Wanna give me a loan? Anyone?
Today, during my lunch break, I checked out a 2001 Subaru Impreza RS that's being privately sold. When I got to the house, I see an old guy out by the car, maybe 70, very weathered looking. And I see the Impreza (which was in Blue Ridge Pearl - the best color ever for a Subie) and it has Morette headlamps and what looks to be an aftermarket hoodscoop. I'm trying to imagine this guy driving this car.
Asking price: $12,600
Miles: 21500
Mods: Cold Air Intake, K&N air filter, Morette headlamps, WRX 6 CD changer, aftermarket muffler.
Condition: Looks to be in excellent overall shape.
That's a steal. However, it turns out that this guy had bought the Impreza off of a salvage title. The owner before him flooded the engine by driving into a deep puddle. In doing so, one of the rods was destroyed. The guy who is now selling it, rebuilt the entire engine.
I ask him if he's a 'Subaru Guy', to which he responds with an enthusiastic yes. He began driving Subarus back in 79. I look around his property and count three other Subarus, 2 Outbacks and a 97 Impreza L. He was working on those three as well. It turns out that he routinely buys Subarus from auctions, fixes them up, and then resells them. He told me that he sells about 5 a year.
OK, so this guy definitely knows his shit, and I;m feeling much better about this engine rebuild already. He hands me the keys and tells me to take it out for awhile. No problem.
OK, the muffler looks like ass. It's huge. However, it sounds sweet as hell. It's not one of those high pitched fart pipes, but rather, has a wonderfully deep, throaty exhaust note. It does get a bit too loud under hard acceleration though.
It drove fine, well, wonderfully, just as an Impreza ought to. Nice, torquey feel to it, even in 5th gear. Then again, I'm comparing this against my Focus, which is 35 lb-ft of torque short of the Impreza. The difference between the Impreza's AWD and my Focus' front wheel drive was also evident.
Anyhow, I want it! But, I doubt I'll be able to both get rid of my Focus and obtain a loan for the Impreza before someone else takes it. Grrrr.
Asking price: $12,600
Miles: 21500
Mods: Cold Air Intake, K&N air filter, Morette headlamps, WRX 6 CD changer, aftermarket muffler.
Condition: Looks to be in excellent overall shape.
That's a steal. However, it turns out that this guy had bought the Impreza off of a salvage title. The owner before him flooded the engine by driving into a deep puddle. In doing so, one of the rods was destroyed. The guy who is now selling it, rebuilt the entire engine.
I ask him if he's a 'Subaru Guy', to which he responds with an enthusiastic yes. He began driving Subarus back in 79. I look around his property and count three other Subarus, 2 Outbacks and a 97 Impreza L. He was working on those three as well. It turns out that he routinely buys Subarus from auctions, fixes them up, and then resells them. He told me that he sells about 5 a year.
OK, so this guy definitely knows his shit, and I;m feeling much better about this engine rebuild already. He hands me the keys and tells me to take it out for awhile. No problem.
OK, the muffler looks like ass. It's huge. However, it sounds sweet as hell. It's not one of those high pitched fart pipes, but rather, has a wonderfully deep, throaty exhaust note. It does get a bit too loud under hard acceleration though.
It drove fine, well, wonderfully, just as an Impreza ought to. Nice, torquey feel to it, even in 5th gear. Then again, I'm comparing this against my Focus, which is 35 lb-ft of torque short of the Impreza. The difference between the Impreza's AWD and my Focus' front wheel drive was also evident.
Anyhow, I want it! But, I doubt I'll be able to both get rid of my Focus and obtain a loan for the Impreza before someone else takes it. Grrrr.