My top tips for buying a classic , ive had a few and purchased a few for friends or to sell on but this is what i normally use as a mental check list:
1. ROT
first up outside check the underside, subframe, arches for bad repairs and rot. then go in the boot, pull the carpets back and have a good look about, get right in the arch liner panel with a torch - any water or rust walk away
2. Poor parts
Worked on by specialists such as " rotherham scoobies / Tony hough " or "midland scooby services - hammond " / Bart Rocko / Facebook tuners walk away
3. Check for more rot
4. Unmapped cars - only needs a map tweek is bull sh2t , decat / changed turbos etc walk away
5. Cars with manual boost controllers - walk away
6. Ebay chinese turbos walk away
7. STi parts --- no real such thing
8. Prodrive pack - No certifcate then it dont exist
9. Rot
10. Con merchants like rotherham scoobies trying sell you a car
11. Avoid buying via facebook traders - cant be arsed with proper advertising such as pistonheads/ebay dont bother