Used 2005 Saab 92x Aero 2.0L turbo, aka Saabaru (Impreza WRX clone) for sale in Wilson, MN

2005 Saab 92x Aero 2.0L turbo, aka Saabaru (Impreza WRX clone)
Manual 5-speed
AWD
Needs valve work.
Included are a set of winter Blizzak tires in excellent condition on Subaru OEM 1999 Impreza RS rims. (details at bottom).

What it is: The Saab 9-2x Aero is mechanically a Subaru. A Subaru Impreza WRX turbo to be exact. It just has different sheet metal and seats, etc. It has the 2.0L 227hp turbocharged boxer engine and a manual 5-speed transmission. I bought it in excellent condition with 163k on it and used it for commuting primarily on the highway. Adult driven. I work on my own cars and I needed it to last awhile so I never beat on. It made to ~267k, so I must have been doing something right. Normal parts seem to be available just like a Subaru and when they aren’t, I just pretend it’s a 2005 Impreza WRX and use that part.

The bad news. This car recently started idling rough and the CEL came on. It turns out I’ve lost compression on the #2 cylinder. Compression was only 25psi, while the others were all 150psi. Car can still be taken on a short test drive to confirm general operation as it runs pretty normal off idle. I’m not sure the risk of driving it a longer distance - you’d have to do your homework.

What this means is the engine should come out and the valves serviced. At that point it makes sense to go through all the valves and freshen everything up. Right now that’s too much of a project for me to take on, and not cost effective for me to hire out.

The good news: It’s a great opportunity for someone looking for a WRX style performance car who is willing to pull their own engine. If you can do that, having the heads (or entire engine) rebuilt isn’t too cost prohibitive. Turbocharged Impreza WRX / 92x aero cars are still expensive and hard to find. This would be a way to get into one for minimal cost. The manual transmission has no issues. I treated it well and it mostly just cruised on the highway for most of it’s miles.

The overall condition is very good. There is just a little rust starting around the rear wheels and under the mirrors. When I purchased the car I rust proofed in the inside of the rockers, doors, hatch and body panels with greasy oil.

Below is a summary of some of work that has been done. I have a notebook with the full history available.

Date: Miles:
2019-07 265k Replaced platinum spark plugs, cleaned MAF sensor, recharged K&N air filter
2019-07 265k New rear rotors and pads, parking brake shoes and hardware. Repair exhaust heat shield.
2019-06 264k Removed rear exhaust cat and replaced with pipe to eliminate leak. Replaced oxygen sensor.
2019-03 257k Replaced oil pressure switch (was leaking)
2018-12 ~253k Replaced both front control arms because of rust. This was a known recall issue.
2018-11 ~253k Replaced front passenger brake caliper as the piston was leaking.
2018-07 251k Replaced inner and outer passenger CV boots, new front rotors and pads, sway bar links
2016-07 240k Installed power steering repair kit on steering rack to replace leaking tubing.
2016-07 240k Repaired leaking power steering pump switch as it was not available as a separate part.
2016-05 236k New radiator.
2016-01 227k Timing belt, water pump, pulleys, new alternator belt, new coolant. Greased alternator bearings.
2015-06 ~212k New windshield
2015-03 207k Replaced power steering pump.
2014-05 ~193k Replaced heater fan motor/controller and housing.
2013-10 ~177k Installed Subaru block heater

Here is some of the breakdown of anticipated repair costs I compiled while deciding if I should repair it myself. This assumes you can spare a couple weekends to pull the motor and replace it after it’s rebuilt. These are just retail price estimates. If you shop around or have a parts car you’ll be even better off. Beer budget for the weekends working in the shop are not included.

Full engine rebuild (quoted $2000-$2800 from local machine shop): $2800
Turbo rebuild kit (preventative measure): $50
New front exhaust (old will likely fall apart during disassembly): $100
Clutch kit (since the motor is already out): $250
Powering steering pump (drools a little oil): $100
Total parts cost: $3250
Purchase price: $2500
Grand total: $5750
Not a bad price tag for a manual transmission WRX equivalent car with a fresh motor. Most comparable cars have high mileage drivelines.

Rims are OEM Subaru from an 1999 Impreza RS. They have been professionally powder coated in satin black. Black rims look really tough on this car.
Tires are Blizzak WS70 205/55/R15. Tread depth is 8/32”. They are about 4 years old. Excellent condition.