Ask Oppo

"ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable)" (adabofoppo) 08/30/2014 at 15:43 • Filed to: Ask Oppo

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What would you do?

Current DD: 2002 SVT Focus, needs some work but runs rather well despite the neglect and abuse. (Sorry Buddy, I'm trying...) No payment.

Fixing the SVT will get me more time with it, but I am to the point that much more work will never be worth it unless I make it a dedicated Auto-X car. That also requires a little more room than we have to store it. No garage.

Can afford to buy a new/different car for DD use. Current top candidates are the FiST and the Sciobaru. Haven't driven either yet, so I will need to get some seat time before I make a decision.

Third option: We just took in on trade today an IS300 5-speed Manuel! I don't know anything about these. I work for a Lexus dealer so service is not an issue. Car is Black/Black which is not a color combo I would choose on my own. I could probably get a decent price, and it has lower miles. But I would need another set of winter wheels and tires since there is no way I am driving that without them in the winter around here.

What would you choose and why?

Brian Silvestro > ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) 08/30/2014 at 15:45

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FiST because great DD AND AutoX car.

Leadbull > ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) 08/30/2014 at 15:46

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IS300 manual, because IS300 manual.

Also, because cheap.

Cebu > ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) 08/30/2014 at 15:50

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Scibaru because

TheD0k_2many toys 2little time > ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) 08/30/2014 at 15:53

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Not the scion. You dont want that for winter. Yes people drive them but its stupid to. Especially with rust and such. Id go with the IS manual. Cheap, easy maintenance, and also reliable.

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) 08/30/2014 at 15:59

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I can't comment on the IS, but I've had my Toyobaru almost a year and the FiST was the main competition. Regarding the 86, if you can live with the lack of space and the rough ride, I think it's really good. It is definitely a car that you can live with every day. It will always leave you wanting just a little more power, though. The FiST is tons of fun. In some ways, it's better out of the box, and obviously more practical. As far as which is for you, I think that it depends on what you want to get out of the car. The Toyobaru feels like a starting point to build on to make it yours, while the FiST is perhaps a bit more like Ford chose the direction for you and that's what you get. If internal space is no issue, I would say that you want to stay stock, go FiST, but if you want to make the car yours, go Toyobaru.

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > TheD0k_2many toys 2little time 08/30/2014 at 16:01

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Other than cheap, why would the IS be any better in the winter? It's still a RWD car.

GhostZ > ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) 08/30/2014 at 16:03

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IS300. You will lose your ass on depreciation with a new car, and free service / reliable service is worth it.

Alternative choices would be a Toyota Supra, honestly. If you have the budget for it, and the know-how to keep it reliable (same engine as the IS300, but with turbos), it will probably make you money over time.

TheD0k_2many toys 2little time > SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie 08/30/2014 at 16:06

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Weight. Light weight cars suck in the winter, especially sporty cars. Trust me i have gotten stuck in an early fall snow storm with my Miata and it sucked.

And you dont have to worry about rust on an older car. Its already fucked. On a new car its a battle. And on a cheap car you dont give a shit about rust either.

Dsscats > ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) 08/30/2014 at 16:22

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If you get it for under $12k and it has low mileage, for sure get the IS300. You can do a couple good mods and make it awesome for auto crossauto cross

wabbalosthiskey > ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) 08/30/2014 at 16:35

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Keep the SVT, no payment. Cage, coilovers, brembos, upgrade what needs fixing and DD. Rock on.

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) 08/30/2014 at 21:59

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IS because I6 (I think?), more unique than other options, possibly nicer place to spend time than other options.

ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) > AMGtech - now with more recalls! 08/31/2014 at 10:58

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Yup I6, Toyota 2JZ sans-turbo in fact.

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) 08/31/2014 at 12:06

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Holy crap I got something right about a Japanese car! That hardly ever happens!