gnawed tires on 2000 impreza rs

[Bob]

Hi,

I'm looking to replace a 95 Accord, and have lately found a lot of
enticing little models from Subaru. I'm kind of hung up on what to
buy, but the first Subaru i drive was a 2000 impreza rs 5 speed. The
car is exceptionally clean, only has 35k miles on it, and the dealer is
asking $14k (which lines up with blue book). However, i'm a litle
concerned that the tires currently on the rear are nearly bald at the
outer edge (shoulder?). The tires up front are in average shape for
the miles on the car.

I've seen a few references to Subaru's eating tires, and was wondering
if this is just normal, or if it's likely to be an alignment issue on
the car? If i had to guess, i would say that these were problably the
front tires when the dealer picked up the car, and just rotated them so
it wasn't so painfully obvious that the threads were about to show.

While i have your attention (assuming i still do), any thoughts on $14k
for a clean 2000 rs? The interior has a few rattles and glitches
(weatherstripping coming off around door frame, etc), but the seats are
the _awesome_ and i had a blast dodging and weaving minivans in
suburbia. I'd ask them to throw in an alignment and a credit for new
tires. I drove an '02 WRX, but i think i had more fun in the RS...i'm
not accustomed to turbo lag, and the extra .5L in the RS just seemed to
give it a little more squirt...(not sure how the weight compares...RS
handling felt better, too)

 

[hippo]

<<I've seen a few references to Subaru's eating tires, and was wondering if
this is just normal, or if it's likely to be an alignment issue on the car?
If i had to guess, i would say that these were problably the front tires
when the dealer picked up the car, and just rotated them so
it wasn't so painfully obvious that the threads were about to show.

While i have your attention (assuming i still do), any thoughts on $14k
for a clean 2000 rs? The interior has a few rattles and glitches
(weatherstripping coming off around door frame, etc), but the seats are
the _awesome_ and i had a blast dodging and weaving minivans in
suburbia. I'd ask them to throw in an alignment and a credit for new
tires. I drove an '02 WRX, but i think i had more fun in the RS...i'm not
accustomed to turbo lag, and the extra .5L in the RS just seemed to give it
a little more squirt...(not sure how the weight compares...RS
handling felt better, too)>>

 

[hippo]

<<I've seen a few references to Subaru's eating tires, and was wondering if
this is just normal, or if it's likely to be an alignment issue on the car?
If i had to guess, i would say that these were problably the front tires
when the dealer picked up the car, and just rotated them so
it wasn't so painfully obvious that the threads were about to show.

While i have your attention (assuming i still do), any thoughts on $14k
for a clean 2000 rs? The interior has a few rattles and glitches
(weatherstripping coming off around door frame, etc), but the seats are
the _awesome_ and i had a blast dodging and weaving minivans in
suburbia. I'd ask them to throw in an alignment and a credit for new
tires. I drove an '02 WRX, but i think i had more fun in the RS...i'm not
accustomed to turbo lag, and the extra .5L in the RS just seemed to give it
a little more squirt...(not sure how the weight compares...RS
handling felt better, too)>>

Oops! Hit submit instead of continuing - sorry!

Sounds like a fair call on the front to rear swap. I'd be concerned about
its general maintenance history if tires (not *that* expensive and pretty
obivous) have been allowed to get like that. Can't comment on prices over
there but if tires are that bad, surely they'd need replacing anyway? If
you want it, hang out for a new pair and a rotate so they're on the front
and make sure you get *all four* wheels aligned. Plan B is buy it
conditional on a four wheel align *and* nothing horrible (like a dodgy
repair job) showing up when it's done. Cheers