Good deal on a donor?

[anejo99]

Have an opportunity to get a 'running' donor and wanted some feedback/opinions. It is a 2002 WRX with a lot of engine mods (guy claims 340 HP). It has had a 2004 rebuilt tranny recently installed (with 'upgraded' gears - however, a 'friend' rebuilt it so he doesn't have any paperwork on it). He wants $5K for the car.

I have driven the car and it seems to run fine, although I have not had it checked out by a mechanic (yet). It has a salvage title (which should help keep the 'regular' buyers away) and is cosmetically in poor shape (needs body work and full paint job) and A/C doesn't work (compressor is suppose to be OK however) - all things that shouldn't really matter as a donor.

It has the following mods:
Exedy stage 1 organic clutch
Vf48 turbo
Sti top mount
Jdm pink injectors
Turbosmart veeport bov
Wally 255lph
Turbo xs boost controller
Stainless 3" down pipe catted
Vibrant street power exhaust 3" (sounds amazing looks stock)
2.5" catless uppipe
Mishimoto radiator
Dba slotted rotors
White line rear swaybar
Kyb agx struts. Tein springs in front and Cobb in rear
Ati triple clock pod
Aem uego wideband
Aem oil pressure
Aem fuel pressure
Apex-I boost gauge
Gates belts
Cobb turbo heat Sheild
Tein hood dampers
Blitz turbo timer
All samco hoses
Ap billet pitch stop
Kartboy shifter bushings
Group-n motor mounts
New end links not sure brand name off hand
05 rear end ( after it got rear ended)

He also (did himself) a gates timing belt kit w/all pulleys,tensioner and water pump. New ngk one step colder plugs.

Thoughts? Should I jump on it? Offer him a bit less (which I would do anyway) - if so, what might be fair?
Also, what should I look out for since this is a 2002 model?
Thanks, Pat

[Ironhydroxide]

Have an opportunity to get a 'running' donor and wanted some feedback/opinions. It is a 2002 WRX with a lot of engine mods (guy claims 340 HP). It has had a 2004 rebuilt tranny recently installed (with 'upgraded' gears - however, a 'friend' rebuilt it so he doesn't have any paperwork on it). He wants $5K for the car.

I have driven the car and it seems to run fine, although I have not had it checked out by a mechanic (yet). It has a salvage title (which should help keep the 'regular' buyers away) and is cosmetically in poor shape (needs body work and full paint job) and A/C doesn't work (compressor is suppose to be OK however) - all things that shouldn't really matter as a donor.

It has the following mods:
Exedy stage 1 organic clutch
Vf48 turbo
Sti top mount
Jdm pink injectors
Turbosmart veeport bov
Wally 255lph
Turbo xs boost controller
Stainless 3" down pipe catted
Vibrant street power exhaust 3" (sounds amazing looks stock)
2.5" catless uppipe
Mishimoto radiator
Dba slotted rotors
White line rear swaybar
Kyb agx struts. Tein springs in front and Cobb in rear
Ati triple clock pod
Aem uego wideband
Aem oil pressure
Aem fuel pressure
Apex-I boost gauge
Gates belts
Cobb turbo heat Sheild
Tein hood dampers
Blitz turbo timer
All samco hoses
Ap billet pitch stop
Kartboy shifter bushings
Group-n motor mounts
New end links not sure brand name off hand
05 rear end ( after it got rear ended)

He also (did himself) a gates timing belt kit w/all pulleys,tensioner and water pump. New ngk one step colder plugs.

Thoughts? Should I jump on it? Offer him a bit less (which I would do anyway) - if so, what might be fair?
Also, what should I look out for since this is a 2002 model?
Thanks, Pat

2002 had 2 different types of ECU (iirc) but really it's the same as the 04-05 engine. the Transmission WAS the narrow Gearset, but as he's swapped to the 04, you now have the wide gears.

as long as the tune is good and it's not too agressive i would say this is a good donor option.

[Mechie3]

How many miles? I bought a car in similar condition/mods with 180k miles for $3200. It didn't need paint, but needed the trunk replaced and some dents knocked out.

[anejo99]

It has 120k miles

[Mechie3]

It's an ok deal, not a great deal. If you're just going to tear it apart, you can find a better deal. My 06 donor (bought back from my own insurance) was only $4095 with 70k miles. I'd offer $4k. It's not worth $5k to you as a donor. If you were to keep it as a winter beater, maybe, but not just for cutting up.

[balddog818]

I was looking at that wrx just earlier, the one with the pink wheels haha!! i would have bought it if i wasnt leaving for boot camp in 2 weeks. To me it looks like a great deal, you can probably talk him down a bit.

[anejo99]

I think I can talk him down to around $4500 (tbd), but I am still curious about all the 'upgrades' he has done and weather those are worth it.

Meaning, are those upgades reasonable (i.e. not pushing things too far/still reliable) and with quality products (they appear to be mostly from known brands) and thus worthy/tasteful or even beneficial upgrades, or instead are they more 'ricer' type of mods and thus may cause me more problems than they are worth down the road. Thoughts?

[Evan78]

I see no mention of who tuned it or what engine management is being used.