Opinions on this JPS Widebody

Scott, IMHO this car with the Subi motor is a great deal...having bumpers instead of the cut down chrome nerf bars on a super wide seems a bit funky. Two things to consider , there is no way you could have this built near the selling price and " He who hesitates is, lost "  Alan aka Drclcok

I'm not a wide body fan but for the money that looks very nice.

Yes, that is a nice looking car.  I can appreciate 'junk in the trunk'.

 

That is a great looking car.  It's been said before but JPS can sure lay down some great looking paint.  It looks to have all the options you'd need/want and for what seems to be a pretty decent price.

A Speedster replica doesn't get any better looking than this bad boy.  Plus Suby power---jump on it!!  A spectacular car. 

 

What Robert said X2!

Says that car has DOHC 2.5.  Most of these cars have the SOHC 2.5 engine.  Not much difference in HP.  But more expensive heads that will rev a little quicker.  My spyder had the DOHC engine.  Crazy fast in a 1500 lb car.  Wide body fans have to be salivating.  Most wide bodies are all show and no go.  This one has the go factor.

You realize that car is not a super widebody, right?  It's the inbetween version.

Yes I do realize and I am a super widebody fan but with Suby power and ac its pretty much pushes the right buttons - I have a the go ahead from the proper authorities - (better half lol) - Unless another option comes up I will be calling them this morning - 

Love the molten metal color!  I can see that low anti-sway bar taking some road hits.  Yeah the add on A/C would have to go but probably not difficult to incorporate in dash or with an IM below dash strip. Selling after only 1500 miles - wonder what teething issues are? Overheating?  Or simply not a fit for S. Dakota? 

if you went new,these cars with Suby power are 50 plus from Carey and 70 plus from Henry.

 On the surface seems like a great deal.

Hey I really like that colour... looks like my Sabrina...Ray

Doesn't that car have the super wide arse?....Those wheels as I recall are SW specific?

Nope.  They are used on both widebody versions.

Very nice looking car.  In my opinion, wide 5s or Fuchs are the nicest wheels for a regular body Speedster, followed closely by wheels with nipple hub caps.  Just my opinion.

       

JPS puts its rad in the front, in a horizontal position, right?  If so, where does the air conditioner rad go?   I know the air con rad usually goes in front of the coolant rad, but is there enough ground clearance with a horizontal rad install?

I'm not usually a wide body fan, but I really like this car.  I think it looks great with bumpers and I really like the paint color (but I'm biased).

Spoke with the owner - hes taking a few more pics of some areas that are not perfect - Seems like a small chip in the paint - a small crack at the door - a crack in the windshield.  He mentioned that when you get on it the car will occasionally blow smoke - JPS response was the and I might get this wrong - but something like chrome moly rings need to seat and this will get better as the engine breaks in - 

 

Anyone have recommendations for enclosed car carries - I contacted reliable but they do not operate that route - Put a quick ad up on uship as well -  Strongly thinking about pulling trigger on this today.

Scott---if this was available when I was searching for a Speedster I'd have jumped on it.  

 

Get to the bottom of the smoking---like a warranty from the seller related to this issue. No matter though---it is a great car at a super price.

nice speedster but I'd recommend spending $100-$200 for an independent mechanic to inspect on the ground.

it is my understanding JPS buys used Suby engines and rebuilds. "Smoking" engines can lead to major headaches. 

good luck.

 

Some subie engines have had an oil ring that sticks and caused a lot of oil usage but not smoking, I wonder if you should call JPS to get the warranty transferred or some concessions if the smoking does not stop.  A good subie specialty shop would be my suggestion or I guess you could always use a stop smoking patch

 

Update: Only about a 50% cure rate

If the radiator is horizontal, Is there a trunk in that car?  Any picts?

Smokes?  Don't take a chance on it by inheriting another's headache....be patient and another deal will surface.

Here is the video I received - he is a very nice guy - seems very upfront - We are checking with JPS on warranty - Car was built 2014 - He says as the car warms up most of it goes away and only shows when you "get on it"

 

Good luck on a JPS warranty for a car you didn't buy from him.

I wouldn't touch that car.  At least he was honest about it.  Yikes.

Let the existing owner deal with the builder Now
Otherwise take off 5k or risk losing it anyway
Alan is right otherwise
Always another deal around the corner

The builder claims that will go away after it breaks in.  Something about a chrome moly something or other...  

Scott, I understand how hard it is to be objective when you want something.  

Scott, 

 

Members are trying to alert you to possible engine problems.  Of course, no matter how much mechanical knowledge a person has, an accurate remote diagnosis is almost impossible.  However, some generalities do apply. On a rebuilt engine, the engine may have new pistons and new rings.

 

These rings effectively seal the combustion chamber, keeping that space comparatively free of oil so that only the fuel mixture burns.  There is a break-in procedure to help the new rings effectively seal the cylinders.  Prior to the rings sealing, some blow-by or smoke can result.

 

However, since the engine reportedly has 1500 miles on it, the rings should have sealed by now.  There are LOTS of possible causes of excessive smoke, some for white smoke, others for black.  Some conditions are simple to fix, while others may dictate a tear-down of the engine.  

 

It may be a good time to have a qualified mechanic do a pre-purchase inspection.  Members who live close to the car may be able to suggest a likely source.  Best of luck in whatever you decide, and please keep the group informed.  This is how we all increase our knowledge.

When I got my suby spyder the engine was blowing crankcase filters.  Checked crank case pressure and had awful blow by.  (Not Greg Leach's fault, ripped off by suby engine supplier no longer in business)  Had engine rebuilt with new short block and had heads rebuilt.  Never blew a puff of blue smoke.  Tough for east coast guys to buy west coast products and ever get any restitution if something goes wrong.  I'm not a mechanical guy but one thing I have learned...BLUE SMOKE BAD.

http://www.consumerreports.org...eres-smoke/index.htm

Amen to that - very hard - My wife is just telling me to roll the dice and go for it - (very rare I might ad) - I am sitting here just thinking it shouldnt be like that - Of course finding a used widebody subaru powered speedster with ac is not an easy task either. Ugh...

 

The car looks great, but I would not buy it without an independent assessment of the engine.  An engine rebuild is not cheap...

 

 

I wonder how much that car is new?  My mom used to say to me ... Ray is your money burning a hole in your pocket?  Wait .... ha ha... 

"when you get on it the car will occasionally blow smoke - JPS response was the and I might get this wrong - but something like chrome moly rings need to seat and this will get better as the engine breaks in - "

 

OK, so most people on here are recommending you walk away from this.

 

After 1,500 miles, even with Chrome Moly rings, that engine should be broken in IF the PO broke it in properly.  If he was out racing WRXs in the first 1,000 miles of life, then it's probably never going to "break in", period.  And who really listens to what John Steele says after the fact, anyway?  If the PO did "get on it" a lot before break-in was done, then it most likely has a cracked oil ring somewhere and THAT requires a teardown to fix.

 

Find a local Suby tuner shop and ask them about it or, if you can find out who built the engine then go ask them about it (and be sure to show them the video of the smoke - that doesn't look good no matter how many miles are on it).  The engine may stand behind their product and treat you right - who knows?  But you have to find them and ask.

 

If you can get the guy down $5K or more on his asking price so you can have a decent Suby shop pull the engine, do a tear-down and fix what's wrong, then maybe, maybe consider it because it's gonna cost you $5-$6 grand to get everything fixed and we all know that JPS cars have to be thoroughly gone through after delivery to make them right, if not just to get them safe.

 

I would keep looking, though.

 

 

I said a warranty from the seller, not the manufacturer.  Some of my advice might be stupid but not that stupid!  Please.

 

You will have better luck getting a pre purchase inspection agreement than another $5k knocked off.  

Appreciate the advice and input - its keeping me grounded - I was ready to wire the funds today - after seeing the video I am concerned - he is firm on price as he feels $8k off a new one with no wait is a fair offering - I agree with that (except for the motor) - I have mentioned my reservations to the seller about the engine (the only thing keeping me from sending him money) - at this point I think I will have to pass without getting a resolution to that issue. 

Always best to be 99% sure, the right deal will come along and it's a Buyer's market when said Buyer has his pockets full. ( That's the way I look... at things:~)

Interesting video-the smoke looks to be white in color.  Could that be the result of a coolant leak?

id do a pressure test(leakdown?) of cylinders, might be cracked head allowing coolant in