Thinking about buying a newish car

[ViPER1313]

Magnum SRT8? Caliber SRT4?

[Andy]

Yeah, a swedish car is going to be any better than a german car...

The Saabaru doesn't have any swede in it dummy. It's a subaru with a better interior and more professional exterior.

[.RJ]

No domestics. They do trucks well, but epic fail at cars.

[.RJ]

It's a subaru with a better interior and more professional exterior.

So... its a yuppie-fied subaru with a higher price tag? I find it hard to believe that no sweedish designed/suppplied parts found their way into the thing...

[Andy]

It's a subaru with a better interior and more professional exterior.

So... its a yuppie-fied subaru with a higher price tag? I find it hard to believe that no sweedish designed/suppplied parts found their way into the thing...

There may be some but the thing is still reliable and when has a higher price tag ever discouraged you?

[.RJ]

when has a higher price tag ever discouraged you?

Good point. I hate money so I relieve myself of it as fast as I can.

[John]

So... its a yuppie-fied subaru with a higher price tag? I find it hard to believe that no sweedish designed/suppplied parts found their way into the thing...

Actually, the 9-2x was selling at a lower price tag than the WRX Wagon for quite some time during the year-long GM employee discount program. The $6K discount continues to depress the price on the used cars as well...

[Mike]

da, ep bus, ek, wrx, mazda3... that's my list.

[ViPER1313]

I'm going to loose this argument here, but oh well. I don't get the whole "domestics suck" thing. I also don't get why the small car for a DD is a good idea either. For a track, I get it, just not for the street. Lets look at this objectively:

Subaru WRX:
+ Good on gas, known reliability, quick in a straight line, handles well, decent space.
- Lots of road noise, cramped / based out interior, turbo lag, poor manufacturers warranty, its been beat on by some 19 y/o if bought used.

Magnum R/T
+ Baller warranty, comfortable, looks great, fast as hell in a straight line, sounds great when pressed but quiet on the highway, huge interior.
-Fuel economy so/so, isn't a track car.

Considering that the most cornering you are probably going to do in a DD is changing lanes or turning into your driveway, I don't see the need for a car with a stiff suspension that handles on rails. The Konis / Intrax combo on my SHO ruined that car as a DD. It was fun as hell when you pushed it, but driving it at 35mph on bad roads sucks a huge one. You are much more likely to enjoy a car's extra power on the street (whether merging, passing someone or doing something less legal.) I would stay away from a WRX for its gearing alone - short ratios kick ass on track but such when you are revving 3500rpm at 75mph.

On another note, Mazda6 Wagon? They came w/ a 5-speed too.

[.RJ]

Subaru WRX:
+ Good on gas, known reliability, quick in a straight line, handles well, decent space.
- Lots of road noise, cramped / based out interior, turbo lag, poor manufacturers warranty, its been beat on by some 19 y/o if bought used.

Stock WRX suspension doesnt suck for daily use, and I never found the interior cramped - I'm also a lot shorter than you, and I prefer small cars - easier to get around inside the beltway. I'm not buying any modified/beat on cars anyways - I'm reaping the rewards of that one right now.

[HAULN-SS]

I never have figured out why a small car is easier to get around inside the beltway. I have heard this a bunch of times from people. The only time I could ever see if being an advantage is parallel parking. You might only need 12 feet of space between cars instead of 15...does that really happen that often?

[.RJ]

does that really happen that often?

I parallel park my shit at home every day. And when I go to work, I have to navigate and park in a cramped garage. Maneuvering around on the road is also far easier in the GTI than my F150.

So yes.

[Apoc]

I also don't get why the small car for a DD is a good idea either.

-better gas mileage
-easier to maneuver around cramped roads
-easier to park
-takes up less space in a garage (...and parking garage)

If you don't need space, why have it?

[John]

I never have figured out why a small car is easier to get around inside the beltway. I have heard this a bunch of times from people. The only time I could ever see if being an advantage is parallel parking. You might only need 12 feet of space between cars instead of 15...does that really happen that often?

As somebody who drives a Lotus (12 feet in length and 1950lbs) and a Titan (19ft / 5350lbs) to work, I can assure you that there is a big difference around town. The only advantage to the big truck is that when people are being douches you can bully them with your size.

[ViPER1313]

I never have figured out why a small car is easier to get around inside the beltway. I have heard this a bunch of times from people. The only time I could ever see if being an advantage is parallel parking. You might only need 12 feet of space between cars instead of 15...does that really happen that often?

I actually find it much easier to drive my SHO or Pontiac in crowded traffic than I did the VW. The VW had huge ass blind spots to the rear and directly to the left of me where the SHO and Pontiac don't. There were 3-4 times where I couldn't see a car 2 lanes over in the VW that was trying to merge into the same spot I was.

[Apoc]

I actually find it much easier to drive my SHO or Pontiac in crowded traffic than I did the VW. The VW had huge ass blind spots to the rear and directly to the left of me where the SHO and Pontiac don't. There were 3-4 times where I couldn't see a car 2 lanes over in the VW that was trying to merge into the same spot I was.

That's a function of the car design, not it's size.

[ScottyB]

i just remembered, WRX's are not as fuel efficient as you think. on the highway you might be at 26, maybe 27 mpg. as soon as you dip out of cruising speed and into surface street speeds around town you are in the low 20's, high teens. on premium of course. I know some MM'ers have had WRX's, do you share this view?

even in my N/A i will drop into the low 20's the minute i start driving around town for extended periods.

obviously the magnum is worse but Adam does bring up some good points.

[John]

Yeah, my Super-poo didn't have the best fuel economy.

[Apoc]

i just remembered, WRX's are not as fuel efficient as you think. on the highway you might be at 26, maybe 27 mpg. as soon as you dip out of cruising speed and into surface street speeds around town you are in the low 20's, high teens. on premium of course. I know some MM'ers have had WRX's, do you share this view?

Maybe I'm wrong, but isn't that pretty good? I get almost the exact same mileage in my S4 and I'm okay with that. We all know it's not gonna beat a Civic or a Neon but you gotta pay for the power somehow.

[ScottyB]

Maybe I'm wrong, but isn't that pretty good? I get almost the exact same mileage in my S4 and I'm okay with that. We all know it's not gonna beat a Civic or a Neon but you gotta pay for the power somehow.

for an AWD 2.7L twin turbo 3700lb. sedan, yes that's good.

for a 220 horsepower compact wagon, no, not in my opinion. that said they are tuned very rich from the factory, and can get better numbers with a tune.