Is there anything wrong with having 2 Foresters in the driveway?

"Stupidru" (Schm1an)
03/27/2014 at 10:55 • Filed to: None

Is there anything wrong with having 2 Foresters in the driveway when there's a possibility of a WRX? My wife and I are going to be having kids in a few years and, while I would love to get a 2015 WRX, I think the FXT is just more practical. Occasionally for work I have to load my car up with parts and take them to get painted- in a rex, that would take multiple trips whereas the Foz could do it all in one trip.

We also just bought a house, and I could see the Foz doing double duty with getting stuff from the hardware store or Home Depot where the rex simply couldn't keep up.

SO, I ask you, Opponauts, what would you do? Get a '15 WRX and have the ultimate corner carver, but hurt your back loading kids in/out and suffer when it comes to hauling stuff, or get a '14 FXT and have a fast jack-of-all, but master-of-none?

DISCUSSION (45)

yamahog > Stupidru
03/27/2014 at 10:58

Is one of each not an option? Used Forester, new WRX?

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > Stupidru
03/27/2014 at 10:58

We have a Jeep Commander and Mercury Milan.

If one of us needs the bigger vehicle we just switch.

We have a 1 year old and it's all worked great.

Vince-The Roadside Mechanic > Stupidru
03/27/2014 at 10:59

15 wrx because rallycar

Burrito de EJ25 > Stupidru
03/27/2014 at 11:03

I think we can all agree that Subaru makes ugly (but charming) cars, but I think the current Fozzie is the exception. I think it's the best looking vehicle in its segment.

Stupidru > yamahog
03/27/2014 at 11:03

My wife doesn't know how to drive stick and she doesn't think that a WRX can handle baby duty. The real thing is putting stuff in the back. While I agree with her that a Foz would be easier, plenty of people have had kids with smaller cars than the Wrx

Stupidru > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
03/27/2014 at 11:04

Yes, but the wife doesn't know how to drive stick which presents another issue... do I have to get a CVT WRX?

jariten1781 > Stupidru
03/27/2014 at 11:05

My parents managed two kids in a 78 Corolla liftback. The WRX is way easier than that.

Burrito de EJ25 > Vince-The Roadside Mechanic
03/27/2014 at 11:05

2 trips means he has more opportunities to drive his WRX! I don't see a down side to this.

Stupidru > jariten1781
03/27/2014 at 11:06

That's what I'm thinking. It's give-or-take the same size as my 06 LGT was, and I had plenty of room in the back of that thing

OPPOsaurus WRX > Stupidru
03/27/2014 at 11:06

I guess it depends on how hardcore your trips to Home Depot are. I got that out of my system but having a truck ("truck" - Explorer Sport Trac) was crucial. A Forester would never have cut it. I don't think (but don't know) you could fit a 4'x8' sheet of plywood, sheet rock in a Forester. With roof racks on the WRX, you'll be in better shape.

Here's the important part of my post - I own a WRX and twin 22 month old girls. It babies and it does it fairly well. I laso havn't had any problems with stuff not fitting such as strollers and small Home depot runs. Like in the other comments, if the WRX can't handle it, swap cars for an afternoon or you get a roof cargo container for when you have to transport parts. Otherwise it sounds like a pickup would be better if your doing some hard work.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > Stupidru
03/27/2014 at 11:06

well it sounds like u have a couple options.

Teach the wife to drive stick

or set a CVT on fire and hate your favorite car brand for putting a POS CVT in the WRX.

god I hate CVTs

not a big subaru guy either but....lol

Burrito de EJ25 > Stupidru
03/27/2014 at 11:07

The back of my '13 WRX is definitely big enough to baby, and the new generation is said to be larger.

OPPOsaurus WRX > Stupidru
03/27/2014 at 11:07

I ran into the same issue. My wife is learning how to manual. I don't know about '15 but the WRX was only manual.

yamahog > Stupidru
03/27/2014 at 11:08

If my dad got away with bolting my little sister's car seat to the jump seat of his Ranger, I think you can baby a WRX. Does she not want to learn how to drive stick? If she does it can be a fun bonding activity and practice for eventually teaching your own kids how to drive. Patience is key.

Stupidru > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
03/27/2014 at 11:09

I would pretty much have to fork over my man card if I opted for a CVT over a manual. I know- kill me now. The thought alone scares the be-jeezus out of me

Stupidru > Burrito de EJ25
03/27/2014 at 11:09

'13 hatch or sedan?

Stupidru > Burrito de EJ25
03/27/2014 at 11:09

I like the way you think!

Burrito de EJ25 > Stupidru
03/27/2014 at 11:10

Sedan, my man.

Textured Soy Protein > Stupidru
03/27/2014 at 11:10

If you're having kids "in a few years," I don't know if I would be planning any vehicle purchases for that purpose just yet.

Instead, I would lease a fun car that suits your needs now. Costs less, you're not stuck with it if/when kids come around, and then you can worry about a proper kid-mobile maybe once you actually get your wife pregnant.

Stupidru > Burrito de EJ25
03/27/2014 at 11:11

You may be alone in thinking that. Subaru doesn't hire aesthetic designers, and they pass the savings on to the customer!

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > Stupidru
03/27/2014 at 11:11

I have an auto, but I refused to buy a CVT!

Honestly though, if a Milan as done great with car seats, I'm sure the WRX will baby just fine. If thats any comfort to you.

Stupidru > OPPOsaurus WRX
03/27/2014 at 11:13

You sir, are a life saver! I have come across the idea of a cargo basket on top of the Foz, but never thought of putting one on the Wrx!

Congrats on the twins! Which year and body style Wrx do you have? Sedan, hatch, wagon?

A pickup is always an option for the wife- she grew up in Texas, but she's always told me she wants a Forester instead of a pickup, just because of babying

Stupidru > Textured Soy Protein
03/27/2014 at 11:16

Well "in a few years" means probably within 2 years. Tomorrow, if my wife has sabotaged me by poking holes in condoms lately. The issue is that I'm driving a 03 Impreza Outback Sport right now with 112k miles- yes, it could probably triple the mileage before it dies, but it's anemically slow and unfun to drive 8 months out of the year, and I've talked the wife into letting me get a new car in 2 years, which coincidentally is when I deem it acceptable to have kids... whether that goes to schedule is yet to be determined

Marcus Rhatigan > Stupidru
03/27/2014 at 11:17

We're a 2-Forester family. 2002 stick for the youngest kid, 2012 auto for the wife. No WRX on the horizon, though...

Burrito de EJ25 > Stupidru
03/27/2014 at 11:18

The competition isn't much. I think that's why it succeeds here.

I mean, the CUV proportions don't lend themselves well to hot designs.

SPNKiX > Stupidru
03/27/2014 at 11:18

We bought an 08 foz XT sports as a baby machine and it worked out great. Also had to get automatic because of wife. Would recommend. You'll have to sell the Rex as soon as wife is preggo anyway. Do not underestimate hormones and your sudden "worthlessness/selfishness". Make it easy from the beginning.;)

Textured Soy Protein > Stupidru
03/27/2014 at 11:19

Ah, so it's not a new car now, it's a new car around the same time as when kids come around. Gotcha. Then I would take babying into account. But I still wouldn't worry about it so much now, a lot can change by the time you'll be getting around to buying something.

Stupidru > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
03/27/2014 at 11:19

I had to cart my sister, who was 2 or 3 at the time, around in my LGT (which is almost identical to the new WRX, by the way) and never had an issue getting her in or out of her car seat. Another member recommended getting a cargo basket on the WRX if I truly end up needing the extra cargo capacity

Stupidru > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
03/27/2014 at 11:20

And to be fair, while I have never driven the new HT-CVT and can't attest to its performance, I've heard from every review that Subaru has done a great job at making it more like a DSG than an actual CVT

Stupidru > SPNKiX
03/27/2014 at 11:22

Oh boy. I can't wait lol

My wife already drives an 09 FXT, and she would prefer if my next car was a newer Foz as well. I'm pushing for a WRX, but... happy wife, happy life. I'm sure you know how that goes more than I do

OPPOsaurus WRX > Stupidru
03/27/2014 at 11:24

Thanks. A Sport Trac babies and Home Depots. I built an addition with the Sport Trac hauling all the stuff required; 2x4, 2x10, plywood, sheet rock, insulation. Now I have a '14 hatchback. For my needs I'm passing on the roof rack mounted cargo and going for a trailer hitch with a bike rack and possibly a flat cargo rack. Being in Texas maybe you pass the Sport Trac and go for a 4-door f-150 with a bed cap for dry storage.

Stupidru > Textured Soy Protein
03/27/2014 at 11:27

Yes quite a bit can change, but since I'm an engineer and love to plan things out (as an engineer, I should also know that things hardly ever go as planned) and since I'm planning on buying in 2-3 years, that's when the MY 2014 and/or current 2015 MY will be coming off of lease duty. I already know the residual values of the cars, and what the payments will be. Not to mention in 2-3 years, I'll have time to stalk the forums and evaluate the reliability of said cars

BoulderZ > Stupidru
03/27/2014 at 12:13

FWIW: '89 Toyota 2WD extended cab 5 speed MT 6' bed (mine), '78 Datsun 280Z 5 speed MT (mine), '04 1.8T Jetta sedan 5 speed AT (hers). My house was built in '56. I don't think I could do without the truck for all the DIY renovation. Now we have a 1 year old, and... *all* the cars baby great, particularly the Jetta. Carseat swaps in minutes between the vehicles, and the kid loves riding in all three. One thing, for the truck, is that the car seat won't fit in the "xtra cab" bench, has to go in the front seat. I hear it would fit in a 4-door cab, but now your bed is short enough to make a 4x8 sheet from the home center a lot more difficult. One option: get whatever sedan/wagon you want, add a hitch, and get a cheap little cargo trailer from Harbor Freight or Craigslist for when you actually have to haul something. Good luck, with the cars, house, and eventual kid(s)!

pellejuice > Stupidru
03/27/2014 at 12:14

Kinja'd!!!

08 STI and 09 Forester XT household here... The best part is as I buy stuff for my STI, I can put the old STI parts on the XT! Double upgrades!

Both cars fit 3 kids in car seats no probs.

Stupidru > BoulderZ
03/27/2014 at 12:23

Thank you sir! Hearing real stories from people like you make this sound more promising to get a WRX

Stupidru > pellejuice
03/27/2014 at 12:24

If I don't end up going with a new WRX, I'd likely go with a GR STI for that same reason- all the old STI parts can swap right over to the FXT!

pellejuice > Stupidru
03/27/2014 at 12:40

Kinja'd!!!

And I saw someone else mention cargo box...

BoulderZ > Stupidru
03/27/2014 at 12:44

A lot of people will try to tell you a whole bunch of Things You Can't Do Now That You Have A Kid. Granted, there are a few changes (mostly temporary and mostly fun, it turns out), but for the most part the You Can't Do That people are terribly wrong, and the sort of negative people you don't want to hang with anyway.

texasfordfan > Stupidru
03/27/2014 at 13:37

As someone who grew up in a pick up, trucks will baby. Really well. You can fit car seats in without a problem, and you have the bed to store everything. Plus the cab is really big, and can fit babies and everything you need to bring along.

Stupidru > texasfordfan
03/27/2014 at 14:55

Do you find it ironic that the smallest humans need the biggest vehicles?

texasfordfan > Stupidru
03/27/2014 at 21:57

Yes. I find it especially ironic that they also need bigger houses

Stupidru > pellejuice
03/28/2014 at 08:53

How reliable has your STI been? Any ringland issues with yours?

pellejuice > Stupidru
03/28/2014 at 12:07

It has 40k on it. Right now it's got a stage 2 pro tune that's putting down 300whp... No issues other than replacing the power steering pump and deleting the air pump system after failure - all it does is warm the cat up so it works faster.

B Reel > Stupidru
04/03/2014 at 12:11

Buy a slightly used Outback 3.0R and live a blissful life. I have 271,000 on mine

Stupidru > B Reel
04/03/2014 at 12:53

I used to have a LGT which I regretfully sold. I've been keeping an eye on the Legacy 3.0R, but I love the utility of my current IOBS too much to give up the wagon. If the OB 3.0R had paddle shifters I'd be all over it... I may have to retrofit them in