TDI replacement car, more decisions

"TDIGuy" (owenrosier) 08/08/2016 at 23:26 • Filed to: None

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Evening Oppo,

So a few weeks ago I started to think about what I want / need in a car to replace my TDI. Well I think I have narrowed it down a little bit. Reality told me that I need to go with the more practical choices ( which means wagons ). This leaves me with 2 real choices (or kinda 3). The first choice is the new Golf Alltrack that is coming out. This kinda depends on if it is any good and if it is out in time.

This ticks the boxes of probably solid fuel milage and plenty of space, all wheel drive, and I think looks pretty good. And if this isn’t out yet, I am okay with the regular golf wagon.

My other thought is the Subaru Outback. Originally I was against it but the more I look at it the more I like the idea because I know Subaru probably has the all wheel drive wagon formula dialed in. My biggest worry with the Subaru is A) the CVT, is it horrible ? And B) is the flat - 4 way too gutless to make this car worth driving ? So my big question is , what does oppo know / think about the outback ?

norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback > TDIGuy 08/08/2016 at 23:32

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CVT in my Impreza isn’t horrible, honestly not too noticeable. My flat four doesn’t seem too gutless, sure it could use more power but it’s good enough for me to have fun with it. However, that’s a different four than what’s in the Outback so I can’t really answer for that unfortunately.

CRider > norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback 08/08/2016 at 23:35

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The Impreza weighs about 700 lbs less than a loaded Outback.

wafflesnfalafel > TDIGuy 08/08/2016 at 23:39

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You should drive the outback with the CVT. I think it’s one of the best cvts out there - but it is still a little different in feel from a traditional automatic. You might like it or still find it quirky. One of my buddies has a new outback with the 2.5 and cvt and we’ve got a crosstrek with the cvt. They are not what I would consider sporty like my Mazda 3 but they are great little cars. The outback is pretty big - bigger than the Golf would be.

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > TDIGuy 08/08/2016 at 23:40

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I vote Golf wagon.

MUSASHI66 > TDIGuy 08/08/2016 at 23:41

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My moms 2010 Outback with CVT started having transmission issues at 59000 miles. She just traded it for a 2017 Foreser XT, and me and my wife both have 2016 XTs. Hopefully, that heavy duty CVT is better.

To answer your question, Outback CVT and 170 hp is a very lame combo. Drive it first.... And buy the H6 if you can afford it.

CRider > TDIGuy 08/08/2016 at 23:44

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Ford Explorer Sport.

norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback > CRider 08/08/2016 at 23:48

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Yeah, but the Outback also has a slightly more powerful 2.5l instead of the 2,0l in the Impreza.

Amoore100 > TDIGuy 08/09/2016 at 00:00

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Why not a nice, used V60? You can get year-old ones for $25 grand or less since Volvos depreciate like shit and it’ll slot in right between the Golf and the Outback in terms of size. It apparently gets comparable mpgs at 25/37 and seems to fit your needs pretty well. You could also get a Cross Country AWD model but that lowers mpgs to 20/28 and ups price to $30K since they only went on sale this year. The standard V60 can be found with AWD though I’m not sure how it affects fuel economy/pricing. Also keep in mind that the interiors are a love it/hate it affair so make sure you try one before you consider it. Just some food for thought!

CRider > norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback 08/09/2016 at 00:12

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27 more hp, 29 lb-ft more torque and weighs 600ish lbs more. It’s still a dog.

norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback > CRider 08/09/2016 at 00:14

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I don’t have any first hand experience with the Outback so I’ll take your word for it

E92M3 > TDIGuy 08/09/2016 at 00:18

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Honestly either of those will have issues and drawbacks. I would get a TSX wagon myself.

TDIGuy > norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback 08/09/2016 at 00:19

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Yeah I’ve heard it isn’t bad but that was my worry, its much heavier but it is the bigger of the flat fours

TDIGuy > Amoore100 08/09/2016 at 00:22

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I like the idea of the used v70 / cross country but I’m kinda trying to stay new because interest rates are a little better and I don’t want to still be paying off a car when it has over 200k miles on it. I mean my Jetta just rolled 60k in like 2 years. If I buy a car with miles already on it, I’m not taking a loan on it so its gotta be like less than 12k

TDIGuy > MUSASHI66 08/09/2016 at 00:24

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Well, thats my worry but I think this new gen of CVTs are good, at least thats what the sub fanboy hype says. As far as the H6, I like that a lot better but only problem with that is, it is more that I want to spend, and also it is thirstier than I’d like. For that kind of money and gas milage, I wouldn’t get a Subaru

TDIGuy > CRider 08/09/2016 at 00:26

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I love them, but I talked myself out of used cars unless it is something I can afford without a loan because I don't want to be paying off the car when it has 200k miles on it. I drive too much for buying a mid / higher milage car. And as much as I could technically afford an explorer sport, it would be stupid of my to spend my good salary on a car. 5 years ago I would have said, look at the cars I can afford. Then real life happened

TDIGuy > wafflesnfalafel 08/09/2016 at 00:29

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Yeah the outback is a bit bigger that I want out of a wagon, it has gotten pretty fat, but that might make my girlfriend happy because she will think that it is a big SUV like she wants. I personally like the size and personality of the golf much more but I feel it might be risky getting a car that will have just come out and may or may not be reliable

TDIGuy > E92M3 08/09/2016 at 00:30

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Can you get a TSX wagon in AWD ? And they are pretty rare either way

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > TDIGuy 08/09/2016 at 00:40

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In my opinion neither of them is to be trusted. That’s basically a Hilary v. Trump situation to be honest.

Flex? TSX? ??? E63?????

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > TDIGuy 08/09/2016 at 00:48

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Sure cant. FWD and automatic only if I recall.

Svart Smart, traded in his Smart > TDIGuy 08/09/2016 at 01:02

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My parents have a 2014 Forester CVT, which I’ve driven quite a bit. I know it’s not the same as the Outback, but still... I find the combination of CVT and throttle calibration somewhat annoying compared to a stepped automatic. The throttle tip-in feels rather abrupt, so it’s hard to accelerate smoothly from a stop. And engine braking feels even more minimal than what you’d get from a regular automatic.

At least there’s very little of the droning engine noise that seems to plague some other CVTs.

CRider > TDIGuy 08/09/2016 at 01:22

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200k miles? The Explorer Sport came out last year.

You might be better off buying a used 2016/2016 car that’s already been through the worst of it’s depreciation, even if that means financing it at a slightly higher interest rate. And if you drive a lot, why not spend a little more to get a nice car that you’ll enjoy spending your time in? With the EB you won’t get bored with hitting the gas, either. Getting a CPO Explorer Sport might not be a bad idea.

FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com > TDIGuy 08/09/2016 at 01:49

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I don’t think the CVT I my wife’s Outback is too bad. I wouldn’t call it gutless, but it definitely isn’t fast. The CVT does a decent job getting most out of it, but it runs out of stream and passing on the highway takes some planning and dealing with 5,000 rpm until you slow back down. Definitely worth a test drive to see what you think. I know you want new, but if you’re lucky you might be able to snag a CPO ‘14 with a 6MT - last year it was made. Will cost 2-3 MPG. My manual Forester has the same motor and weighs 400 lbs less, but gets worse mileage than her CVT Outback.

Amoore100 > TDIGuy 08/09/2016 at 01:52

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Ah, gotcha. Yeah, all the used Vo’s are probably higher mileage than you’d like (5k+) and I have no idea what the financing landscape is like so it’s your judgement to make there. New cars are somewhat of a mystery to us because our customary solution is to pick up an old Volvo wagon for around $4K, drop $1000 on it to make it run nice, and then drive it for the foreseeable future. Good luck in your car search!

OPPOsaurus WRX > TDIGuy 08/09/2016 at 07:24

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his is only a few grand more than the top outback

TDIGuy > CRider 08/09/2016 at 07:43

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When I was looking at them the ones in my price bracket were 2015s with about 50-60k miles on them, I figure if I get into a 72mo loan, then at 20k miles a year, it might have 160k miles on it by the time I pay it off

TDIGuy > OPPOsaurus WRX 08/09/2016 at 07:47

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As much as I like that, I’m not even looking at the top trim outback haha if I was, I wouldn’t be looking at an outback. I could spend 38k much better lol

TDIGuy > AMGtech - now with more recalls! 08/09/2016 at 07:53

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Well taking that approach, your third party candidates are not really any more trust worthy... Well the TSX is hard to find and front wheel only, the flex I'm lukewarm about at best, and E63, not a good idea

nermal > TDIGuy 08/09/2016 at 08:15

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How about a truck? You can get them with the diesel and if you time it right, around $9k in rebates. Should put it in mid-high $30k price range as long as you don’t go too crazy with options.

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > TDIGuy 08/09/2016 at 09:27

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E63is always the best idea. It’s not the E63's fault if most of us are to plebian to afford. But the solution is simple: quadruple your income!

E92M3 > TDIGuy 08/09/2016 at 10:26

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No AWD, but FWD with snow tires will perform good enough in winter.

MUSASHI66 > TDIGuy 08/09/2016 at 10:37

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Good luck! Subaru has been doing something well lately - they doubled their sales. Outback is comfortable, spacious, fairly capable off-road and great in the snow, and you can get one for $22k or so on the low end. I don’t think you can get a better vehicle in that price range if space and awd is what you are after

TDIGuy > MUSASHI66 08/09/2016 at 11:42

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Thats kinda what I was thinking, space and AWD because it makes more sense than a traditional crossover

TDIGuy > AMGtech - now with more recalls! 08/09/2016 at 11:44

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Thats a good idea except my income has already quadrupled (AKA I graduated and got a job) And thats just not Merc money right now, trying to save for a house as well ..

TDIGuy > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 08/09/2016 at 11:44

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I like that idea alot still, the subaru is a new contender for me

TDIGuy > nermal 08/09/2016 at 11:46

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I want a truck, but I drive too much to make it practical, even the diesel and ecoboost ones. I looked at the ecodiesel Grand Cherokee but its just more than I want to spend. I can afford it, but its a matter of should I spend that much

ShrimpHappens, née WJalopy > TDIGuy 08/09/2016 at 12:09

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Just bought a 2017 Outback 2.5L this past Saturday. I’m used to CVTs, having been around Polaris ATVs my whole life, and my mother-in-law has had a couple of Murano’s and now a CR-V with them. So, it doesn’t really bother me. I explained it to my wife during the test drive (she too being familiar with the concept from her mom’s cars and her dad’s Polaris Ranger), as it’s her car, and she’s not bothered by it either. She’s gonna have to get used to keeping her foot in the throttle, though.

As far as performance, all the magazines bash the 2.5L, as they expect all cars to behave like M3's, but if you read hive-mind enthusiast forums, they all say it’s fine. Well, so far, I agree that it’s fine. We traded in a 2013 Santa Fe Sport with the 2.0T engine upgrade rated for 270 hp, so I was apprehensive about the 2.5L. But even though I’ve been staying under 4000 rpm while the engine’s breaking in, it’s not left me wanting more. I imagine if you anticipated being loaded down with people and gear while driving through the Rockies, you’d want the 3.6L, but I live in Alabama. Sure, that 2.0T in the Hyundai was cool to show friends (what business does a car like that have in having 270 hp, anyway), but it was realistically and honestly unnecessary.

ShrimpHappens, née WJalopy > ShrimpHappens, née WJalopy 08/09/2016 at 12:28

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Also, I’d like to mention a theory I have on CVTs and people’s perception of them. Maybe I’m way off. Dunno. Just a theory

On a regular AT, I ease my foot into the throttle, giving more as I accelerate to counteract the power drops that upshifts give as they drop the engine out of the powerband. When driving CVTs, I don’t ease into it; I immediately give it all the throttle I want off the line, let the CVT sort it out, and back off once I’ve reached desired speed.

My wife, in the three days we’ve had it, seems to be reluctant to put her foot in it and leave it there. I think she normally drives as I do, feathering more throttle on the way to desired speed. And doing that honestly makes the Outback feel weird, and I understand how it’d turn people off.

TDIGuy > ShrimpHappens, née WJalopy 08/09/2016 at 13:24

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Yeah I know I could get used to the CVT, and I think honeslty the CVT is probably good for making the most of the 2.5. Basically the Golf Alltrack and the Outback do the same things for me, I’m just wondering how reliable is a subaru having noever owned one

ShrimpHappens, née WJalopy > TDIGuy 08/09/2016 at 14:10

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I wonder the same. All I really know about them, long-term wise, is that there are plenty of Foresters still going with 200,000+ miles and there are plenty of WRX’s with blown head gaskets below 100,000 miles. I’m hopeful that it’s just the performance-oriented engines in the WRX’s and STi’s that have the head gasket problem. Naturally, the salesperson assured me that is the case.

My local Subaru dealership is a joint operation with a Chrysler/Dodge/Jeep/Ram/Fiat/Alfa dealership, though they’re about 5 miles apart. The salesperson said that the service department at the Subaru place also does repairs for the CDJRFA, because they otherwise wouldn’t have enough to do. Now that I believe.

TDIGuy > ShrimpHappens, née WJalopy 08/10/2016 at 09:14

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Yeah I believe that, I think subaru has a pretty good track record for the low performance motors, I wonder about long term on the transmission though

ShrimpHappens, née WJalopy > TDIGuy 08/10/2016 at 11:36

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I’m glad you’re still checking this; I took the time to Google “Subaru head gaskets” last night and got some good info. The problem is actually the opposite of what I thought. It is indeed the low-performance, non-turbo 4-cyl engines that had the widespread head gasket issues. I’ll not repeat here everything I read, but what’s important is that for the 2011 model year, Subaru completely redesigned the heads of their non-turbo 4-cyl engines, so it should be a non-issue now.

And I can’t help but wonder about the CVT, too.