Help me pick a new DD
11-08-2012, 01:36 PM
#25
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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.
I truly do enjoy the '09 Rav4 we just bought for the wife/small infant. We got it from a toyota dealer, certified preowned 100k mile warranty bla bla bla, for less than $20k. It's the Sport model so it comes a little lower and with 18's that ride like **** (run flats, no fugly spare tire on the back). AWD, lots of room, 3500lb towing capacity, regular gas, 250horse 3.5l V6, goes 13.9 in the quarter if you take off the heavy 18's. +35 offset 5x114 wheel...I keep searching Evo forums for takeoff RPF1's.
This thing is no joke, it's laughingly quick for a 'CUV'. Gets 3 mpg more mileage than my outback XT while taking regular gas. 26mpg. I keep reaching for the clutch, but I can see the automatic being good at times
I find myself grabbing the toyota keys more and more often when I need to go out for a quick trip to the store. Yeah it's a Rav4, but we DO drive miatas here....
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11-08-2012, 02:25 PM
#28
My 06 wrx is awesome. But the td04 13t is WAY too ******* small for a 2.5 I wish it had the tdo4 19t from the 09 wrx at least. I've currently just got a catback on mine and my "stage 1" tune. Which is basically, fix the stupid throttle maps, take out the egr function, not have it go silly rich, fix the lean spike entering boost, and play with the waste gate tables at stock boost to make it spool a bit faster. Oh yeah, and suspension and snow tires. It snowed yesterday, I could drink coffee and drift at the same time, lazily drifting with one hand like its just ho hum is an odd experience.
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11-08-2012, 03:07 PM
#30
Boost Czar
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From what I've learned the '09 got the bigger turbo and better suspension.
if that's the case, the '09 is out of the question for me then.
edit: nm, i misread.
'08 has the td04 13t, 09+ the vf52. correct?
if that's the case, the '09 is out of the question for me then.
edit: nm, i misread.
'08 has the td04 13t, 09+ the vf52. correct?
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11-08-2012, 03:54 PM
#35
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What about a truck that's fun to drive and can tow the miata? Like a V6 Toyota Taco? Decent gas mileage for a truck, tons of utility, 6500 lb tow capacity with the tow package, will last forever, and top 3 in resale value. You can find a nice double cab in the low 20's right now. They even make them in a 6 speed manual, but it only comes in the 4x4 V6.
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11-08-2012, 06:42 PM
#39
don't even get me started on those things.
anyone claims they are reliable and easy to maintain is a ******* lunatic. either that or the last handful I helped maintain/work on were all lemons.
last few we had at the shop I was absolutely disgusted with.
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