Found a used BRZ Premium!
 

Hey guys, quick question.

I found a used BRZ Premium on Craigslist in my area (about 5 miles from my house), and the person is selling it for $15,800. It has 9,000 miles on it and it seems to be in amazing condition from the pictures.

Do you guys think I should pull the trigger on this one? What precautions do you think I should take when doing to look at the car? (We have set up a meeting for Sunday)

Let know what you guys/gals think :)


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If it seems like too good a deal I am always very skeptical.

That seems awefully cheap. Check to make sure it hasn't been wrecked, totaled, frame damage, or flood recovery on the title or vehicle history. Also I would have him meet you at a local Subaru dealership and have an apointment to have a mechanic go over the car to ensure everything checks out ok.

I know, me too. That's why I'm trying to get a second opinion.


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That's an awfully good price...if you find there's nothing wrong with it I don't see why you wouldn't buy it. It does sound a little too good to be true though.

That sounds like a good idea actually. I was planning on checking the CarFax on Saturday also.


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That's what I'm saying lmao! I don't want to get ****ed, you know?


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yea +1 on the idea of checking it out... usually if a subaru/scion dealership isnt selling it at that kinda price per condition and mileage, then there has to be something wrong with it

This is very true. Well, looks like I know what I have to do. Thanks guys :)


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Carfax doesn't always tell the whole story.

Get it inspected by a professional to see if there are signs of damage, repairs, paintwork, etc.

Hmmm, my best friends dad owns a local car shop. Maybe I can ask him to ride along to look at the car.


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This is without a doubt what you should do. Also I'm calling him right now to offer $100 over whatever you give him. That's a great deal.

Check the clutch to make sure it's not burned out.

salvaged?

Hahaha! Go for it!


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It may be. Hopefully I'll find out. I want to ask these questions while my friends dad is there, that way if he's lying and he finds something, we can call him out.

If it's salvaged, I'll try to get it for 10k hahaha!


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In addition to what everyone else has said...

I'd try to make it there before Sunday (especially since it's so close). Someone is going to get into touch with him and offer him cash if he meets same day. I've had people sell things out from under me before and it isn't all that fun.

This is true.


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I found this one also. If you could get this for 14k would you buy? It's obviously crashed and repaired.

http://frederick.craigslist.org/cto/4234998771.html


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isnt $16k for a brz prem half the cost of original price? that is alot of money that guy is losing

Found a used BRZ Premium!
 

Yea, after doing a bit of research, it seems that it could be rebuilt. Honestly, I could care less. I have a trustworthy shop close by owned by my best friends dad. Not to mention IAG Performance isn't too far from me. If I wanted/needed work done, i could get it done for cheap.

As long it's nothing serious (which I will find out soon) I just may pull the trigger.

I'm speaking of the initial car, not the one I just posted a few min ago.


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Identity crisis much?

What do you mean?


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Oh haha! You mean the badges right?


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BRZ Front with the Subaru Badge, Scion Steering Wheel, Toyota Rear badge? LOL

Yea, I got it after I wrote that lol


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make sure you give it a hard test drive. taking it easy on a car wont help you see any weak spots. i like to go through cold start all the way up to warmed engine and hit atleast 60mph

Cool, I'll make sure I do that.


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Just remember with a salvaged title your warranty is void. Period. The salvage title is attached to your VIN and even if you buy genuine Subaru parts for the car, those parts will have no warranty either since the title will be salvaged.

Meaning say you have to buy a new engine in a year from Subaru and two days later that new engine dies.. You are otta luck because Subaru will deny any warranty claim on a salvaged car.

IMHO, it is not worth it. Save up a few more thousand and get a car that is not salvaged. Unless this is just gonna be some track car and not your daily driver.

Not all salvage have engine problems bro. I have purchased rebuilt cars before. They run perfectly fine if repaired correctly.


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It may also not be insurable. Check with your underwriter, many won't cover a rebuild.

Ask the seller to bring the title and registration for your review.

Also, agree to meet in front of a police station during daylight hours.

This deal reminds me of a saying:

"Old age and treachery always overcomes youth and skill."

and...

"A business relationship often starts with one party having the money, the other the experience. It ends when the one with the money has the experience and the other has the money."

If it were me, I'd stay far, far away from this deal.

Carbon fiber hood? The original is aluminum and weighs a little more than a beer can. :)

I just found out that that post on Craigslist is actually on the forums in the classifieds.


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No, that is not what I am saying. If the OP understands he will have zero warranty on any genuine Toyota or Subaru part, even if he buys them tomorrow brand new, and he does not care he should go for it.

There is a guy at NASIOC who just put a brand new Subaru engine in his salvaged STI and it blew within a year. Subaru will not give him any assistance (parts or labor) because his car had a salvaged title. It voids all warranty work.

In addition to the possibility of not being able to insure or file warranty claims on a salvage you probably will have issues getting bank financed or it will be short term high interest. If you don't have cash you should probably skip this one.

Salvage titles aren't really a discount, they're a gamble on future expenses. If you have cash and pursue a salvage, engine is one thing to worry about (but if the block wasn't touched, meh-), more likely to have possible future alignment issues (if front end) causing, tire wear, brake wear, differential issues, strut towers checking out early. Some of these things you won't know about until they fail.

Or discovering at an awkward moment that the rebuilder "forgot" to replace deployed airbags.

This. Carfax rarely tells even most of the story. Go look at the car yourself or have a professional exam it from top to bottom.

I've heard that this would be grounds for a pretty serious lawsuit, since selling a car without airbags (or with replaced airbags) and not disclosing it is serious stuff. The PO of my Miata must have removed the airbag module on it... Either way, I replaced the steering wheel so you can be sure that when I sell it the bill of sale is going to clearly state that there are no airbags.

Almost guaranteed if a dealer sale, not sure if a private sale and the seller clearly states "AS IS" on the BOS.

Unless you don't mind a salvage title. Don't be in a rush to buy it. I've seen plenty of fr-s at that price when i was shopping. A salvage title can be anything from a simple hood dent, to a unrepairable frame damage. Hell, i even read a story of a dude that bought a salvaged vehicle due to water damage. Ok simple fix, drain it, dry it, clean it. Apparently the lake the car sunk into had some dirty water. Cut his leg getting in, got an infection and died later on. Seems a bit extreme but thats what i read. Anyways, when going to a meet bring a friend as a witness or just in case if this is a shady operation. Inspect the car and take your time. Don't rush, the other party may rush you to get rid of the vehicle.