So I love the **** out of my miata but its getting to be a drag to DD. I want something that is as quick as my miata with decent handling, but also with luxuries like back seats, power everything, and bad-weather-friendly. I'd like it to have decent gas mileage if driven conservatively (so turbo) and not break the bank (aka <25 grand). I know that all of these criteria can't be met without some serious give and take between all of them, but what are your thoughts? I was thinking something like a tuned WRX. To keep it cheap I can do any modding myself and buy used parts. I've given it a lot of though but I'm interested to see what others think.

 

Read your thing and the WRX hit all notes, then saw you said it yourself. I think WRX it is!

 

I think an 06-07 WRX is where its at. Its when they switched from the 2.0 to the 2.5 and the price isn't too bad. I would like and STi but I think insurance would be a lot more since I'm 23 with a couple speeding tickets a few years ago.

 

Quote out insurance and go from there. Only takes a few minutes.

 

Its probably different from provider to provider, but when I had my STi the price jump was marginal. This was thru USAA.

 

2.5 turbo subaru FTW

 

I dont want an STi. 0-60 in 4.8sec is fast enough for a DD.

plus the STi has a harsh *** suspension, it drives like a stock miata on blown shocks.

 

depends on year. 08-10 sti's are soft as hell.

 

Makes sense, I've only been in '07 or earlier STis.

Still, going STi doesnt make sense for what I need out of a DD.

 

Since you decided to start shopping for a subaru at the beginning of winter, there won't be very many good deals. But for sub $25k you can sometimes snag a new WRX from left over stock. (At least you could in 08-09)

 

ISWYDT

I love how this thread is now about you

but yeah, true dat. also for some odd reason they almost always get worse gas mileage. I say odd reason because they weigh almost the same, and engine size is same, and mapping is very similar, yet there's almost always at least 2-3mpg difference. It always puzzled me.

True.
Buy subarus in the summer and miata's in the winter

 

I never understood the desire to have two fast street cars.

Well, actually I do understand. It is just that there is such a temptation to tinker with both cars. It is like fighting a war on two fronts. Even if you have the cash to support the extra car, it seems to take attention away from the other car.

Maybe it is my short attention span that makes me need one thing to focus on at a time.

That settles it. You need to buy a boat.

 

It's always about me.

 

If I could do it over again (I can't?), I would find another ~98 impreza or outback sport and throw a WRX drivetrain onto it. My turbo '98 2.2 single cam OBS was just the best daily driver I've had yet, but could have used a little more power than the 8psi I pushed thru it.

 

there's plently of sub $25K 09-10 WRXes in the area right now.

for example: 2009 Subaru Impreza WRX

 

If you're paying over 20 for a non-widebody you're doin it wrong.
11-12 = le secks

*edit: though I'd definitely rock an 09 for $18

Completely agree with you, though lately I've been spoiling myself by driving newer scoobs, and honestly am becoming more and more a fan of the 11+ with all their fancy gizmos and newer technology, and better ecu, and lots more sound insulation, comfier yet more stable suspension, etc.......What can I say, I'm getting old

 

This why I try to buy daily drivers that are very difficult (or very poor values) to "tune" or are "good enough" out of the box.


That said, I would recommend a Forester XT.

 

amen


though I might be just slightly biased

 

The price difference in this area between a '09-10 and a '11 is trivial. But they are all averaging over 20K. I've been following the prices for about 6 months now.

Most '09-10s with under 50K on the clock are right around 21-23.

Where SOME '11s with the same mileage are closer to 23-25.

'12s jump up closer to 30K.

The car I linked above has been on CL, cars.com, and autotrader.com for a few months now. Other more exspenive examples have sold much quicker. I was going to look at a '11 this weekend, but it sold within maybe two weeks of being listed on cars.com, it was priced around $23K.

 

I think I would take a turbo forester just for the utility of it. That is the only thing I don't like about my miata. I can't carry anything in it or haul something on a decent sized trailer.