Help picking a subaru? (I think this is a new topic..)
02-03-2014, 03:30 PM
#21
What I heard
Haha just kidding. And you are totally right about the subi-douches. I remember researching the 2.5 RS and some early wrx's trying to find concrete logical technical info like I do on this forum and was astounded at the knowledge base. This forum has spoiled me with its ratio of truly informed to ignorant car modification enthusiasts.
Rigid, some of the FXTs I've seen on this forum do make me lust after it from time to time. It seems the wrx wagon will suit you better though.
Haha just kidding. And you are totally right about the subi-douches. I remember researching the 2.5 RS and some early wrx's trying to find concrete logical technical info like I do on this forum and was astounded at the knowledge base. This forum has spoiled me with its ratio of truly informed to ignorant car modification enthusiasts.
Rigid, some of the FXTs I've seen on this forum do make me lust after it from time to time. It seems the wrx wagon will suit you better though.
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02-03-2014, 03:41 PM
#22
Junior Member
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 68
Total Cats: -4
Orrrrrrrrrr.....
You could get a 05+ legacy gt wagon with a 5 speed and the limited package. More room, better interior and a little more grown up. The outback body style gives you stock fender flares. You have to upgrade the suspension either way because it is waaaay too soft in stock form.
This is what I did, and no regrets: however gas milage sucks especially with a tune that requires 93 octane gas. It is a true all rounder: it is my DD, I can haul a reasonable amount of stuff, and use the roof rack for kayaks,lumber, etc. Unstopable in the snow. It is a respectable driver's car, but not as engaging as say a 3 series. The shifter sucks.
You could get a 05+ legacy gt wagon with a 5 speed and the limited package. More room, better interior and a little more grown up. The outback body style gives you stock fender flares. You have to upgrade the suspension either way because it is waaaay too soft in stock form.
This is what I did, and no regrets: however gas milage sucks especially with a tune that requires 93 octane gas. It is a true all rounder: it is my DD, I can haul a reasonable amount of stuff, and use the roof rack for kayaks,lumber, etc. Unstopable in the snow. It is a respectable driver's car, but not as engaging as say a 3 series. The shifter sucks.
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02-03-2014, 04:11 PM
#24
Orrrrrrrrrr.....
You could get a 05+ legacy gt wagon with a 5 speed and the limited package. More room, better interior and a little more grown up. The outback body style gives you stock fender flares. You have to upgrade the suspension either way because it is waaaay too soft in stock form.
This is what I did, and no regrets: however gas milage sucks especially with a tune that requires 93 octane gas. It is a true all rounder: it is my DD, I can haul a reasonable amount of stuff, and use the roof rack for kayaks,lumber, etc. Unstopable in the snow. It is a respectable driver's car, but not as engaging as say a 3 series. The shifter sucks.
You could get a 05+ legacy gt wagon with a 5 speed and the limited package. More room, better interior and a little more grown up. The outback body style gives you stock fender flares. You have to upgrade the suspension either way because it is waaaay too soft in stock form.
This is what I did, and no regrets: however gas milage sucks especially with a tune that requires 93 octane gas. It is a true all rounder: it is my DD, I can haul a reasonable amount of stuff, and use the roof rack for kayaks,lumber, etc. Unstopable in the snow. It is a respectable driver's car, but not as engaging as say a 3 series. The shifter sucks.
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02-03-2014, 04:15 PM
#25
One thing to consider - Insurance costs
The WRX comes with a WRX douchebaggery crashy penalty
The FXT does not. FXT insurance is way cheaper because you are driving a safety SUV instead of a sportsy car.
SO, in summary
FXT = 2.5L, AVCS, more space, sleeper, no WRX douchebag stigma, CHEAP insurance, slightly worse gas mileage, shitty NVH, cheap interior.
WRX = 2.0L or $$$ to get 2.5L, no space, bad stigma, expensive insurance because every 17 y/o dbag rally wannabee crashes them, slightly better gas mileage, shitty NVH, cheap interior.
Manual trans FXTs can be hard to find, but I've seen quite a few 2004 and 2005 in decent shape, with decently low miles for less than $10K. How much is a '06+ WRX?
The FXT is an impreza chassis with a boxy body, so just about any WRX, STI part bolts on.
The WRX comes with a WRX douchebaggery crashy penalty
The FXT does not. FXT insurance is way cheaper because you are driving a safety SUV instead of a sportsy car.
SO, in summary
FXT = 2.5L, AVCS, more space, sleeper, no WRX douchebag stigma, CHEAP insurance, slightly worse gas mileage, shitty NVH, cheap interior.
WRX = 2.0L or $$$ to get 2.5L, no space, bad stigma, expensive insurance because every 17 y/o dbag rally wannabee crashes them, slightly better gas mileage, shitty NVH, cheap interior.
Manual trans FXTs can be hard to find, but I've seen quite a few 2004 and 2005 in decent shape, with decently low miles for less than $10K. How much is a '06+ WRX?
The FXT is an impreza chassis with a boxy body, so just about any WRX, STI part bolts on.
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02-03-2014, 04:18 PM
#26
Every 05-06 LGT in the area seems to experience TONS of defects and issues that I've never seen on other subaru's. I say this because they come to me, and I usually fix it or tell them how to proceed with fixing it. Clutch issues, wiring/electric issues, you name it. I think its was like the bastard stepchild for 08+ wrx drivetrain testing or something lol
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02-03-2014, 04:43 PM
#29
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Ill have to watch them when I get home, work blocks streaming media :/
I was looking at an 06 WRX wagon with 98k for 12k
or an 05 WRX wagon with 98k for 9k
I got an ins quote and it's only $15/month increase. But would lower my car loan total by about 4-7 grand depending which model I go with, and probably get better interest rates so I could either pay off the total earlier, or lower my monthly payments a significant amount, so even if the insurance is more expensive, I'm still paying less every month overall.
I was looking at an 06 WRX wagon with 98k for 12k
or an 05 WRX wagon with 98k for 9k
I got an ins quote and it's only $15/month increase. But would lower my car loan total by about 4-7 grand depending which model I go with, and probably get better interest rates so I could either pay off the total earlier, or lower my monthly payments a significant amount, so even if the insurance is more expensive, I'm still paying less every month overall.
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02-03-2014, 09:12 PM
#33
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Location: Chesterfield, NJ
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Orrrrrrrrrr.....
You could get a 05+ legacy gt wagon with a 5 speed and the limited package. More room, better interior and a little more grown up. The outback body style gives you stock fender flares. You have to upgrade the suspension either way because it is waaaay too soft in stock form.
This is what I did, and no regrets: however gas milage sucks especially with a tune that requires 93 octane gas. It is a true all rounder: it is my DD, I can haul a reasonable amount of stuff, and use the roof rack for kayaks,lumber, etc. Unstopable in the snow. It is a respectable driver's car, but not as engaging as say a 3 series. The shifter sucks.
You could get a 05+ legacy gt wagon with a 5 speed and the limited package. More room, better interior and a little more grown up. The outback body style gives you stock fender flares. You have to upgrade the suspension either way because it is waaaay too soft in stock form.
This is what I did, and no regrets: however gas milage sucks especially with a tune that requires 93 octane gas. It is a true all rounder: it is my DD, I can haul a reasonable amount of stuff, and use the roof rack for kayaks,lumber, etc. Unstopable in the snow. It is a respectable driver's car, but not as engaging as say a 3 series. The shifter sucks.
EDIT: but both mine and my brother's LGT had cracked exhaust valves around 100k miles.
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02-04-2014, 09:50 AM
#36
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Join Date: Mar 2012
Posts: 323
Total Cats: 23
Too many variable for everyone to compare.
For me the Miata is by far the cheapest to ensure. Previous vehicles include;
03 Silverado ~$200 more per month than Miata
00 Civic ~$30 more per month
96 318is ~$30 more per month.
All of these vehicles were valued at less than the Miata.
EDIT. Got a quote for 03 Impreza hatch a while back, ~$100 more per month.
For me the Miata is by far the cheapest to ensure. Previous vehicles include;
03 Silverado ~$200 more per month than Miata
00 Civic ~$30 more per month
96 318is ~$30 more per month.
All of these vehicles were valued at less than the Miata.
EDIT. Got a quote for 03 Impreza hatch a while back, ~$100 more per month.
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02-04-2014, 10:23 AM
#38
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I can't compare to my miata ins, I only had bare minimum on that, but I have full coverage on my Lexus. But the ins lady mentioned it isn't just value of the car that affects (effects? I can never remember which one is right) the rates, its "points' associated with the car whcih could include cost of ownership, cost of average replacement parts, frequency of theft, frequency of accidents for THE CAR not just the driver. So the fact lil old ladies drive miatas when they arent owned by MT members probably helps keep the points associated with the car low, in addition to the fact literally nothing could happen to a miata that cost more than like $300 dollars to replace...
I went to look at a Forrester XT last night but had sad face when i saw it was auto. and the shady dealer informed me "the sunroof is cracked, it doesn't leak but I think something fell on it" I was like "yeaaahhh I'm going to go..." because obviously that isn't a well maintained dealership if they accept something falling on a car in their inventory as acceptable.. not much luck finding FXT or Legacy XTs in my area, but both happened to be at this dealer and both happened to be auto and not in awesome condition so i'll have to keep looking for some to test drive to compare.
As for the seat heaters and headroom, I'm not an ogre or giant so I don't know why I would need much more headroom than a wrx would provide and I already sweat like a fat man (literally have prescription deo) so the seat heaters don't get used much in my current car, so not really a selling point.
18PSI: Are you guys just fans of the body style? I know the 380/380 is pretty impressive results but couldn't you get the same results from a WRX with the 2.5 with the same work done to it? or do you just like the sleeper(ish) look (WR blue is kinda a give away haha) and the ability to say you made fools of kids in an SUV? The decreased gas mileage probably doesn't outweight the delight received from surprising people in a SUV for me.. Unless there are other reasons y'all are trying to push me towards the FXT over WRX? Cuz if its just sleeper status, I could always get a license plate NOTFAST on a WRX and fool everyone
I went to look at a Forrester XT last night but had sad face when i saw it was auto. and the shady dealer informed me "the sunroof is cracked, it doesn't leak but I think something fell on it" I was like "yeaaahhh I'm going to go..." because obviously that isn't a well maintained dealership if they accept something falling on a car in their inventory as acceptable.. not much luck finding FXT or Legacy XTs in my area, but both happened to be at this dealer and both happened to be auto and not in awesome condition so i'll have to keep looking for some to test drive to compare.
As for the seat heaters and headroom, I'm not an ogre or giant so I don't know why I would need much more headroom than a wrx would provide and I already sweat like a fat man (literally have prescription deo) so the seat heaters don't get used much in my current car, so not really a selling point.
18PSI: Are you guys just fans of the body style? I know the 380/380 is pretty impressive results but couldn't you get the same results from a WRX with the 2.5 with the same work done to it? or do you just like the sleeper(ish) look (WR blue is kinda a give away haha) and the ability to say you made fools of kids in an SUV? The decreased gas mileage probably doesn't outweight the delight received from surprising people in a SUV for me.. Unless there are other reasons y'all are trying to push me towards the FXT over WRX? Cuz if its just sleeper status, I could always get a license plate NOTFAST on a WRX and fool everyone
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02-04-2014, 10:37 AM
#39
18PSI: Are you guys just fans of the body style? I know the 380/380 is pretty impressive results but couldn't you get the same results from a WRX with the 2.5 with the same work done to it? or do you just like the sleeper(ish) look (WR blue is kinda a give away haha) and the ability to say you made fools of kids in an SUV? The decreased gas mileage probably doesn't outweight the delight received from surprising people in a SUV for me.. Unless there are other reasons y'all are trying to push me towards the FXT over WRX? Cuz if its just sleeper status, I could always get a license plate NOTFAST on a WRX and fool everyone
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02-04-2014, 10:57 AM
#40
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I was in the back of a forrester once, i swear my Hatch had more rear legroom than it. Might have been an 06?
He lowered it with Swift springs, which put it down to a car's level, which was awesome.
I'd consider one only if it was lowered; I drove FaeFae's once too and I didn't like how high it was, I'm not fond of ground clearance. That thing was pretty insane though, just felt weird that an "suv" could be like a car...before it blew up at least.
He lowered it with Swift springs, which put it down to a car's level, which was awesome.
I'd consider one only if it was lowered; I drove FaeFae's once too and I didn't like how high it was, I'm not fond of ground clearance. That thing was pretty insane though, just felt weird that an "suv" could be like a car...before it blew up at least.
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