Car purchasing is filled with indecision

"Aaron M - MasoFiST" (amarks563)
11/17/2015 at 16:18 • Filed to: None

Although I plan to run it through the winter, I’ve already started researching my next car to replace the WRX. It is not easy.

I want to have a fun car that can carry at least 3 people in something resembling comfort, have enough cargo flexibility to throw a bicycle in the trunk (removing the front wheel is OK), have a manual transmission, and be relatively easy to modify.

Based on my somewhat nebulous requirements, this is the list of cars I’ve researched in the last month:

Ford Fiesta ST

Ford Focus ST

Mazdaspeed3

Subaru BRZ/Scion FR-S

BMW 128i

BMW 3-series wagon (325/328/330)

Nissan Juke

Honda Civic Si

Fiat 500 Abarth

Mini Countryman S

Mini Clubman S

Volvo C30

Buick Regal GS

Over the last month, I’ve vacillated all over based on some staggeringly odd criteria, including:

Presence or absence of a mechanical LSD

Need to drop a subframe in order to replace a swaybar (spoiler: all of them do except the BRZ/FR-S)

Ability to install an aftermarket head unit

Direct injection

How pretty the car is, because of my guilt in having to park it outside

Of course, I haven’t test driven anything yet. But even without any solid driving experiences, I already have a mod path planned for about half the cars above thanks to a lot of idle forum-reading and browsing on parts sites. And that in turn makes me think about buying an older car so I’d have more money for mods...the cycle never stops.

DISCUSSION (15)

asindhidude > Aaron M - MasoFiST
11/17/2015 at 16:52

Civic Si is a great car and HIGHLY underappreciated.

Aaron M - MasoFiST > asindhidude
11/17/2015 at 16:57

It’s up there on my list for sure, no DI and four doors are attractive, as is the standard helical LSD. The internet seems to hate it, but I want to at least reserve my judgment until I drive one. On the plus side, internet hate has driven down the price of 2013 models significantly.

uofime-2 > Aaron M - MasoFiST
11/17/2015 at 17:06

why not continue your masochism with a new WRX?

Presence or absence of a mechanical LSD

If you really want it the STI/R180 swap is available, but $$$

Need to drop a subframe in order to replace a swaybar (spoiler: all of them do except the BRZ/FR-S)

you don’t for the rear, and I’m not sure why you’d want more front bar

Ability to install an aftermarket head unit

Yes but $$$$ but the facotry one is fine other than power and a “powerpack” amp gives you that for cheap-ish

Direct injection

Yes! (is that good? maybe)

How pretty the car is, because of my guilt in having to park it outside

Some say that it is ugly and from certain angle even I, an owner, am inclined to agree.

liquid_popcorn > Aaron M - MasoFiST
11/17/2015 at 17:18

MK7 GTI! Performance Pack if you need a diff. Also if you’re anywhere near DC I can show you one (and sell it if you like it!).

Manwich - now Keto-Friendly > Aaron M - MasoFiST
11/17/2015 at 17:56

OR... you can get yourself one of these SRT4s at less than half the cost:

http://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-sale/…

And since they’re a lot cheaper as well as being out of warranty, you can mod them without worrying about losing too much of the car’s value or voiding any warranty. Plus you won’t hold back as much when it comes to hooning an older/cheaper car.

Also note that in the case of the Caliber, it’s the same basic chassis and same basic GEMA engine architecture as the Mitsubishi Lancer EVO X.

asindhidude > Aaron M - MasoFiST
11/17/2015 at 17:56

Remind why DI is bad?

uofime-2 > asindhidude
11/17/2015 at 18:00

they have issues with carbon build up on the backs of intake valves. that can be solved temporaliy alleviated with walnut blasting and other treatments

Aaron M - MasoFiST > asindhidude
11/17/2015 at 19:30

Yeah, the buildup issue just hasn’t been solved yet, and that worries me. There are maintenance solutions too...Subaru has Subaru-branded Seafoam, basically, that gets applied to DI cars at regular maintenance appointments.

Aaron M - MasoFiST > liquid_popcorn
11/17/2015 at 19:32

I have issues trusting VW and Audi with reliability...BMW and Mini are iffy there too, but BMW at least has some nods toward maintainability in how their cars are designed. A GTI would tick off a lot of boxes but I still don’t trust them or their engineering completely.

Aaron M - MasoFiST > Manwich - now Keto-Friendly
11/17/2015 at 19:35

Even though I did look at the Focus ST and the Mazdaspeed3, it’s not really what I’m looking for. If I wanted to buy another high-HP missile, I’d spend the 3k or so to get the valve cover gaskets, secondary air injection and timing belt on my Subaru done, drop in a new fuel pump and just keep it for another 50,000 miles. I’m looking for more chassis and handling, or more sound deadening and refinement.

Aaron M - MasoFiST > uofime-2
11/17/2015 at 19:38

In all honesty, if they announce a new WRX hatch like some people say they will at LA then this is all moot and I’ll go put a deposit on one.

Otherwise, they’re just a bit too expensive right now...I don’t really want to pay for a new car unless it’s exactly what I want. Most of the cars I’m looking at are less than 20k.

DI is a bad thing, too many unknowns for maintenance and future buildup issues. The initial reports on the DI turbo Foresters are way better than they were for VW and BMW, but I’m still holding out until manufacturers figure out what needs to be done, be that better engineering on their part or a bit more maintenance on mine.

liquid_popcorn > Aaron M - MasoFiST
11/17/2015 at 20:48

Fair. Our reputation from the mkiv generation is still unfortunately fresh in some people’s minds.

FWIW, the mk7 generation GTI has won nearly every award known to man, and even Consumer Reports picked two models this year for reliability, style, and comfort...so I’d encourage you to at least consider it! I grew up driving Ford, and when it was time to replace my Focus SE with something more fun, the GTI won out over the Focus ST (2013). Unfortunately totaled that one (deer massacre), but I now have the 2015 GTI, as does the wife - I’m up to about 15k miles and stage 2, lowered, etc, hers is stock at 30k miles. Love them almost as much as my mk1, haha

Aaron M - MasoFiST > liquid_popcorn
11/17/2015 at 20:57

You’re right that it’s probably at least worth looking at...the specs and build quality would ameliorate some of the nagging issues I have with the Fords. I’ll take a look as I start heading toward the test drive stage.

uofime-2 > Aaron M - MasoFiST
11/17/2015 at 22:53

Carbon build up is an issue a friend put 40k miles on his which and had an issue with detonation, they returned it to stock (it had a tbe, intake, ecbs, and a protune) still had intermittent detonation. Ended up taking a look at the valves saw build up and then used a CRC spray treatment designed to clean GDI engines to try to clean it up. That was 2 weeks ago and he hasn’t had another serious event yet.

Looks like using that might become a 15k maintenance addition.

Aaron M - MasoFiST > uofime-2
11/18/2015 at 06:29

On both Juke and Ford ST forums, a number of people have started seafoaming their cars every 2-3 oil changes. It appears to keep the problem in check.