New Car Conundrum Pt II - Is It The Answer?

"MM54" (mm54mk2) 07/01/2015 at 22:09 • Filed to: None

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To pick up where I !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! , I appreciate all the input and have decided (much like you all suggested) to go with another ‘short term’ car while I get my life in order. This also helps me keep the budget low so I can get into the new ride soon, which is good considering the noises/feels coming from my car now. I’m hoping 2nd gear holds out another 5k at this point.

And so, Oppo, I come to you (plural you, which English lacks) for continued guidance. I’ve kept your suggestions from the previous post in mind and been keeping an eye on all of Craig’s Lists within a couple hundred miles. In addition to your suggested cars, I’ve been keeping an eye on e36s and other older 3-series, WRXs, and the sort. It’s optimistic but I’m hoping to stick below 5 grand so I don’t have to take out any more loans.

One of the big things affecting my decision right now is that my garage (attached to my apartment) is kind of pretty freaking small. Inside it’s about 10x19 (feet), and I have Things in there too, like tools and empty boxes. I really, really want to be able to keep my next car in the garage, especially for Winter. This means keeping it small (which I want anyways).

The thought keeps coming back to me, and I really wonder if it’s a good idea, here in the Lake Effect Snow Belt. Should I go on the lookout for a reasonably-stock, reasonably priced...

(with a limited slip diff, of course... and probably a hard top for the winter)?

Key points:

* It snows a lot here, but I’ve always driven RWD in it.
* This will be my only car, i.e. daily driven year round.
* I need a reliable car - I can’t do any work that I can’t hide inside my garage for thanks to the fine print of my apartment lease. That said, I have no problem with doing simple maintenance.
* There’s not a ton of clean NAs around here, I don’t know if they all rusted away or never sold well in the first place. I’m not entirely opposed to travelling south a hundred miles or two to pick up a clean one. NB’s and C’s don’t really excite me.

So before you jump to the automatic “Miata is always the answer!” give it a little thought, from my perspective.

Is Miata the answer?

Berang > MM54 07/01/2015 at 22:16

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WRX WRX WRX!

Admiral Asskicker > MM54 07/01/2015 at 22:21

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So, questions:

1) Price range? I see on the first post you have what looks to be a brand new WRX as a picture, and a NA miata in this one, which quite a range.

2) What state are you in (region at least)? Important for insurance and winter.

3) Have you owned a convertible before?

4) It sounds like this is going to be your only car/DD, am I correct?

I bought a brand new NC pretty much when I started my first job. Its a shit ton of fun and I love the damn thing, but the size/space/soft top has it’s drawbacks, especially when you use it as a DD. Fast forward 2 years, and I’m strongly debating on trading for an FRS (Like test driving and comparing insurance level of debating).

MM54 > Berang 07/01/2015 at 22:22

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I’m trying - but either they’ve kept their value way better than I expected, or everyone who owns one around here is delusional. Bug-eye wagon with 160k and rust on the rear quarters for 8 grand? Come on...

Bman76 (no it doesn't need a WS6 hood) M. Arch > MM54 07/01/2015 at 22:25

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And so, Oppo, I come to you (plural you, which English lacks)

Y’all: the plural you, which people hate/associate with southerners.

Admiral Asskicker > MM54 07/01/2015 at 22:25

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Wisconsin?

Berang > MM54 07/01/2015 at 22:28

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It may be your location, down here this sort of deal is pretty common: http://austin.craigslist.org/cto/5092159566…

MM54 > Admiral Asskicker 07/01/2015 at 22:28

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1) I’d like to stay under 5k. The previous post helped me decide on that, hence the beat-to-hell Supra I almost bought a year ago for a grand and the brand-new WRX, which is what I’d get if I bought new today.

2) Northeast Ohio, just moved here from Erie, PA (2014’s snowiest city!). As a 22-year-old male, insurance will be nasty, which is helping with the not-buying-new thing. I’ve also always carried just liability for the sake of cost and would probably continue to do so.

3) Nope! I have long hair which will probably blow in my face. I did ride in a top-trim F-type once while they were developing the ECU, though (but that’s another story).

4) Yup. It’s only like 5 miles to work but family and most friends are a good 100 mile trip.

MM54 > Admiral Asskicker 07/01/2015 at 22:31

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NE Ohio

MM54 > Berang 07/01/2015 at 22:32

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Damn I need to head your way!

mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/ > MM54 07/01/2015 at 22:36

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I daily my Miata, as it is my only car. I had to drive in the snow, flash floods, etc. I have done this with no problem at all and on some sh*t off brand tires. Everyone was surprised last winter, when I was getting around so easily in my rwd sports car. I deliver pizza part time, so I was in the snow more than most people would ever be.

It’s an awesome car, but not perfect in my experience and if you drive your car as hard as I do, then you will have repairs to do (unless the previous owners kept up on maintenance). In my experience, learning to work on my car has been very rewarding and it really feels like MY car and not just something I drive.

My car had rusted rocker panels and I didn’t think it was that bad... Fast forward a month and I’m paying 1,300 to eradicate the rust.

Totally worth everything. Love my Miata! WRXs are cool too, but usually more expensive. Good luck, hope this helps! Any questions you have, let me know.

Admiral Asskicker > MM54 07/01/2015 at 22:43

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1) Alt question If you were going to go new, how much would you be willing to spend per month on payment + insurance?

2) Yeah, not much of a change from where you grew up (and presumably learned to drive), so no issue there. Insurance I know nothing (Wisconsin’s is dirt fucking cheap though, my new NC is like $60 for full coverage as a 23 year old male).

3) (give me a second to collect my thoughts)

4) Yeah, I could see a NA being interesting for DD/long trips. it is definitely an option, but can be less than ideal. Also, don’t confuse “reliability” for “easy/cheap to fix”.

Eric @ opposite-lock.com > MM54 07/01/2015 at 23:14

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Miata is not the answer. The other answer is the answer if you can land a decent one (your local market might be hell). I’m thinking a V50 would be ideal - wagon (carry your stuff, since you’re an apartment dweller in college), reasonably small, decent gas mileage, fairly common drivetrain, and you might even be able to find one with AWD.

In the worst pinch, aim for stuff that is simply cheap and that nobody wants, then you can simply be picky about which you look at or buy. For example, older Ford Taurii from most eras are pretty solid, very common, and nobody really wants them, so you can get even low-mileage ones in great shape for a song.

Search 1-5k and 2004+ on CL in descending order (play with mileage to further narrow them down). Pick out the cars that seem to be deals or common, then search for those. Hatches and wagons are bonuses. Even minivans are worth considering. You need to get around and move your stuff periodically, you don’t need to win an autocross.

wkiernan > MM54 07/02/2015 at 06:44

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Try driving an NB before you write them off. From the driver’s seat the difference between an NA and an NB is almost nil - except for the additional 10% - 20% more power.

MM54 > Eric @ opposite-lock.com 07/02/2015 at 08:01

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But I’m not an apartment dweller in college, I’m an engineer who happens to live in an apartment because houses take down payments, which I didn’t have coming out of college and thus am still saving for right now!

Please check out the other post I linked to to see a bit more background

MM54 > Admiral Asskicker 07/02/2015 at 08:07

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1) I’m not sure. The issue with new is that I’d be getting full coverage insurance, which is way more costly than the minimum I’ve always had, and would have with an inexpensive car. At this point I’m trying to save for the down payment on a house so when my lease is up in about a year I can move into a house and actually get something out of my monthly payments. If my current car weren’t clearly about to give up and die, as much as I’d still want to, I probably wouldn’t be replacing it.

2) My buddy was paying something like $2200/yr on his ‘02 WRX for full coverage, although he has quite a bit more of a record than I.

3) Okay

4) If it doesn’t leave me stranded, I consider it ‘dependable’ and if it doesn’t break at all, ‘reliable’ - my cars have always been dependable but not so reliable. I’m not opposed to doing minor work on the weekends but it can’t keep me from making it to work every morning and getting home in the evening.

Needmoargarage > MM54 07/02/2015 at 09:33

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I’ve daily driven both a Miata and WRX for extended periods of time. A WRX will cost you far more money down the line...mine needed a new transmission and all kinds of parts along the way. For under 5k you won’t find one that hasn’t been beat to the ragged edge. The Miata was pretty much unbreakable, and I tried. With a good set of snow tires, you will have no issues through the winter in a Miata (I had an open diff) so long as you avoid deep snow. A hardtop is definitely worth it...think of it as a rental as you will be able to sell it later on for the same you paid, or more. Rusty rockers makes them super cheap, but if you pay someone to fix it you will dish out some cash. Fixing it yourself is pretty easy, and inexpensive.

However, the Miata didn’t fit my lifestyle well as an only car because I couldn’t haul anything around. If you don’t frequent hardware stores, junkyards, garage sales, etc. then it might work for you.

R Saldana [|Oo|======|oO|] - BTC/ETH/LTC Prophet > Bman76 (no it doesn't need a WS6 hood) M. Arch 07/02/2015 at 10:14

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Or the hillbilly: “Yuns” or Y’all’uns

MM54 > Needmoargarage 07/02/2015 at 16:32

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This is a very helpful insight - thank you!