Might be buying a new used car today

"JeffFurbs" (jefffurbs) 10/24/2014 at 09:22 • Filed to: None

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So the time has come. I'm getting rid of my 04 WRX wagon. I have nothing but love for that hunk of junk, but I can't afford another repair on it. The previous owners must have beat the crap out of it. I know a well maintained wrx will drive until the body becomes rust. I thought I was buying one of those, but turns out it must have been owned by Ken Block without sponsors. Over a year and a half it has seen more garage time than I want to admit. So the car shopping begin's and hopefully ends as soon as it started...I found a used 2010 VW GTI.

So I started looking last week or so. I found a WRX or two that I really liked. Given the choice I'd buy a newer rex hatch, but the price is just too high. I tried to justify every which way but it just can't happen. I'm kind of picky and there wasn't much else I could picture driving. That's not to say I don't like lots of cars. However for what I personally want and can afford, if it was a Venn diagram, the GTI would be in the middle. Sporty with a nice suspension and a third pedal.

This particular car comes with almost all the frills i think. I also do not care about this, but it will be quite nice. Sunroof, heated seats, big ole entertainment center thinger, bluetooth, etc. Again, I am not looking for frills. Hell my 04 rex was a base model, with lots of rattle's and broken plastic things in the interior. On the exterior the paint was coming off slowly but surely. However, the car drove, and drove fun. That's what I'm looking for, I could care less about the rest. Though you will not hear my complain haha.

Now if the dealer can come down a little bit more in price to meet my monthly payment goal, I will be signing paperwork today. If not, well time to really start searching.

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > JeffFurbs 10/24/2014 at 09:27

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I'm sorry, "nothing but love" juxtaposed with some obvious contempt just makes me think of a scene from Independence Day, and makes me pretty much ignore the rest of the post:

ROLAND EMMERICH WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO ME

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > JeffFurbs 10/24/2014 at 09:29

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You sure a GTI will be less in repairs than a wrex? If you've already put that much into it, you must be nearing the end of the tunnel, whereas with a GTi you'll be starting all over again except with electrical problems.

OPPOsaurus WRX > JeffFurbs 10/24/2014 at 09:42

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If you do end up getting another WRX go for an 09 or newer. I think they went from 215 to 265 hp after 08.

JeffFurbs > OPPOsaurus WRX 10/24/2014 at 09:47

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I was thinking about those years. But i think the suspension was gummy from 09-10. That would be more in my affordable range and probably wouldn't have the money to do swaybars again like i did on my 04. It hurts...everytime i think about getting rid of it, i don't want too

JeffFurbs > SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie 10/24/2014 at 09:49

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I'm afraid that I have a head gasket or rod bearing waiting to happen. I'm starting to get occasionally knocking and don't want to go down that road. I'm too afraid of those issues surfacing. I don't drive the car really hard, but I also don't want to completely baby it.

But that is a good point you bring up. The service records have shown that it's met all it's required and recommended maintenance over it's life thus far which makes me feel a bit better.

JeffFurbs > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht 10/24/2014 at 09:50

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Hahahaha i love it. Just calling it like it is. It's such fun, but much repair

OPPOsaurus WRX > JeffFurbs 10/24/2014 at 09:57

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so instead of dumping a bunch of money y dont you just replace each part early so there is no brake downs and upgrade to nice performance parts, slowly making a new car. basically take ur new car payments and buy parts with them

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > JeffFurbs 10/24/2014 at 10:53

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The bright side about a head gaskets is that it's pretty much a once and done deal. It's going to be a big expense, but put a quality aftermarket one in and it's set pretty much forever. It's also the one big thing that happens to these cars. Hopefully it's not a rod, because if so, all bets are off.

JeffFurbs > SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie 10/24/2014 at 12:02

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also a good point. I'm definitely more afraid of the rod knock. Even if that knocking I hear isn't a rod I'd still need to get it diagnosed which would involve an engine tear down most likely. I'm just playing with Fire at this point and am sick of juggling borrowing cars from whoever I can while my cars in the shop

JeffFurbs > OPPOsaurus WRX 10/24/2014 at 12:06

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thought about that too but I think I'm developing the deadly rod knock and it burns enough oil where i have to get a top of of a quart every 1500 miles. I then do a high mileage oil change at 3k because I would probably piss synth everywhere. I also have to beg borrow and steal rides or cars while its in the shop and it's just getting old. Trust me I'm heartbroken I have to let it go. I was close to crying the day last year I thought the engine grenaded. Thankfully it was only a timing belt pully that went taking my newish belt with it, but couldve done serious damage.

I've only had it a year and a half and I think I've already spend a little over 2grand doing repairs.

OPPOsaurus WRX > JeffFurbs 10/24/2014 at 12:12

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This guy put a 2011 STI engine in there so...... but I hear you on how bad it sux have the car down for repairs. maybe buy a cheap beater for those days?

JeffFurbs > OPPOsaurus WRX 10/27/2014 at 06:41

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Holy shit that must be the most fun you can have. Yea i think im going to start saving for a beater. That's a good call

OPPOsaurus WRX > JeffFurbs 10/27/2014 at 08:18

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I got to drive that thing too. They wouldn't let us go nuts cuz they were going up to a competition in a couple weeks and didn;t want to have to do repairs after some dude fucks up. Still fun tho. It has a stripped interior, full cage, competition suspension, 5 point harness - all the goodies.

he came in 4th at Mt Washington (Higgens was 1st) the last driver of the day bumped him off the podium.

JeffFurbs > OPPOsaurus WRX 10/29/2014 at 07:08

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Wait a sec, someone else on here showed me that car. I can't remember who, but i don't think it was you. Do you know Ian Pouliot of Nemesis Photo?

Damn that's a bummer, but awesome to place up there like that

OPPOsaurus WRX > JeffFurbs 10/29/2014 at 08:34

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I dont know him, but i just checked out his facebook page and that car is in there all over the place. I've definitely posted the pic before. That was the second event i had seen him at, the first being an OPPO event of which the story has yet to be told (DustyVentures......).

JeffFurbs > OPPOsaurus WRX 10/29/2014 at 08:41

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That's who it was I'm pretty sure. It was Dusty that showed me that picture a while back. I think he know's the photographer.

How is that event? I feel like I should get up there to watch it some day

OPPOsaurus WRX > JeffFurbs 10/29/2014 at 08:52

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Mt Washington was awesome. I'd never been to a rally before so I didn't really know what to do. If I were to do it agian I'd probably stay at the base and hang in the pits. FOr the morning session, we hiked half way down and then were at the finish line for the afternoon. That was cool cuz we got to see all the cars and drivers at the end of the day.

JeffFurbs > OPPOsaurus WRX 10/29/2014 at 11:24

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That's awesome. I assume it's free to hang out and watch? You are making a very convincing case for me to go next year haha

OPPOsaurus WRX > JeffFurbs 10/29/2014 at 11:41

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sorry but nothing in this world is free. We drove to the top, I think it was 25 +8 per person in the car. There are limited numbers they can park at the top so you need to get there (too) early and you must stay there till the race is over. that was a cool way to go cuz you can hike around and see from a few different spots but none were all that great. the ride to the top was worth it in itself.

this was a cool place to watch. you can see one of the viewing areas in the center. the actual viewing areas were accessible by shuttle only and required a separate wrist band. you can also hike from the bottom and that is free. i think you also had to pay to get into the pits. you should go it was fun. bring sun screen.

JeffFurbs > OPPOsaurus WRX 10/29/2014 at 12:12

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That's not a terrible price. I could live with that. Yea I'm definitely thinking of doing it. That viewing spot looks awesome, and all those subaru's! What year is your's? Guessing '11?

By the way I got rid of the rex and got a '10 GTI. I'm hoping in a few years to get back in a Subaru. Something newer and reliable

OPPOsaurus WRX > JeffFurbs 10/29/2014 at 12:27

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driving to the top was the cheapest way to go. to get a shuttle trip and a spectating band was like $50 a person. i have a 2014. you can see me on the lower level facing the camera near the right. Orlove's Beetle is on the lower level. you can see it just to the left of the suburban's roof storage thing. how do you like the GTI vs the WRX?

JeffFurbs > OPPOsaurus WRX 10/29/2014 at 12:52

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Even better good to know. Nice! How do you like the 2014? That's cool that Orlove was there haha, hopefully his car was on all 4 wheels (too easy).

I can't compare the two at all. They are so different. As i told you my 04 had so many issues that it doesn't make it a fair fight. The GTI is a lot of fun, but i think i'd like to stiffen up the car a bit. I had put sway bars in the rex along with steering rack bushings, and loved the way it drove like that. The GTI is pretty stiff already, but rolls slightly more than I want in turns. Other than that it's a fun little capable car. The best part is the turbo comes on almost right away as compared to the rex (which I'm sure you know the feeling) which seems to take an eternity.

OPPOsaurus WRX > JeffFurbs 10/29/2014 at 13:26

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yea it was upright, its a long way down from the top of that place. i actually scared the shit out of my buddy on the way up cuz there are no guard rails and its a long way down so when the boost hit he thought we were going over. yea the boost is awesome. its hard to compare the car cuz the only thing i can really compare it to is an explorer so to say it handles better doesn;t really do it justice.

JeffFurbs > OPPOsaurus WRX 10/29/2014 at 13:39

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Hahaha i will say the boost does come on hard for a stock turbo set up on the wrx's. I drove my friends 2011 before i ever bought an old one, and i got in it on 1st gear somewhat accidently. He was in the middle of telling me to go easy in 1st when I hit boost and just kinda went nevermind haha.

If you get a chance to drive a GTI (if you haven't before) I would say go for it. It is such a different experience. I'm not saying go sell yours for one, but given the opportunity to tool around in one is a good time. Better yet find a VW R or R32. That fucker is fun as all hell