Buying a BD5 as a project

[syphe]

Hi all,

I\'m looking at buying a BD5 RS legacy in the next year as a project once I\'ve built myself a car port around the back of my garage, but wondering if I can get some opinions from the fine clubsub folk as to what I should be looking out for and what to avoid.

Preferably after a 1996-1998 in white or yellow, manual.

I don\'t have many plans other than giving it a tidy, make it shine, and depending on the state of the engine/turbo rebuild and go single turbo.

My last project was an E30 BMW which I sold in order to buy a TV for our new house, I still regret selling that, but here we are

So, just a couple of questions, I\'m looking for cars in the ballpark of $2-3k, am I looking for trouble at this price range? From the looks of it most at this price have some rough body work and/or shagged turbo\'s or other unknown engine problems.

At that price range is it work getting a compression/leak down test done? I presume I\'ll probably have to strip it down anyway, but am I better off starting with something that is relatively in good order from the start?

Anything else to look for or avoid? Rust in odd places etc?

Appreciate the help.

[Joker]

get a wagon? remember your last ride will be in one!

[syphe]

considered it, but don\'t really need one, and have a soft spot for the 2nd gen RS\'s.

[Guest]

I see you mention single turbo so probably the one thing to avoid would be a legacy.

[rex-leggy]

look for a late revision. if you get a bd5a there a pig to convert. a bd5b or bd5c is what you want.

makes the conversion that much simpler.

[syphe]

 evowrx said:

I see you mention single turbo so probably the one thing to avoid would be a legacy.

haha, yeah I know it\'s a bit dumb aye

Mainly just because I\'m quite tall and it has a bit more legroom than the impreza\'s, if I find one I\'ll likely keep it twin unless one of them dies.

cheers Rex, those are the years I was looking at, but mainly due to the fact I like the bumpers on the facelift ones, good to know it\'ll help out technically too.

[Joker]

they weigh less than the newer STI\'s

better cruisers/more luxury as mentioned

[ARGHAYE]

i will possibly be selling my single converted wagon in a few months due to lack of space... you definately not keen on a wagon?

[syphe]

flick me a pm or something when you plan on selling if you like. I wouldn\'t say no, was originally looking at the sedan\'s as they go for cheaper on trademe.

[Marky]

If anything I\'d say aim for one of the later ones, the RS-B with the facelift & 17"s etc, they seem to resell a lot better... but finding one dirt cheap is another story.

I still have a pipe dream the same as yours, early RS running parallel or single with a cheap link or what have you. I just like them more than early wrxs\' visually and inside, shame they got short changed in the engine dept is all

That said, you can pick up a manual BE B4 for quite cheap too - keep your eyes open, you get a much nicer car going to the next shape up for very little $$ difference

[syphe]

yeah definitely after the facelift RS-B, my brother sold a white one with tan interior about 6 years ago in immaculate condition for far too cheap, so part of me is looking for one just like that hehe.

yeah had a look at the BE\'s as well, some of them go rather cheap. Will see what comes up, probably a while away from buying one anyway so will just keep my eyes peeled.

cheers for the responses guys, very helpful.

[Munkvy]

If you do go BD/BG, watch for rust. Mine has got it in anywhere that has been hit by gravel so round the guards for example. But also above the windscreen and round the sunroofs seem to be common spots too. And for a sedan I imagine they could have water pool in the boot and have potential rust? (I have a wagon, so dunno on this).

Other than that, get one with turbos that don\'t whine if possible and thrash it till it blows a bearing or turbo, then set it on fire!