2002 WRX or Mazda2?

"IWouldAddai4U" (brian-lamar-horne)
04/26/2015 at 16:27 • Filed to: None

That, good people, is my dilemma. My friend owns a mom-driven 2002 WRX wagon, which is effectively my dream car (we all have weird ones), and would be willing to sell it sometime this year for about $6,000. It’s astonishingly clean, and hasn’t had a finger laid on it, given the mom-ness that’s been driving it since new. Regular maintenance, etc, etc, and a little hail damage to the hood. Mechanically, so far as I can tell, it’s in pristine condition. That brings me to the million dollar question: My wife and I are going to have a kid sometime soon, and we’d need another car that’d actually be good to throw a child in (I have a 1991 Wrangler...nope). I’ve always loved the Mazda2, and you can find them ridiculously cheap around Denver, which is in the neighborhood of $9,000 for a 2012 or something. So, newer Mazda2 with about 30k on the clock, or 2002 Rex that’s unmodded with about 115k on it, and leaves a few more bucks in my pockets for a few upgrades?

Totally different cars, but totally fun to drive in different ways. I’ll say that living in Denver makes the WRX more attractive for my weekend snowboard escapades, but I await your feedback with bated breath.

DISCUSSION (33)

DasWauto > IWouldAddai4U
04/26/2015 at 16:30

Looks like you put this on Oppo at its original post time (11:42 am) which is a few pages back. I’ve updated the time so that more people will see it.

AthomSfere > IWouldAddai4U
04/26/2015 at 16:35

WRX, no contest.

The WRX will hold it’s value far better (especially since most of it has already happened).

The WRX will be more fun too.

Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. > IWouldAddai4U
04/26/2015 at 16:35

I’d go Mazda 2 since I like having a newer simpler car.

Danimalk - Drives a Slow Car Fast > IWouldAddai4U
04/26/2015 at 16:36

Normally I’d say WRX, but with a kid ($$) happening at the same time, something newer with less miles may be something to consider as you would hope it would be easier on the bank account

The Mazda2, 500, and I think even the Sonic are some of the best “slow-car-fast” options right now and have some great offers available.

IWouldAddai4U > DasWauto
04/26/2015 at 16:39

Thank you sir. The replies have already helped!

IWouldAddai4U > Danimalk - Drives a Slow Car Fast
04/26/2015 at 16:42

Valid. We just got out of a rental 500L and that engine (same as Abarth) is a riot. Hated the transmission in it though, and I haven’t heard great things about the manual, either.

The thing that’ll always keep pulling me to the WRX is the fact that I’ve wanted that car since the first time I laid eyes on it. I can’t explain it. And this thing is effectively a unicorn, being mom-driven and relatively low mileage. Having never driven anything that takes premium fuel, what sort of difference in performance would you see running the WRX on mid-grade versus premium?

LongbowMkII > IWouldAddai4U
04/26/2015 at 16:44

How long do you plan on keeping it? Have the WRX head gaskets been done?

Is this primary transportation for the kid or a commuter that will carry the kid?The wrx would be more practical as the family hauler, but if you need a commuter, the 2 gets close to double the gas mileage.

TheD0k_2many toys 2little time > IWouldAddai4U
04/26/2015 at 16:44

Its turboed so you want to run premium.

IWouldAddai4U > AthomSfere
04/26/2015 at 16:45

This is a good answer. I love both cars so much, and I tend to think the lower mileage situation I’d have with the 2 might be better...but like I said in another reply, the Rex is my dream car, no matter how irrational that is. I need to do some more research and see what potential maintenance would need to be done, though. I know that era Subie wheel bearings are notorious for failing, and the head gaskets, though those tend to happen to NA engines, rather than turbos.

Thanks for the reply! We still might be a little ways out from doing anything about it, but my wife is on board either way, so that’s a huge win.

TheD0k_2many toys 2little time > IWouldAddai4U
04/26/2015 at 16:50

Mazda 2. The WRX will break soon and its not cheap to fix. Mazda is reliable and is deff more fuel efficient

Tareim - V8 powered > IWouldAddai4U
04/26/2015 at 16:51

you will notice the difference in performance, also the fuel economy will take a hit and it’s not exactly economical at the best of times and finally there is a chance of engine damage if the ecu isn’t clever enough to notice the change in octane.

to sum up, if your not going to put premium in the wrx get the Mazda 2

AthomSfere > IWouldAddai4U
04/26/2015 at 16:52

Wife, kids in the future? Another win for Rex. The 2 has a tiny seat for a rear facing car seat, the WRX would do fine.

The newer WRX still have some turbo issues from my shopping for them, but turbos are like clutches, IMO. Expect to replace them every X miles, Turbos I put it at about 60k... Some go mutch longer, a few dies sooner but budget that just to be safe is my thought.

Is the 2 under factory warranty? Payments? Another thought on the 2 is interest, if you pay any sort of interest on payments you could potentially save a good amount over a 5 year loan to cover wear and tear maintenance on the WRX like the turbo or winter tires :D

IWouldAddai4U > LongbowMkII
04/26/2015 at 16:55

We’ve got two cars right now, a 2012 Outback and a 91 Wrangler. I’d like to keep the WRX for a while, and I’d take care of it really well. It doesn’t appear to have any head gasket issues, but I’m not sure how prevalent they are on the turbo’d engines versus the NA ones. It’s a good, clean car right now. That much I know.

G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3 > IWouldAddai4U
04/26/2015 at 16:56

Kinja'd!!!

The WRX will be so much better if you need to haul a stroller around, not to mention the security of AWD in the winter. Most people would say go for the Mazda 2. However, it seems that your heart hasn’t led you astray this time.

IWouldAddai4U > Tareim - V8 powered
04/26/2015 at 16:58

I figured. Just had to ask! Not really a point, like you said, to buy something like that and not using it to it’s fullest.

IWouldAddai4U > AthomSfere
04/26/2015 at 16:59

We did this with the Wrangler, too. Paid 2k for it, budgeted for tires, tune up gear, etc. Hasn’t let me down, although it started sputtering the other day...

OPPOsaurus WRX > IWouldAddai4U
04/26/2015 at 16:59

Research the interior dimensions for the rear. I’m 5’10 and the car seats fit with a couple extra inches. In reality your thought of extra cash for mods is Quickly going to turn into diaper money.

IWouldAddai4U > G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3
04/26/2015 at 16:59

Every time I see those bug eyes...

G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3 > IWouldAddai4U
04/26/2015 at 17:01

Plus, Mazda 2s have no space for a rear-facing car seat. The WRX is the more practical, and more safe (literally) bet.

1111111111111111111111 > IWouldAddai4U
04/26/2015 at 17:01

5 years ago I was about to buy a new NC Miata, like ready to sign paperwork and my almost wife called and said she was pregnant.

So I bought a Kia soul. I like it too, it’s been completely reliable, and was paid off in 4.5 years.

The month it was paid off I got my 99 Miata with 30k miles and love it. The fact that I put off the fun car also let me get enough cash together to buy a house. So I’m glad I waited.

IWouldAddai4U > OPPOsaurus WRX
04/26/2015 at 17:02

Don’t tell me these things!

IWouldAddai4U > OPPOsaurus WRX
04/26/2015 at 17:03

Truth be told, I don’t want to do much to it. I just figure leaving a little extra money on the table would have some room for exhaust, maintenance, gold wheels, and snows!

IWouldAddai4U > Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell.
04/26/2015 at 17:03

That’s a big thing for me, too. But you can ask my wife: Every time I see a WRX of that era, I about die. It’s my favorite car.

IWouldAddai4U > G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3
04/26/2015 at 17:08

Excellent point!

IWouldAddai4U > 1111111111111111111111
04/26/2015 at 17:10

Patience almost always pays off. The nice thing is that we’re doing payments on the Outback we have now, but we want to do cash on whatever comes next. Did it for my Wrangler, and we will on this next car as well. It’s so nice to be clear of that stuff.

OPPOsaurus WRX > IWouldAddai4U
04/26/2015 at 17:13

Well depending on what it has for tires, like mine which has summers, it’s a must. I understand the exhaust but once that comes home, shit changes. Sleep while u can. And congrats.

LongbowMkII > IWouldAddai4U
04/26/2015 at 17:15

I assume the Outback would be the family car.

My solution: Get the Mazda2. Then turbo the Outback. Then turbo the Mazda. Hmmm, turbo the wrangler also.

Have you driven the mazda2? It sounds great (Its a common autotrader/cars search topic for me), but it seems that not many people are smitten with driving it. If it’s a disappointment it’ll be compounded with regret of missing the WRX. The Mazda would make the better appliance, but the Suby would make the better toy. If you’re comfortable with the fuel costs, and the increased possibility of downtime(slightly, it is nearly 15 years old)go with the WRX.

IWouldAddai4U > OPPOsaurus WRX
04/26/2015 at 17:15

I believe it. I can easily see a Costco membership in our future.

IWouldAddai4U > LongbowMkII
04/26/2015 at 17:17

Outback is DD/family car.

The funny thing about this? I actually did look into turbo-ing the Wrangler. That 2.5 is SO BAD on uphill pulls on I-70. Doing it on a weekly basis to get to the slopes is a nightmare. We’re talking 35MPH. It’s a thing.

boxrocket > IWouldAddai4U
04/26/2015 at 17:20

The Mazda. Fewer surprises and expenses down the road, better on gas, more airbags (I'm guessing?), still fun to drive.

Alternately, find something in the middle, a 2006-2010-ish midsize sedan or compact crossover (not very jalop, I'll grant, but so damn easy to put car seats and kids in!), or a Mazda5 with around 50-90k miles and $5000-7000 range, and use the savings to buy a mid-'90s Subaru or Miata for fun.

Arben72 > IWouldAddai4U
04/26/2015 at 17:20

The wrx. Other then it being a little bit more unreliable, it has a whole lot more space. Awd will be a ton more useful. Also subaru’s are built like tanks if an accident does occur, I’d hate to be in a mazda 2 in anything more then a fender bender.

BrianGriffin thinks “reliable” is just a state of mind > IWouldAddai4U
04/26/2015 at 17:56

The WRX, no question. HGs weren’t an issue on the turbo cars. You probably WILL need a new turbo by 150k miles, but otherwise it'll fit the kids car seat much nicer and give you more room.

Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. > IWouldAddai4U
04/26/2015 at 19:16

If you love the car that much then I say go for it, provided the thing stands up to a proper inspection. Logically the Mazda makes more sense, but we car guys don’t always buy based on logic haha. It’s worth taking a swing for your dream car for sure.