Expert's Opinion Part 1

I made an appointment with my friend, who previously owned 2 Subaru Impreza WRX STIs to view and give me his opinion. Instead of the one I recently viewed, I arranged for us to view another unit first. I found one Version 8 online and is selling below the market price which intrigues me. On the way to see this car, my friend cautioned me to not fall for cheap deals as it usually means something is wrong with the car. I needed his keen eyes to look out for signs if this unit has been involved in any accidents prior to this. I believe things such as engine failure or cosmetics can be repaired but not a chassis involved in an accident before. I, on the other hand, do not have that skill or experience to make such judgment. We arrived early and after waiting for a while, I heard the car arrive and this is the first STI I viewed that is driven, not parked. It was not very loud and this shows that the car is in running condition. The car is completely stock on the outside and looks a bit dated. It has an aftermarket exhaust and Version 9 rear lights. My friend started talking to the owner and I went to look inside the interior.

The interior of this Version 8 is the most modded among the 4 units that I have seen in my time. There were STI Genome boost, oil pressure, and oil temperature meter by Defi above the center console. By the A-pillar, there were Apexi's Rev Speed Meter (RSM), Super Air Flow Controller (SAFC), and Turbo timer under the driver's aircond vent. I could tell the owner spent a large sum buying all these extra meters. On one hand, if I buy this STI, I do not need to spend money to mod but with all these meters, I would be distracted. I also noticed Tein's EDFC on the left side of the center console. This meant that this car is using Tein's Coilover kit and it is possible to adjust the dampening inside the interior while driving. The EDFC was a luxury that I could not make myself buy in the past. The rest of the interior is just stock and in normal condition. I am starting to ask why would someone sell such a modded car below market price. After seeing enough of the interior, I went to join my friend and the owner to view the engine bay. He should have some information regarding the car by now.

At first glance, the engine bay looks stock with a little mod. On the cooling side, there is a cooling plate above the radiator and an aftermarket aluminum radiator. The air intake tunnel is missing and the air filter has been changed to an HKS open pod. The blow-off valve is also aftermarket. I could see the EDFC motors and I was right about this car using Tein Coilover kit. There was not much to see but it was then my friend told me. Although nothing serious, the front has had a minor accident before. There are signs of hammering on the chassis on the headlight bracket. Immediately, I was not interested anymore despite the great interior. Nevertheless, my friend kept inspecting and we arrived at the boot. The boot was difficult to open and when we finally opened it, we realized the reason for the difficulty. The part of the chassis where the lock is located is dented and most likely caused by a heavy hit to the rear. I told the owner I would think about it and left to see the other unit. It was a waste that such a nice car had been involved in an accident. Now I know, this is the reason why it is selling cheap and like my friend said, this is why we should stay away from cheap deals. Disappointed but I move on to the next unit.