10k: Saabaru 2.5 Swap: 2005 Saab 9-2X Wagon
The Subaru flat-4 has been given a pass from enthusiasts for being unreliable even though they routinely act like Alec Baldwin when he sees a traffic cop…which is to say they froth at the seals and blow up suddenly. I only say this because of the extrodinary number of WRX/STi/9-2xs offered at around 80k miles with a new engine. Subaru could probably use Mazda’s rotary engine reliability weibull charts and be pretty accurate if craigslist is any indicator. But, if you buy one with a new engine that should mean another 80k of Billy behavior before it goes all Alec at the next meter maid you pass. Find this 2005 Saab 9-2X Wagon
offered for $11,500 buy-it-now on ebay with a few hours to go, located in Milford, CT.
The Saab 9-2X has about as much Saab in it as my left foot, which is to say it’s been near a Saab and rubbed elbows, but the car was entirely designed, engineered and built by Subaru. Some styling was attributed to Saab, but it was really the product of heavy handed badge engineering from GM when it owned a minority portion of Saab’s Subaru’s parent company Fuji Heavy Industries, and all of Saab.
This Saabaru had its original 2.0 liter engine give up the ghost and is now powered by a 2.5 liter block with the original small turbocharger. It should be a good combination of low end grunt and decent mid range — the seller quotes 240 horsepower and 315 ft-lbs of torque.
See another wagon ready for hooning? tips@dailyturismo.com
Not bad, but more interested in the FD in the garage.
My one-owner Subie 4 was still going strong at 290,000 miles when I sold it. Maybe the number of 80,000-mi WRXs with replacement engines is more reflective of WRX/STI drivers than the engine.
How many head gaskets to keep it going strong? 8^)
I concur with Anonymous, above. The typical lifecycle of the 80,000 mile engine rebuild WRX goes:
Original owner buys it new, looks after it, drives it for three/four years or to 60k miles, then buys the newest model.
Young guy buys it with all of his savings. It's the fastest thing he's ever driven!
Drives for 5000 miles. Turns the boost up. It's even faster!
Drives for 5000 miles. Turns the boost up again. It's faster still!
Drives for 5000 miles. Turns the boost up even more. Whoar!
Drives for 5000 miles. Turns the boost up one more time. Pop!