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I'm getting ready to go and take a look at a 2002 WRX wagon. Any tips on what to look out for? The car has 96K miles and it's a manual. Is there a check list of items to check? Any known issues with 2002 WRXs?

Thanks all.

Ask if the fuel Service Bulletin has been performed. This fixes a leaky fuel connection in cold weather.

Ask what modifications have been done or removed. If it has a turbo back, ask if it has been tuned, and if so, with what.

Ask if a leakdown/compression test has been performed.

Listen for unusual noises.


Keep in mind, in 4k, it's going to need $1200-1500 worth of work (100k check up, timing belt etc.)

Good luck!

Thanks for the tips!

Sabre wrote:Listen for unusual noises.

All subaru's sound funny to me

Also if you can deal without the suby badge comparable 05-06 saabaru's usually go for quite a bit less than 02 wrx's.
I picked up my saabaru(05) for less than an 02-03 wrx was going for at the time with the same mileage or less.
Good Luck!

I haven't found any Saabaru's even close in price. I guess I'm not looking hard enough. Thanks for the tip.

I'd rather have a 9-2X anyhow. IMO the interior is nicer.

TRANS4M wrote: I'd rather have a 9-2X anyhow. IMO the interior is nicer.

I concur. Also, I would go for the 2.5L vs. the 2.0L. IIRC, they actually put some sound deadening material in the 9-2x, no?

sirwilliam wrote: Also, I would go for the 2.5L vs. the 2.0L.

2.5 = 2006 and 2.0 = 2005? Is that correct?

sirwilliam wrote: IIRC, they actually put some sound deadening material in the 9-2x, no?

From what I've read, yes. The two tone interior reminds me of my S4

TRANS4M wrote:

sirwilliam wrote: Also, I would go for the 2.5L vs. the 2.0L.

2.5 = 2006 and 2.0 = 2005? Is that correct?

Yes, but you won't find a 2.5L for cheap now...highly sought after. I still want one

2.5 5-speed is a unicorn! very few made.

Cool. Glad you know of them and have looked. I wanted to go the other way because I already have the sti. I actually wanted the 2 liter, dbc, non avcs, slushbox for ease of operation and future maintenance.

So I went to check out the 2002 wagon down in Stafford Co. A few things caught my eye right away.


1. Front bumper was hacked up. Previous owner probably damaged it on a curb or something and decided to cut the entire lower section out. At first glance, I thought that it might have had a FMIC, but that was not the case.

2. Brakes were very soft. The pedal would go almost to the floor. This is the first WRX I've driven, so I have nothing to compare it to.

3. The car had a triple gauge pod that contained boost, AFR, and oil temp. When going WOT, the boost would spike to 16 and then drop to 9, then spike back to 16, 9, repeat.

4. The passenger side floor carpet was peeled back. Isn't that where the ECU is?

5. The dash has a cut out next to the cup holder. I suspect it had a EBC at one point. A Blitz unit or something looks like it will fit there perfectly.

6. I got a chance to see the car on a lift. The car definitely hit something substantial enough to put a dent into the front cross member and ding the oil pan.

7. random switch covers were missing or had holes in them.


Anyone know why the boost would fluctuate like that? Are the WRX brakes really that bad?

wow, sounds like that car has been through some experiences...

not directly relevant, but i had the same issue w/ brakes when i bought my impreza earlier this year (weaker brakes than the wrx, but...). i did the pads and rotors first, almost no difference, and then bleeding the brakes twice (promptly afterwards, haha) brought them into good operation (very firm pedal).

off-hand, i'd suspect that they were not maintaining the brakes, and some fresh fluid would breath some life in.

I suspect that the car would need new pads up front and fresh fluids. I did not see much pad left on the fronts. The shop owner said that he would have a tech bleed the brakes and look into the boost issue and then he'll call me back for another test drive.

TRANS4M wrote:So I went to check out the 2002 wagon down in Stafford Co. A few things caught my eye right away.


1. Front bumper was hacked up. Previous owner probably damaged it on a curb or something and decided to cut the entire lower section out. At first glance, I thought that it might have had a FMIC, but that was not the case.

2. Brakes were very soft. The pedal would go almost to the floor. This is the first WRX I've driven, so I have nothing to compare it to.

3. The car had a triple gauge pod that contained boost, AFR, and oil temp. When going WOT, the boost would spike to 16 and then drop to 9, then spike back to 16, 9, repeat.

4. The passenger side floor carpet was peeled back. Isn't that where the ECU is?

5. The dash has a cut out next to the cup holder. I suspect it had a EBC at one point. A Blitz unit or something looks like it will fit there perfectly.

6. I got a chance to see the car on a lift. The car definitely hit something substantial enough to put a dent into the front cross member and ding the oil pan.

7. random switch covers were missing or had holes in them.


Anyone know why the boost would fluctuate like that? Are the WRX brakes really that bad?

Definitely sounds like it was modded prior...might still have a non-stock reflash on the ECU. I would be wary getting that old of a WRX with that many miles that I thought was modded....unless you were getting a steal of a deal and were planning to do a ton of work (if not replace the engine and tranny with something stronger). I would definitely get a carfax of it. If they don't have all the maintenance records, you will never know how it was abused.

a carfax report is worth less than the paper on which it's printed. that rex sounds like it was rode hard and put away wet.

chicken n waffles wrote:that rex sounds like it was rode hard and put away wet.

THIS. run away!

Do not want.

*stay away from it! save up and get a Saabaru since any of these cheapo deals will cost you the same in the end.

TRANS4M wrote:1. Front bumper was hacked up. Previous owner probably damaged it on a curb or something and decided to cut the entire lower section out. At first glance, I thought that it might have had a FMIC, but that was not the case.

2. Brakes were very soft. The pedal would go almost to the floor. This is the first WRX I've driven, so I have nothing to compare it to.
Probably (as Schvin said) needs to have it's brakes bled. While you're in there, put SS lines in and good pads. Parts will be around $300 for the above.

3. The car had a triple gauge pod that contained boost, AFR, and oil temp. When going WOT, the boost would spike to 16 and then drop to 9, then spike back to 16, 9, repeat.
This, along with 5, definitely means that it had a EBC. The car is hitting boost cut, which is why the boost is varying so much. I saw this on a friends open source tune which was not done properly.

4. The passenger side floor carpet was peeled back. Isn't that where the ECU is?
Yep! Probably had a UTEC and EBC on it.

5. The dash has a cut out next to the cup holder. I suspect it had a EBC at one point. A Blitz unit or something looks like it will fit there perfectly.
See 3

6. I got a chance to see the car on a lift. The car definitely hit something substantial enough to put a dent into the front cross member and ding the oil pan.

7. random switch covers were missing or had holes in them.

Anyone know why the boost would fluctuate like that? Are the WRX brakes really that bad?

Unless they come clean with what was done, I would move on. Sounds like it had a UTEC and an EBC and god only knows what kind of tune.

Thanks for the replies guys. I passed on that wagon.

I found a different wagon that I'm looking at.

I just looked on autotrader and their's a handfull of aero's out there. I went with a 500 mile radius and I saw some from 8k to over 12k. I just don't want to see you get an 02 with a boatload of work needed when you could get an 05 with less mileage that is more to your liking.

Thanks for looking out. I was interested in the 2002 wagon on CL for 4700 with a bad CV boot. Someone else beat me to it. The car was sold last night

Wow!! That woulda been a steal. Cheapest I can find an aero is 8-9k. I guess outta the 4-5k range your in? Lookin over CL I found a few out of state 92's. Here's a cherry deal for the mileage http://jerseyshore.craigslist.org/cto/1504363999.html

That's an awesome deal with really low miles. Just a bit out of my price range tho. Can I have $4,000?

Prolly not. 4-5k means it will be totaled/salvaged. I think I found the cheapest one in the US at 7k because it was someone's road whore. But if you can afford a payment of $200 +/- financed the money you save in insurance will make up for the asking price.