You might be tempted to spend the money on a newer STi, but keep in mind that the newest 2021 model costs $37,245.
Keep in mind that from a few electronic gadgets and restyling, the power specs and performance are still pretty much the same from the 2004 to the 2021 model.
Car History
I bought this car in 2008 when it was about 4 years old from a friend who was using it as a daily driver. Due to his job, he ended up having to move out of the country so he offered selling it to me.
Before I agreed to purchase the car, I paid for an official complete inspection from Subaru in Monrovia, CA (I still have the invoice). The inspection revealed that the rotors and brakes were a little worn, along with some minor noise coming from the rear struts (which turned out to just need some lubrication), which is a common STi problem due to the stiff suspension. The tires were also a bit worn having never been changed/rotated or aligned since the factory.
Other than that, there were no major issues at all. Motor, transmission, exterior, radio, AC, power windows, intercooler sprayer, etc, were (and still are) all functional and in excellent condition.
At the time when the pinkslip was signed over to me, the car had 48,889 miles. Currently the odometer reads: 80,200 miles. Overall, I drove it another 31,000 miles over the course of 13 years, or around 2400 miles/year which is way below the 14K miles/year that most Californians drive.
This car was mostly a weekend road trip car for me, and I took excellent care of it. I doubt you'll see many 1st gen STis that are in this condition and with this many miles on it.
Today in 2021, 13 years later, the car is still in excellent condition. I've always kept the car garaged (or had the car cover on) so the paint and exterior are in great condition and not faded at all, aside from a few minor dents and blemishes from other car doors in the parking lot (see pictures)[TBD].
Over the years, I purchased oil and fluids from the dealership (transmission fluid, coolant, brake/clutch fluids, etc) and changed them myself. Also, I've since corrected the rear suspension noise issues by installing grease fittings on the rear struts.
The car was last smogged in 2018. Since there are no non-smog legal engine modifications, the car passed all emissions and visual inspections without any problems. If interested, I've kept documentation of all the service performed on the car and can provide receipts/invoices for proof of maintenance over the years.
Why I'm selling it
I'm looking for something that will fit my new needs and lifestyle. To be honest, I'm really sad that I have to sell this car but I think it's time. This is really a fun and incredibly safe ride (airbags, ABS, AWD), and if I were in a different place in my life, I probably would never consider selling it and give it to my kids.
For the first 3 years or so, I drove the car to and from work which was only 10 miles away from where I used to live. A couple years later, I got a new job that was much further away from home and I stopped actively driving the car. Once I moved to a new home about 7 years ago, I've honestly only driven the car on a few short road trips to San Diego and Santa Barbara since then.
Also, this car requires more attention and time than I currently have, so since then the car has been sitting in the garage 90% of the time.
Overall, it's in great condition considering that it's a 17 year old car. It's unlikely you'll find many 1st gen USDM STis that haven't been raced, beaten to shit, have crappy mods, or ones that don't have well over 100K+ on the motor and/or chassis. If you can find the same car in the same condition with less mileage and damage, then go ahead and buy it. While this car isn't rare by any means, people who know already realize it's true value and potential.
When it's gone I know I'll miss it. But since I don't drive it much these days, I'll be happy once the car goes to someone who can truly appreciate automotive history and how incredible this car is.
Seibon carbon fiber hood with functional intercooler scoop
HKS adjustable blow off valve - I have the box and original blow off valve if you want it
Greddy adjustable turbo timer
Added grease fittings on stock pink rear STI struts
Other Included Add-ons
Pioneer CD deck w/ amp and subwoofer in the trunk
Fitted cover with bag, cable, and lock
All manuals, repair logs included
Subaru wheel locks
Street legal tint
Minor mechanical issues
Right passenger side tire - I bought a set of new stock tires a few years after I purchased the car, but I haven't changed them since then. Due to normal wear and tear, the rear passenger side tire is leaking air, so this will need to be replaced.
Intercooler scoop - About a year ago, the underside of the intercooler scoop (the vents inside the engine bay) became dislodged and I lost the bolts. It doesn't affect the car's functionality but the buyer should take the time to fix this.
Small dash rattle - Common symptoms with cars that have stiff suspensions.
Trunk subwoofer - I disconnected this when I bought it so I never really used it. It's enclosed and still works but up to the buyer what they want to do with this.
Cosmetic issues
Dents, scuffs and scrapes - A few years back, another driver hit me in the parking lot while backing out of a spot which left behind a small white paint scuff on the rear bumper.
There are some very small dents in the doors, again from other careless drivers in parking lots.
The clear coat on the carbon fiber hood is fading. I was going to have this painted to match the car since I don't care much for the carbon fiber look, but I never got around to this.
Pricing and Availability
Location: Cerritos, CA (Pick-up only, see below)
Price: $19,000 or best offer
Payment: Cashier's check (delivery upon deposit)
Available: As of April 2021
Contact Me
Please read the entire post above before making contact with me. I've taken the time to document the condition of this item as much as possible to avoid quesions and confusion.
That being said, if you still have other questions that are not answered by the information above, feel free to shoot me an email and I'll get back to you as soon as I can.
At the moment, I will only be accepting cash offers. I'm not currently in the market for trades, but if you think you've really got something worthwhile, I might consider cash + trade.
Seller Terms and Conditions
Listed below are my terms and conditions for purchase of this item (2004 Subaru WRX STi listed above). If you choose not to abide by them, the seller (me) has the right to reserve 100% termination or reversal of the sale at any time.
Buyer acknowledges condition of item
Buyer is aware of the complete condition of the item and takes complete responsibility of the item once the title has been signed and transaction is complete. The buyer agrees that the conditions of the item in question have been represented accurately and have not been falsified or misled.
Item availble for pick-up only
This item is only available for pick-up in Cerritos, California area. The seller (me) reserves the right to provide time and the location of the sale to ensure the saftey of both parties during the transaction. The seller (me) also reserves the right to have local law enforcement to be present to ensure safe delivery of the item.
Buyer acknowledges and is responsible for item hand-off
Buyer will be 100% responsible for the pick-up, transportation, insurance, and registration of the vehicle after the transaction is complete.
Bill of sale
As proof of the transaction and to protect both the buyer and seller, the seller (I) will provide a standard bill of sale which will include the description of the item(s) in question, identification of both parties. Both the buyer and seller will receive copies for record keeping.
The Bill of Sale will include the purchase price, the VIN, the model and year of the vehicle, the warranty and odometer provisions, and the signed legal names and addresses of both the seller and the buyer.
Title and registration
The title of this vehicle is clean with no accidents. The total cost of the transfer, including any registration fees, bank transaction fees, smog fees, etc will be the sole responsibility of the buyer.
3rd party buyers or resellers
This is a direct sale. The seller (me) will not sell through/to a 3rd party, individual, or intermediary. The seller (me) assumes that the person making contact with the seller is the person who is purchasing the vehicle and will be ultimately responsible for payment and signing legal documents under their own name. The seller (me) is not responsible for further sale to a 3rd party once the transaction is complete.
All sales are final
The buyer assumes all fiscal and legal responsibility of the vehicle once sale is complete. Unless agreed upon by the seller, no exchanges, refunds or returns are allowed.
