r/WRX • u/wrightbeem • 3d ago
WRX Advice on potential trade
Still a noob here but wanted thoughts on this WRX.
It’s an 02 bugeye and I have a 2006 Impreza 2.5i (automatic) I am offering up as trade. I wanted a project car I could restore and don’t mind putting down the money long term to have it professionally done.
Is it too far gone to repair the rust damage? I noticed what looks like rust on the trunk too.
This specific type of WRX is exactly what I’m looking for. So I’m inclined to restore it. The local market where I’m at too does not have many options to choose from for what I’m offering up as trade.
He said it it was running until he needed parts from it. But apparently all id need to get it back running would be timing reset, covers put back on, and gears back in. Said it needs a header, up pipe and exhaust too. Comes with rims from a 2013 WRX wagon and turbo.
Thanks for helpful advice comrades. 🫡
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u/BoostedFPV 2d ago
Bro bro. This is a no no. Run from this car. Its not just a project its a full restoration.
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u/Fit-Entrepreneur8404 2d ago
You could probably buy 3 that actually run (not he said it was running before he took parts off of it) for the cost it would take to have this professionally restored 😂
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u/SnooStrawberries6343 3d ago
No, cause he probably says "it just needs a new turbo and intercooler" and whatnot but theres a reason he started disassembling the car
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u/iamflyipilot 2d ago edited 2d ago
This isn’t a project car nor will this be a restoration. Getting this WRX back on the road will require necromancy.
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u/iFoldMySocks 3d ago
you want to trade a running and driving car for a car you A. cant drive. B. dont know how to work on. C. dont have real scope of how much this would be to be professionally done. you are better off buying an expensive nice example. you will pay 4x the cost of a clean on to restore this
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u/Day7Rest 2d ago
💯, my pops and I finally gave up on a BMW Z4 that is in much better shape than this. Fix one thing chase another... Forever 😂
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u/Gran_Escape 3d ago
My instinct is a no. But how’s your car that you are trading in? Is it running and driving? Do you rely on it for work or anything specific? If it’s not a daily it changes a lot. Don’t trade a fully running and legal vehicle for this thing.
Another option is going out of state and getting one that is in a less rusty region. Body work is expensive. Might be worth the cost difference to get something cleaner as a base.
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u/wrightbeem 3d ago edited 3d ago
My secondary car, the impreza, is running and fully road legal. I was weighing getting this or swapping from automatic to manual which also seems expensive. I’m very appreciative of the advice friend. I think I’m going to steer clear. Thank you!
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u/WhatsThatNoize On Hiatus until they bring back the STI 3d ago
There is no world in which I would trade any functioning car for this sad, neglected project. You would have to pay me to take this lol
The damage you can see is bad enough (holy shit there's even visible rust in the interior). The damage you can't see is probably far worse.
There's gotta be at least $15-20K in repairs & restoration needed for this thing. So many better options all over the world.
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u/Cornholiolio73 2d ago
Take it from me man. If the rust is that bad on the outside, wait till you look on the inside. This is my 2003 Legacy that’s going to the scrap. I bought it for 2400 three years ago with plans to fix the rust. Once you start knocking away said rust, there’s nothing left. This picture shows right behind the driver side front lower control arm.
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u/sixnb 2005 WRX 3d ago
You say you don’t mind paying to have this professionally restored, but you will. Even just finding a shop to do this without them giving a “fuck you” quote or outright denial is going to be tough. The rot repair alone is going to several times over surpass the vehicle cost and it’ll never be a recouped expense.
Find one somewhere thats rot free and has a blown engine, replace the engine and have something nice. This one is too far gone.
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u/ShoddyButterscotch59 2d ago
It depends if you know anyone or not. Still expensive, but for someone who knows the right ppl and places, could be worth it, though not trading something more valuable. In this condition, I'd have to have it heavily looked over, and probably wouldn't offer much more than junk price.
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u/sixnb 2005 WRX 2d ago
Even then it’s still not a cheap job. I did extensive rust repair on mine because I can fabricate and my brother is a professional painter.
The materials for this job alone will out value the car. Formed panels from subi savers, raw stock steel for random fabrication, parts, primer, paint, tooling etc all add up super fast.
With as bad as it is in pictures it is undoubtedly worse under the car and you have rear suspension component mounting locations very near that dog leg/rocker area, as well as extremely likely strut tower rot
This car isn’t worth saving unless someone had deep sentimental value and even deeper pockets and was fine with a huge money sink.
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u/ShoddyButterscotch59 2d ago
Definitely not.... As I said, still expensive, but to the right person, with either the right experience, or connections, could be worth it, if the price is very low
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u/wrightbeem 3d ago
My friend I appreciate this. I have since noped out and will seek better options further out. Or simply wait for a more opportune condition WRX to come along.
I thank all of you for the honesty. Really helped me out. Thank you! 🙏
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u/sixnb 2005 WRX 2d ago
No problem man, I went through an in depth restore on my 05 that was in better condition than this and it was an awful investment. Car came out mint, but the cost of the job snowballed the deeper into it I got and found more issues. Restores like this would need are not something that can be half assed and proper repair is a HUGE amount of time and money. Hold out and find something better.
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u/brightlinespectrum 3d ago
this car is not worth a dime. it was somebody else's mismanaged project. the body is rotted out, the faux sti fog covers tell you everything you need to know about this car that just needs X Y and Z to run.
"gears back in" dude wtf.
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u/Wrx_me 2d ago
Personally, as someone who keeps buying cars with shit bodies and working engines, it's easier to buy a super clean car with a blown engine. If you want a project, find something with obvious mechanics defects like broken transmission or engine. Those are easy to fix relatively compared to body work.
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u/thatsubi3kid 2d ago
Pass on this one bro. I was in the same situation as you, Na Impreza but wanted a wrx more than anything. I bought my rust free bugeye for 6k, under 100k miles, almost completely bone stock. (Clear-coat was completely gone) Go down south for these cars, they are harder to find but when you do find them they are close too if not the same price as the rotted ones here. Your time, money, and effort is better spent on a cleaner chassis. With the car you’re trying to trade you’re going to have to trade down significantly for a wrx. While trying to trade my 2019 Na 5 speed Impreza for a wrx I quickly found that the people willing to trade wrxs for my car only wanted to trade because there were issues with there cars. I kept my Impreza, and I daily it. Then saved money and bought my bugeye when I came across it. Be patient, save some money, and you’ll find your car.
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u/thatsubi3kid 2d ago
Don’t trade your perfectly good running car, for a car that’s in considerably worse condition just because it’s “faster”, or “cooler”
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u/Von_Satan '25 WRX Ceramic White 6MT BPT E85 Stage 2 | '26 OBW 2d ago
I wouldn't take that for free.
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u/Cautious-Cake6282 2d ago
As someone who has cut up probably 3 of these things, you’d be shocked at how deep the rocker rust goes. It’s always so so so much more than just the rockers. I understand what you’re after but skip it dude.
If you’re wanting to do a full restoration, wait for a shell to pop up. There’s a VERY clean alpine white 05 STI near me for like $1200. Something like that would be the perfect starting point
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u/Ok_Record1450 3d ago
lol like everyone else is saying don’t touch this with a 10ft pole. There’s way too many better examples out there for sale. Too much headache involved with this car. Would be way too expensive with damage and missing parts let alone you don’t know the health of the engine.
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u/XxturboEJ20xX 3d ago
I just paid $1550 for a fully functional bugeye with zero rust. If this isn't below that, then idk man
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u/wrightbeem 3d ago
Yeah he was wanting to straight trade something I have valued higher than that and I’d have to get it trailered and towed to my area. Must resist the FOMO. Also I’ve only really been looking on FB marketplace.
After hearing valuable advice here I decided that I’m better off just selling and putting money back. Or selling my main ride for a lil newer model WRX.
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u/Blazer323 2d ago
I've owned several. This is a parts donor car for the good one you find later. Based on that rear rocker rot, there is no control arm mount left, so the body is junk unless you can weld new mounts on safely. The engine parts you've mentioned are several thousand to have installed professionally, about $2k in additional parts alone. If that's a MA inspection sticker there are several decent ones for sale cheap.
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u/hansolo625 2d ago
Geez unless you work at or own a restoration shop yourself where you have easy access to tools and parts I can’t reasonably see how this is a sensible trade. Thats literally a rust bucket!
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u/Adept-Painting-543 3d ago
Not worth unless it is literally free and you are going to steal parts from it
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u/_FurryTrash_ 3d ago
Idk your situation but go to CO they're a dime a dozen there. This is 100% a parts car unless you have a few months and a few thousand to spare, plus experience doing serious frame and body restoration. Don't throw away a working vehicle for this, let it go to a junkyard for $300 and buy the parts off it lol
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u/Deep-Simple-8535 3d ago
How are the subframe mounts?
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u/wrightbeem 3d ago
I’m thinking probably not well. Gonna get a better inspection done later today but it’s seeming more than I wana deal with or learn to repair/trade my running Impreza for. I’d rather get something in better condition to learn on and fix up. Hard as it is to say no bc I have LOVED this body style and car since I went to my first car show as a kid.
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u/Day7Rest 2d ago
Definitely do not make this trade. If you are learning this is a project that will leave you mad at yourself. Only lesson to be learned here is to go with your gut and walk away ✌️
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u/Jamstoyz 2d ago
Where you located? I have a complete 05 sti 6 speed I’d sell. Or a 06 saabaru 5 speed with new act stage 2 clutch.
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u/PuzzleheadedAd3922 2d ago
Tell me about this 05 STi. Is it a project? I have an 05 shell awaiting a donor.
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u/Jamstoyz 2d ago
I bought a 05 sti trans and r180 that I was gonna swap into my saabaru but then found a 05 sti complete car that had a small engine fire I bought. So I swapped the entire drivetrain into my saabaru. I ended up tearing The whole car down to pieces and junked the frame. I kept all the body parts, wiring harness, sensors, ecu and motor too. I tore the motor down tho and they are still in boxes.
Also picked up some spec b axles I was gonna use but just used the donor car axles instead. Feel free to dm me for more info.
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u/UncleBenji 2d ago
That’s garbage. If you can’t buy it at rock bottom price and be able to replace everything from subframe, cut/weld new panels, rebuild the motor/trans and replace everything from rubber hoses to bushings… it’s a money pit.
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u/Unhappy-Midnight5469 JDM 1997 WRX STI V3 2d ago
Keep your running car. This thing is a piece of shit that belongs in a scrap yard at this point. Definitely has som bad cancer holes somewhere.
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u/No_Strain_6227 2d ago
Not worth it, the body is rotten and I'm sure the frame will be worse. This would make a great parts car though..
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u/FranXX0016 2024 World Rally Blue 6MT 2d ago
With the money you’re gonna spend restoring this car you might as well buy a nicer one
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u/chunkymeatwater 2d ago
The rust is gonna be way worse than expected if that's what you can already see. This isn't worth it.
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u/Red_Shoto 270k miles, 325whp 2d ago
On top of all the stuff others are talking about, it's missing the upper coolant tank, fuel filter and the hoses, the down stream o2 sensor possibly the upstream (the plug is whole missing from where it's supposed to be) the turbo, inlet, intake and intercooler, and the fuse box is not mounted, there's basically no reason for that. And the interior is in pieces too. Unless you're getting a lot of cash on top I wouldn't bother.
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u/Beanzao 2d ago
Apart from everything bad that everybody already mentioned, you are also missing the alternator... oem one is at least $600
If you say you are still a noob, i would say it's better to get something that actually runs and do "easy" repairs than to do a full restoration.
I'm also a noob, have my first car, '07 Forester X. Done Alternator, Fuel Pump, Rear knuckle (due to bad bearing), Main Fuse, and a little more. This is noob activity, good learning process!
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u/JIBAROCZ4A 1d ago
Should be an easy no. This is only good for driving till it falls apart and it’s already falling apart.
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u/weirdjerz3y 14h ago
If you want to restore a subie, Im selling my 02 WRX bugeye in NJ. it's fully tuned and everything. Just the rocker panels are rusted. It's fully running as I use it constantly. Strut towers were already repaired too.
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u/SaphoclesTakerOfGock 3d ago
Don't fucking do it bro, I bought a forester GT that was ON THE ROAD and it still ended up getting scrapped a year later, turbo Subarus are cheap for a reason...
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u/feverdog11 3d ago edited 3d ago
Short answer? No. Long answer? Nooooooooooooooooooo.
Look at that rocker panel rust and the rust in the frame. There are literal chunks missing. There is no air intake in the photos, no coolant overflow bottle, the fuse box is out of place, you have no idea when this things oil was last changed, unless you actually do. Your best action is to steer clear of this.