expert advice needed - dealer-only auction WRX purchase
01-06-2005, 09:06 PM
#1
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Expert Advice Needed On Wrx
this is my first post on i club, i plan on getting a 2002-03 wrx at a dealers only auction, purchasing this way gives you no form of safety but a cheap price.. its cash only, as if i was a dealership buying the car.. what are some things to look for that might give me problems or trouble spots for this car?, sorry if im on the wrong section or watever im new!
01-07-2005, 08:18 AM
#2
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My .002. These are very popular cars and can clean ones can be easily sold by dealers. If this has gone to auction it means it was "passed" on buy several levels of dealers. So I would look carefully. Check the oil and transmission fluid levels. smell the fluids, listen to the turbo, look for signs the car was modified (especially after-market BOV, MBC, ECU.) Look for signs of hard use, abuse underneath the car, especially the front wheel well liners. Dealers will pass on a modified car, so you could get a bargain...or it may be a basket case.
My guess is that there is a problem that you will need to fix. I'd price out a transmission, a turbo, and an engine befoe you go so that you can fiqure one of those into the final cost depending on what you see. This is the kind of deal where you could get a great deal if you discove the car runs rough because of a dirty MAF sensor (easy fix) or get ....if you discover it runs poorly because the turbo has sent it's guts into the engine.
My guess is that there is a problem that you will need to fix. I'd price out a transmission, a turbo, and an engine befoe you go so that you can fiqure one of those into the final cost depending on what you see. This is the kind of deal where you could get a great deal if you discove the car runs rough because of a dirty MAF sensor (easy fix) or get ....if you discover it runs poorly because the turbo has sent it's guts into the engine.
01-07-2005, 11:06 AM
#3
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Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: rightBehindYou, HI
Posts: 7,783
Car Info: 1973 Huevo Ranchero
i have been to several Manheim Auto Auctions. look them up. they have a national database. since i work for Subaru i can offer you some insight. even we as dealers know the risks of buying at auctions. there are some basic things to consider. know what they have been selling for BEFORE you enter the auction. when bidding keep in mind that dealers can sometimes plant people to keep the bidding up. one good thing is that MY02/03 WRX's are kinda soft at the auctions- low price=extra room for repair if needed.
personally i hate auctions because there is one very very important aspect of buying a car--->DRIVING it. if you are okay with taking the risk of buying a car with damaged frame, tranny, rear end...etc. then go for it. but one thing i always advise my clients is this- DRIVE before you buy.
personally i don't recommend it.
if you have any more questions you are more than welcome to email me or PM me.
aloha from the summit of *-^-Mauna Kea-^-*
personally i hate auctions because there is one very very important aspect of buying a car--->DRIVING it. if you are okay with taking the risk of buying a car with damaged frame, tranny, rear end...etc. then go for it. but one thing i always advise my clients is this- DRIVE before you buy.
personally i don't recommend it.
if you have any more questions you are more than welcome to email me or PM me.
aloha from the summit of *-^-Mauna Kea-^-*
01-11-2005, 03:16 PM
#4
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Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 293
my .02
I'm with John Steele.
Any WRX that was lease turned in or traded at our store in even half decent shape, we'd keep. Further, we have arrangements with several other local dealers to buy those cars from them when they come in. Thus, most WRX's that go to auction has been rejected by us for some reason (and also, for that matter, rejected by at least a couple of other dealers). Once you're actually at Manheim, or any of the other large sales, the auction moves quite fast, and there's not a lot of time to make sure you're not making a mistake. I've seen literally DOZENS of mistakes made by professional buyers who have been buying for years and years.
Your best safest bet to get a cheap WRX is to buy one private party. Try to find someone who's moving up to an STi, or even better, someone who bought the car and doesn't like it (morons, all of them, but they do exist). Then you can get a chance to talk to them about it, check out any reciepts they have, etc.
IMHO of course
Any WRX that was lease turned in or traded at our store in even half decent shape, we'd keep. Further, we have arrangements with several other local dealers to buy those cars from them when they come in. Thus, most WRX's that go to auction has been rejected by us for some reason (and also, for that matter, rejected by at least a couple of other dealers). Once you're actually at Manheim, or any of the other large sales, the auction moves quite fast, and there's not a lot of time to make sure you're not making a mistake. I've seen literally DOZENS of mistakes made by professional buyers who have been buying for years and years.
Your best safest bet to get a cheap WRX is to buy one private party. Try to find someone who's moving up to an STi, or even better, someone who bought the car and doesn't like it (morons, all of them, but they do exist). Then you can get a chance to talk to them about it, check out any reciepts they have, etc.
IMHO of course
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