Unpopular Opinion

"Jay Lauer" (thefaultinourcars) 12/14/2014 at 17:24 • Filed to: None

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As prices on Fiesta ST's start to come down, my mouth starts to water. The possibility that I could own one of these cars becomes more and more likely.

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However, each time I do one of these AutoTrader search, I always have a second thought. I could buy an STi for that price, which seems to be a lot more..... car .

Sure, it's older and will have more miles, but its an AWD 300hp rocket. As long as it doesn't have the spoiler, it doesn't even look dumb. I also think the STI will hold value much better than the FiST, provided they don't stop producing Fiesta ST's.

Thought?

Spaceball-Two > Jay Lauer 12/14/2014 at 17:28

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I'm partial to AWD myself so I say go for the Scoobie. They are really holding their value. Tough to find one unmolested these days though.

Louros > Jay Lauer 12/14/2014 at 17:28

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Focus and fiesta ST are depreciating like crazy. No way they will hold their value anywhere close to the STi.

Jay Lauer > Spaceball-Two 12/14/2014 at 17:30

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No kidding.

You can find them, but generally in the $17-$20k range depending on miles. I've been searching for a broken one for months with not much avail.

Funktheduck > Jay Lauer 12/14/2014 at 17:31

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Why not both?

In all seriousness I've wanted a STI since I found out they existed. Problem is finding one that hasn't been modded or potentially abused. With performance cars that will always be the trouble. Buy new and take the depreciation hit or buy used and maybe take on someone else's problems.

They're both pretty practical. I would guess the FiST is a little better on gas.

Brian Silvestro > Jay Lauer 12/14/2014 at 17:31

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Would rather have STi.

Popular opinion is that the FiST is the best new car you can buy for that price, not the best car.

Jay Lauer > Louros 12/14/2014 at 17:31

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I think they're holding pretty decent. That $18.9k example is the cheapest I've found, and it's loaded with the Recaros.

Even Focus ST's are impossible to find below $20k. I'm sure a couple years will drive it down more.

Jay Lauer > Brian Silvestro 12/14/2014 at 17:33

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Good point. It is a bit apples and oranges, considering there's a 90k miles gap between the two.

If I had to find a great car with that low of miles for $20k, then FiST hands down.

Spaceball-Two > Jay Lauer 12/14/2014 at 17:35

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There are so many here in and around Seattle on CL at about $15k.

Brian Silvestro > Jay Lauer 12/14/2014 at 17:35

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but STi so fuck it yolo

Jay Lauer > Funktheduck 12/14/2014 at 17:37

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Yeah, I've heard the FiST can get 40, which is probably twice as good as the STi.

If it's an unmolested STi, I doubt there's much problem to take on. My unmolested S2000 has been zero problem.

Brian, The Life of > Funktheduck 12/14/2014 at 17:38

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There's the rub: a used STi is 100x more likely to have been flogged than the FiST.

Tom McParland > Jay Lauer 12/14/2014 at 17:41

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You could buy a 300hp Subaru "rally car" for the price of a Ford compact! #Tavarish'd

Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. > Jay Lauer 12/14/2014 at 17:45

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I dom't think anyones going to argue against the Scooby being the better performance car. But as a daily the Fiesta is newer likely more reliable and better on fuel. Getting more value on an older car is kind of a given really.

Too many M's > Jay Lauer 12/14/2014 at 17:49

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HP per ton? I bought my E90 M3 for less than a loaded GTI. Way more smiles per mile. Go for the Scoobie.

dogisbadob > Jay Lauer 12/14/2014 at 17:50

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The Subaru will need a new intercooler (that story from the other day), and head gaskets are a periodic maintenance item on them, in addition to worse gas mileage. So either ST will be cheaper and better as actual transportation. Cars are not investments.

Jay Lauer > Tom McParland 12/14/2014 at 18:04

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Well at least you're not suggesting a big German maintenance nightmare.

+1.

Jay Lauer > dogisbadob 12/14/2014 at 18:09

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I definitely disagree that cars aren't investments, but that's beside the point.

I've had two different Subarus (WRX and Legacy GT) which neither ever had an issue with intercoolers. Head gaskets were never an issue either; That's more an issue for those running hard and overboosting.

Yes, the ST gets far superior mileage, and for the next 25k miles, Ford has you're back until mile 36,001.

Since, I do believe cars are investments, I'll factor in depreciation on both cars, which would more than likely level out the ownership costs between the two.

SmoresTM Has No Chill (O==[][]==O) > Brian Silvestro 12/14/2014 at 18:09

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Abarth is better.

#comeatmebro

Brian Silvestro > SmoresTM Has No Chill (O==[][]==O) 12/14/2014 at 18:13

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The Abarth is much cheaper so that argument is invalid!

SmoresTM Has No Chill (O==[][]==O) > Brian Silvestro 12/14/2014 at 18:14

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So the Abarth is a better car for less money WHERE IS YOUR FiST GOD NOW????

Brian Silvestro > SmoresTM Has No Chill (O==[][]==O) 12/14/2014 at 18:17

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The only thing that the Abarth is better at than the FiST is the noise. Everything else is worse.

SmoresTM Has No Chill (O==[][]==O) > Brian Silvestro 12/14/2014 at 18:21

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I would respond to your most recent comment but Kinja's fucking up.

And I respectfully disagree. I prefer the styling of the Abarth by leaps and bounds and I had a lot more fun driving the Abarth than the FiST, though I only had 15 minutes of seat time in the FiST and didn't get to beat on it much.

Also I have an irrational aversion to American cars so I'm definitely biased... But so are you.

Funktheduck > Jay Lauer 12/14/2014 at 18:24

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An unmolested STi is about as rare as an unmolested CRX or S2000. They exist but you gotta search and you'll pay the unmolested tax

Brian Silvestro > SmoresTM Has No Chill (O==[][]==O) 12/14/2014 at 18:25

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1. Kinja is a douche, he's being an ass to me too

2. OMG YOU'RE WRONG I'M RIGHT, INTERNET OPINIONS

3. The FiST isn't American at all.

SmoresTM Has No Chill (O==[][]==O) > Brian Silvestro 12/14/2014 at 18:29

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1. Yes

2.

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3. Its more American than the Abarth so it looses

Brian Silvestro > SmoresTM Has No Chill (O==[][]==O) 12/14/2014 at 18:30

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3. Good point. But that's like saying "that car is sold in America, so I don't like it"

SmoresTM Has No Chill (O==[][]==O) > Brian Silvestro 12/14/2014 at 18:34

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Which would be a perfectly valid statement if I didn't live in America and could just buy an RS6 Avant or M5 Wagon and hate everything else.

BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather > Jay Lauer 12/14/2014 at 18:35

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It's also about the financing potential. It's going to be a lot easier to finance a 2014 model with less than 25k miles than something that old. By the time those prices converge, you're looking at a 08-09 WRX, and a steep interest rate.

Dusty Ventures > Jay Lauer 12/14/2014 at 18:39

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Don't forget timing belts on the Subaru, at that price/mileage you'll probably need to do one in the next year or two.

jkm7680 > Jay Lauer 12/14/2014 at 18:47

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I'm going to wait until the FiST gets down to $14,000. Then I'll pounce.

NonDriftingS13 > dogisbadob 12/14/2014 at 19:19

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Came here to say this.

M54B30 > Jay Lauer 12/14/2014 at 19:45

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I have three older, higher mileage cars. I'd take the FiST because I hate not having a warranty.

Jayhawk Jake > Jay Lauer 12/14/2014 at 19:50

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That's pretty bad depreciation though. With Recaros its a $25k car.

Jayhawk Jake > Jay Lauer 12/14/2014 at 19:52

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Fuck both, buy a Vette.

Brian Silvestro > SmoresTM Has No Chill (O==[][]==O) 12/14/2014 at 20:53

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Well yeah that's what everyone here would do