Contemplating buying used BRZ with tons of mods but is it worth it? - Toyota GR86, 86, FR-S and Subaru BRZ Forum & Owners Community

Sebaru · 07-17-2013, 01:53 AM

Hello all,

I'm considering buying a BRZ for 25k,which has tons of mods but also issues. Since I'm a newbie on all of this, I'm afraid the issues reported might be due to all the mods made to the car. I have no clue how much fixing all of this will cost me, and it's very possible that other problems will emerge...

See below what was done to the car, as well as issues reported.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

Engine (includes parts for off-road use only) 17,000 miles

-ECUtek aftermarket ECU software and OBD2 cable, many tunes available already purchased from FA20Club and Visconti Tuning, including E-85 tune.
-Full header-back exhaust including Nameless overpipe/downpipe with HFC and Helmholtz resonator and Milltek unresonated catback, Kartboy hangers all the way around.
-AVO Stage 1 turbo kit with full recirc BOV option and ceramic coating option installed by Works tuning of Sonoma.
-AVO Panel filter
-Defi Boost gauge and mount above steering wheel.

Suspension/Rolling Stock

-Volk TE37SL Forged in Magnesium Blew 18x8.5 front 18x9.5 rear with Project KICS titanium lug nuts on Kumho Ecsta MS. Excellent condition, 1 rim has a few chips. Only set in this color and dimension/fitment in the U.S.!
-Koni Strut inserts all round (front right is leaking fluid, under warranty) on RCE Yellow springs.
-Cusco Front strut tower bar with master cylinder brace
-Cusco Rear strut tower bar
-AVO Front castor/camber lower control arm bushings
-Whiteline adjustable rear camber bushing inserts.
-Whiteline rear crossmember bushing

Issues:
-Front right strut leaking, minor seep from top.
-Cam issue with CEL but runs fine otherwise, occasional lumpy idle/idle issue, documentation available.

Thanks all for your help!

cnk · 07-17-2013, 02:16 AM

If you don't want issues, then don't buy a modified car. Simple as that. For 25k, you can get a new Frs or Brz with some haggling.

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JesseE · 07-17-2013, 02:29 AM

This person you are thinking about buying from is on this forum too, I saw a thread about it earlier!, if everything can be sorted out, 25k is a great price

husker741 · 07-17-2013, 02:40 AM

I would do it. The money to buy a new one and do everything he did will far surpass the amount needed to fix the 2 issues. Get a new strut and figure out what's wrong with the cam.

infinite012 · 07-17-2013, 10:11 AM

Bad idle? Be prepared to shell out for a new motor, because Subaru certainly isn't going to be doing warranty work on it.

Be-Are-Zee · 07-17-2013, 10:24 AM

I probably wouldn't buy a heavily modded car with issues for that price.

monkeedoo · 07-17-2013, 10:31 AM

if youre cool with buying a 25k car with no warranty grab it, its a deal but be prepared to spend a little more $ down the road for the issues stated

thill · 07-17-2013, 10:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by monkeedoo

if youre cool with buying a 25k car with no warranty grab it, its a deal but be prepared to spend a little more $ down the road for the issues stated

This. That car has tons of expensive mods and the price seems fair, but CEL's are disturbing and you are out of luck if the engine has to be replaced. If you have the cash to buy the car and cover any major out of warranty repairs I say go for it. If $25K is pushing your budget and you don't have a pile of money at hand ($5-8K) to fix things on your own when they break, I would pass.

Frost · 07-17-2013, 12:28 PM

If you're ho-humming this purchase on a forum, then it's probably not worth it. $25k for a heavily modified car like this is actually pretty good but you get what you pay for: no warranty, as is.

The fact that you are not sure means you shouldn't get it. Unless like previous posters mentioned, you have a reserve of what I suggest should be $8-$12k sitting around for work, new engine, etc. don't bother.

Also, if you have $25k CASH lying around, use that as a down payment on a new BRZ / FR-S. No worries then.

Enraged21 · 07-17-2013, 12:34 PM

yeah say bye bye to the warranty if you buy it

Bones36 · 07-17-2013, 12:34 PM

There's a reason why he's selling it at a loss. don't do it!

Sebaru · 07-17-2013, 01:34 PM

Thank you all for your amazing input. I'm new to this forum and truly appreciate your feedback. You guys are awesome!!!

I was first attracted by all the mods he's done, but ultimately I think I'm gonna step away from that offer. I have the feeling that this guy tinkered too much and ended up screwing something up. I don't want to have to deal with costly repairs and a car that is always having problems...

Thanks again for all your feedback. I really appreciate it!

Sebaru · 07-17-2013, 01:38 PM

Oh, one more thing... do you guys consider adding a Viconsti tuning kit a risky mod? Would that typically void the warranty?

DoctorNick · 07-17-2013, 01:39 PM

Yeah, I would never buy a 1st gen car, 2nd hand and modified far beyond factory specs.

You know the guy drove it... hard and its gonna have all the quirks of a first model year, first production car. Not to mention no factory support because of said mods and there are no true "experts/Gurus" for this car yet. As everyone is still learning the ins and outs.

07-17-2013, 01:53 AM	#1
Sebaru Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Drives: Subaru Impreza RS Location: Novato, CA Posts: 8 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post Mentioned: 0 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Contemplating buying used BRZ with tons of mods but is it worth it? Hello all, I'm considering buying a BRZ for 25k,which has tons of mods but also issues. Since I'm a newbie on all of this, I'm afraid the issues reported might be due to all the mods made to the car. I have no clue how much fixing all of this will cost me, and it's very possible that other problems will emerge... See below what was done to the car, as well as issues reported. Any advice would be greatly appreciated! Engine (includes parts for off-road use only) 17,000 miles -ECUtek aftermarket ECU software and OBD2 cable, many tunes available already purchased from FA20Club and Visconti Tuning, including E-85 tune. -Full header-back exhaust including Nameless overpipe/downpipe with HFC and Helmholtz resonator and Milltek unresonated catback, Kartboy hangers all the way around. -AVO Stage 1 turbo kit with full recirc BOV option and ceramic coating option installed by Works tuning of Sonoma. -AVO Panel filter -Defi Boost gauge and mount above steering wheel. Suspension/Rolling Stock -Volk TE37SL Forged in Magnesium Blew 18x8.5 front 18x9.5 rear with Project KICS titanium lug nuts on Kumho Ecsta MS. Excellent condition, 1 rim has a few chips. Only set in this color and dimension/fitment in the U.S.! -Koni Strut inserts all round (front right is leaking fluid, under warranty) on RCE Yellow springs. -Cusco Front strut tower bar with master cylinder brace -Cusco Rear strut tower bar -AVO Front castor/camber lower control arm bushings -Whiteline adjustable rear camber bushing inserts. -Whiteline rear crossmember bushing Issues: -Front right strut leaking, minor seep from top. -Cam issue with CEL but runs fine otherwise, occasional lumpy idle/idle issue, documentation available. Thanks all for your help!

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07-17-2013, 02:16 AM	#2
cnk Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Drives: '13 DGM BRZ Limited Location: NJ Posts: 1,201 Thanks: 59 Thanked 547 Times in 339 Posts Mentioned: 8 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	If you don't want issues, then don't buy a modified car. Simple as that. For 25k, you can get a new Frs or Brz with some haggling. Sent from my Transformer using Tapatalk 4 Beta

07-17-2013, 02:29 AM	#3
JesseE Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Drives: LS Swapped BRZ Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 419 Thanks: 65 Thanked 173 Times in 90 Posts Mentioned: 30 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	This person you are thinking about buying from is on this forum too, I saw a thread about it earlier!, if everything can be sorted out, 25k is a great price

07-17-2013, 02:40 AM	#4
husker741 Banned Join Date: Feb 2013 Drives: 2013 Whiteout Scion FR-S 6MT Location: Gainesville, FL Posts: 3,272 Thanks: 1,278 Thanked 4,183 Times in 1,415 Posts Mentioned: 28 Post(s) Tagged: 2 Thread(s)	I would do it. The money to buy a new one and do everything he did will far surpass the amount needed to fix the 2 issues. Get a new strut and figure out what's wrong with the cam.

07-17-2013, 10:11 AM	#5
infinite012 Banned Join Date: Jan 2013 Drives: 13 DGM BRZ Ltd Location: Williamsburg, VA Posts: 974 Thanks: 294 Thanked 470 Times in 255 Posts Mentioned: 17 Post(s) Tagged: 4 Thread(s)	Bad idle? Be prepared to shell out for a new motor, because Subaru certainly isn't going to be doing warranty work on it.

07-17-2013, 10:24 AM	#6
Be-Are-Zee Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Drives: BRZ Location: USA Posts: 182 Thanks: 5 Thanked 70 Times in 41 Posts Mentioned: 0 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	I probably wouldn't buy a heavily modded car with issues for that price.

07-17-2013, 10:31 AM	#7
monkeedoo Senor Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Drives: ME CRAZY Location: San Jose Posts: 261 Thanks: 229 Thanked 127 Times in 66 Posts Mentioned: 13 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	if youre cool with buying a 25k car with no warranty grab it, its a deal but be prepared to spend a little more $ down the road for the issues stated

07-17-2013, 12:34 PM	#10
Enraged21 #RememberTheBuster Join Date: Aug 2012 Drives: Firestorm FRS MT Location: Orlando, FL Posts: 597 Thanks: 637 Thanked 154 Times in 102 Posts Mentioned: 6 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	yeah say bye bye to the warranty if you buy it

07-17-2013, 12:34 PM	#11
Bones36 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Drives: 13 Brz Jrsc Location: Bay Area, Ca Posts: 255 Thanks: 78 Thanked 76 Times in 48 Posts Mentioned: 6 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	There's a reason why he's selling it at a loss. don't do it!

07-17-2013, 01:34 PM	#12
Sebaru Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Drives: Subaru Impreza RS Location: Novato, CA Posts: 8 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post Mentioned: 0 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Thank you all for your amazing input. I'm new to this forum and truly appreciate your feedback. You guys are awesome!!! I was first attracted by all the mods he's done, but ultimately I think I'm gonna step away from that offer. I have the feeling that this guy tinkered too much and ended up screwing something up. I don't want to have to deal with costly repairs and a car that is always having problems... Thanks again for all your feedback. I really appreciate it!

07-17-2013, 01:38 PM	#13
Sebaru Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Drives: Subaru Impreza RS Location: Novato, CA Posts: 8 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post Mentioned: 0 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Oh, one more thing... do you guys consider adding a Viconsti tuning kit a risky mod? Would that typically void the warranty?

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07-17-2013, 01:39 PM	#14
DoctorNick Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Drives: '13 BRZ Location: Chicago, Il. Posts: 118 Thanks: 17 Thanked 51 Times in 33 Posts Mentioned: 4 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Yeah, I would never buy a 1st gen car, 2nd hand and modified far beyond factory specs. You know the guy drove it... hard and its gonna have all the quirks of a first model year, first production car. Not to mention no factory support because of said mods and there are no true "experts/Gurus" for this car yet. As everyone is still learning the ins and outs.