Is it OK to buy a used TURBO subaru?

Question

I'm looking at some 2004/05 used turbo Imprezas and possibly some used XT Foresters (I have a soft spot for wagons). Most are under 50K miles. However, is it pretty safe to assume that WRX/STi drivers drive the **** out of their turbo cars (since its hard to resist)?

I dont want to spend 18 or 17K on a car whos tranny will blow out and cost me another 4K. I know one guy whos tranny went out on his used 2002 WRX and since it was under the dealership 30 day warranty he was able to get another car (BTW: I thought maybe it was because it was a newly introduced model... and that i should stay away from newly introduced/redesigned models for a year.. it also had a blow off valve which meant the previous owner probably beat the car).

How has your clutches/trannies been treating you guys? This only applies to Turbo drivers, please. When i go looking, i'll only look at bone stock cars.

Answer 1

I think that's a risk you have with any car not just turbos. I do get on my 02 wagon on occasion and look forward to the opportunity to down shift and blow past some one in heavy traffic, but I have a tighter maintenance schedule than even Subaru recommends.
The big question is maintenance, see if they have records with the book. I'd wouldn't be as worried about how it was driven as if the oil was changes at regular intervals and things like that.
Good luck!

Answer 2

The transmission in the wrx will last forever if you dont beat on it. When transmissions do go, its usually because of dropping the clutch at high rpm or slamming into second gear. I drive my wrx hard, but I keep in mind that in an awd car, the transmission is under alot of stress when accelerating hard. When test driving a used wrx, downshift from second to first at around 10mph, do this several times. If no grinding occurs then the tranny is probably fine. If grinding occurs then the syncro is out and is a sign of transmission wear. If you are still really worried then go with a xt because they are less likely to be abused, and have stronger gears than the wrx. Do your homework and do extensive test drives and you will be fine.

Answer 3

You have that one figured Subie wrx / Mitsu evo owners do rag out there cars that is why there are so few left running at 100,000 miles buying a 50,000 time bomb. Even completely stock means that the guy or girl has replaced all the injectors put back on the small turbo the cob down pipe aftermarket wheels wings intercoolers. sold the hot rod stuff on e-bay and replaced everything back completely stock. That was when they noticed syncros going or the engine begining to burn oil at 12 psi boost. Fast car beware don't buy some one elses bucket of bolts.