School me on 2005 9-2x wagon Aero

Looking at buying a 05 aero wagon with 155k and asking $6600. The condition looks amazing from the outside and the asking price seems reasonable. I was just wondering if there were any common problems known with these cars? What to look for? I understand it's very close to the WRX wagons, which I know very little about them as well. 155k seems a bit long in the tooth compared to most vehicles I have purchased and for a lot less money. I have a two hour drive to look at the vehicle so I would like to have a heads up.

Thanks in advance!

chief

It's not so much "very close" to the WRX so much as it IS a WRX with a Saab grille.

I'm not particularly well versed on Subarus but I know that, if you're in the rust belt, rotted subframes are a common problem.

Hey... I have one of those. Nothing special to check that isnt on every Subaru. Check the front control arms and the front subframe for rust. The timing belt should have been changed so you will need proof of that. A big red flag is if there is a blow off valve or if there is some sort of aftermarket intake on an otherwise stock car. This is even more of a problem if the pre turbo catalytic converter is still there. I could go on with a Subaru brain dump but those are the biggest things I look for when I buy subarus

Ojala wrote: Hey... I have one of those. Nothing special to check that isnt on every Subaru. Check the front control arms and the front subframe for rust. The timing belt should have been changed so you will need proof of that. A big red flag is if there is a blow off valve or if there is some sort of aftermarket intake on an otherwise stock car. This is even more of a problem if the pre turbo catalytic converter is still there. I could go on with a Subaru brain dump but those are the biggest things I look for when I buy subarus

Please do tell, I have been wanting a WRX for a while, but never got around to putting alot of research into it. Does the price/mileage seem fair?

thanks!

that seems like a pretty damn good deal.
Down here, at least, that would probably go for $10k+ with proof of t belt being done and in pretty good shape.

In reply to chief8one:

Prices are stupid high right now for Subarus and Saabarus. The Saabs are quite a bit cheaper than comparable Subarus though so there is that. Of course without looking at the car it is impossible to tell if it is a good deal, but if the car has been maintained and hasnt been wrecked then that price is okay. If you have kids, get a used black back seat from an Impreza. The "linen" fabric on the Saabaru seats has never met a stain it didnt like and wanted to hold on to forever.

EDIT: I was getting all preachy.

Doesn't help much but to enable you. AFAIK I believe they have a STI steering rack and some other upgrades over a regular wrx.

It's just like a WRX, except better. Better sound insulation, powertrain mounts, control arms, steering rack, upholstery, auto HVAC, HIDs optional, fancy white leather optional, and of course looks are subjective but I like the Saab much more (I own one!). Typical Subie stuff to look out for, and of course if you mangle up any Saab specific body parts you'll regret it just a little more than if it were a Subie.

Bryce

I really like the car and am really considering making the 2 hour trip to look at it. Im mainly looking for this car as a DD and cross-country vehicle that can handle most elements and haul my gear from assignment to assignment.

Doing some research I see that finding body panels could be a issue if I ever had to replace them.

Question - how DIY are these cars/motors when it comes to repairs? Is 155k just breaking these motors in? I emailed the seller about the last time the T-belt and water pump were done, but no response yet.

In reply to chief8one:

Extremely DIY friendly. The longevity of the motor, as always comes down to maintenance. These cars like frequent oil changes with synthetic oil(shell rotella t is my fave). Belts are stupid easy, power steering groan is usually an o ring on top of the pump, gas smell is 4" of fuel line on the right side, victor reinz gaskets are the same as oem in a different box, timken bearings are oem in a different box, and many other similar little tips make this car easy to own.

This year doesn't have the pre-turbo cat convertor, so that is a good thing. I have the same motor in my race car and it has 166k miles of having the ever living snot beat out of it, but I also take good care of it. It's a fair price if it hasn't rusted. Make sure there is a heat shield covering the turbo, otherwise that is an indication that it was modified. Make sure you look underneath it on a lift for rust. They can vary greatly based on where the car lived it's life.