Recommend me a first forced-induction daily driver

"NaturallyAspirated" (NaturallyAspirated)
07/31/2015 at 18:03 • Filed to: Subaru, Advice

My trusty ‘98 Subaru Legacy wagon is creeping up to 230,000 miles and I’ve noticed oil consumption trending upwards and fuel economy trending downwards for a few months now. As some point in the not too distant future (next Sunday AD) I will need to replace it with something a few years newer and with significantly fewer miles.

I’ve been thinking of dipping my toes into the forced induction side of things, despite my handle here.

My somewhat fluid requirements are:

Under $10,000 max, preferably under $8,000

Less than 150,000 miles, preferably under 100,000 miles

Capable of being reliably daily driven to work and back

Preferably requires less than one weekend per quarter of mandatory shop time

Must be fun to drive

Bonus points for a “sleeper”

Bonus points for something unusual (probably don’t have to state this here on Oppo)

I’m really impressed with how long my current Subaru has lasted, and given all the practice I’ve had working on it I have a predisposition towards Subarus, but I’m also fully open to something else.

An ‘08-’13 Forester XT seems like a good candidate, although I’ve found them to be fairly scarce here in SoCal. A Turbo Baja would hit both the “sleeper” and “unusual” bonuses, but of course those are even scarcer.

I saw an ‘03 Mazdaspeed Protege for under $3000 the other day which raised an eyebrow.

Oppo, what else should I keep my eyes out for?

DISCUSSION (14)

promoted by the color red > NaturallyAspirated
07/31/2015 at 18:11

2005-2009 Legacy GT sedan. It’s like a WRX for people who aren’t into Monster and EDM.

Steve in Manhattan > promoted by the color red
07/31/2015 at 18:14

WRX?

lone_liberal > NaturallyAspirated
07/31/2015 at 18:14

Maybe one of the turbocharged Legacy GTs? I’m not sure what they go for these days but I would think they would be in your price range as they are getting to be 10 years old.

promoted by the color red > Steve in Manhattan
07/31/2015 at 18:15

No bonus sleeper points, though.

NaturallyAspirated > promoted by the color red
07/31/2015 at 18:19

Ok, I like the sound of that.

lonestranger > NaturallyAspirated
07/31/2015 at 18:23

Kinja'd!!!

HHR SS Panel. Not sure on price or availability, but it’ll check all the other boxes (especially the last two).

Bonus is that Doug DeMuro didn’t think it existed .

Dusty Ventures > NaturallyAspirated
07/31/2015 at 18:34

Like others have already said, Leggy GT. It’s like a WRX in a business suit. Everyone who looks at it thinks it’s an ordinary sensible sedan for grown ups, and more importantly the insurance company and the cops tink it’s an ordinary sensible sedan for grown ups, but it’s the same yob as the rex where it counts.