2008-dgm-sti-hatch-10k-miles-cobb-built-motor-lots-upgrades.html

I just think you should spend some more time researching, there are many good offers you're missing. And the fact that the car you're currently interested has an upgraded turbo and is on stock internals means that there is a probability that the engine won't be running for much longer.

user1029

· #18 · Oct 20, 2013

Don't buy highly modified cars

Reactions: 1

Jenkins651

Discussion Starter · #19 · Oct 21, 2013 (Edited)

Subie_Pb said:
Same turbo but built, about the same price: http://www.iwsti.com/forums/used-cars-sale/262631-2009-wrx-sti-wrb-built-motor-brand-new.html

08, built and makes 400/450, worth a look, about the same price: http://www.iwsti.com/forums/used-cars-sale/262885-450-hp-2008-graphite-gray-sti-sale.html

and another one i think is worth a look, also built, only at 305whp: http://www.iwsti.com/forums/used-cars-sale/261015-2008-dgm-sti-hatch-10k-miles-cobb-built-motor-lots-upgrades.html

I just think you should spend some more time researching, there are many good offers you're missing. And the fact that the car you're currently interested has an upgraded turbo and is on stock internals means that there is a probability that the engine won't be running for much longer.

I came here for knowledgable advice from long term sti owners. I wish the advice was biased more towards buying it, but even though I didn't get the news I wanted to hear doesn't mean I won't take it.

What you guys told me about the stock pistons only being good for 350whp was the deciding factor (thanks Sabrewing)!. He has been running this setup for two years now so who knows how much longer it will last. I was really surprised by this though. Like I previously said I was a previous 350z owner and our internals were good for 450ish. Some were even holding 500 for several years.

My max budget is 25K So I'll just keep looking and keep saving. I'm technically in no rush to buy, I'm just impatient

I appreciate all the useful advice and knowledge! You probably saved my butt from a rebuild in the near future!

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bboytaktix

· #20 · Oct 21, 2013

You are smart in listening to the advice of the others on this forum. Learning from the experience and mistakes of others is a truly valuable trait to posses. I am sure you will find the right STI and when you do, you'll know, because it will just feel right. Continue your research and take the necessary inspection precautions and you'll be in an STI before you know it!

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