What are my options?

"ArmadaExpress drives a turbo outback" (armadaexpress) 07/07/2015 at 10:12 • Filed to: None

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Looking for a sedan/wagon/ hatch 2013 or older that is boosted and has a manual. Back seat needs to be large enough for car seats and luggage space needs to be actually practical. (Which means the STi sedan is not an option.) I’d like to keep the price under 30k. Extra points for cars that are readily tuned as I have a great tuner in the area.

Stapleface-Now Hyphenated! > ArmadaExpress drives a turbo outback 07/07/2015 at 10:14

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Speed3 or Speed6. Meet all of your criteria fairly easily.

GTI Sprinks > ArmadaExpress drives a turbo outback 07/07/2015 at 10:15

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oppo boxes: available in brown, diesel, and manual.

OPPOsaurus WRX > ArmadaExpress drives a turbo outback 07/07/2015 at 10:16

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STi HATCH!!!!!!!

Cash Rewards > ArmadaExpress drives a turbo outback 07/07/2015 at 10:20

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Vw gti. By all reports VW is under rating it’s power, and there is pretty good tuning support for it through places like apr

m-b-w loves his SUBAROO > ArmadaExpress drives a turbo outback 07/07/2015 at 10:23

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What about 05-09 outback XT, or a Legacy GT?

heliochrome85 > ArmadaExpress drives a turbo outback 07/07/2015 at 10:28

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F30 Wagon. Easy.

FromCanadaWithLove > ArmadaExpress drives a turbo outback 07/07/2015 at 10:30

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Not boosted, but still a good deal. http://www.autotrader.ca/a/BMW/3+Series… ShowCPO&orup=4_15_18

G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3 > ArmadaExpress drives a turbo outback 07/07/2015 at 10:36

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Acura RDX? IIRC, it was absolutely fantastic to drive, and practical to boot. That 2.3 turbo is great. No manual, though.

G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3 > m-b-w loves his SUBAROO 07/07/2015 at 10:36

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Also, Forester XT.

nermal > ArmadaExpress drives a turbo outback 07/07/2015 at 10:40

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How about an A4? Especially if you can find an S-line version. (Not an S4, just a regular A4 with all the sport bits and the 2.0t)

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > ArmadaExpress drives a turbo outback 07/07/2015 at 10:54

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Baby seats or toddler seats? Big difference.

ArmadaExpress drives a turbo outback > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 07/07/2015 at 10:56

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Actually both.

ArmadaExpress drives a turbo outback > m-b-w loves his SUBAROO 07/07/2015 at 10:58

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Considering the legacy get, didn’t know there was an outback state with a manual. I’ll add that to my search. Forester xt with a manual was dropped in ‘09 so they're harder to come by.

ArmadaExpress drives a turbo outback > FromCanadaWithLove 07/07/2015 at 10:58

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I'd look into it. Thanks

ArmadaExpress drives a turbo outback > GTI Sprinks 07/07/2015 at 10:59

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I know everyone raves about VW’s, but they don't do much for me aesthetically.

ArmadaExpress drives a turbo outback > nermal 07/07/2015 at 10:59

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I'd consider it, but I've heard iffy things about the 2.0 reliability. I'll look into it more though.

ArmadaExpress drives a turbo outback > Stapleface-Now Hyphenated! 07/07/2015 at 11:00

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I was thinking about the speed6. I'll have to do a little more research on it

ArmadaExpress drives a turbo outback > G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3 07/07/2015 at 11:01

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I hate getting into that back seat though. Always smacked my head and I bet it'd be even harder with child seats.

ArmadaExpress drives a turbo outback > OPPOsaurus WRX 07/07/2015 at 11:01

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STi hatch is my top choice but they're ending up a little more than I want to spend. But I think I'd put down the extra cash if I can find one.

ArmadaExpress drives a turbo outback > heliochrome85 07/07/2015 at 11:02

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Yeah I'm going to look at them and maybe give it a test drive, but only if I can find a 335 wagon.

JawKnee > ArmadaExpress drives a turbo outback 07/07/2015 at 11:07

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Join me in boxy poor sightline fun! HHR SS checks all those!

Manwich - now Keto-Friendly > ArmadaExpress drives a turbo outback 07/07/2015 at 11:11

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2012+ Ford Escape with the 2L Ecoboost

2012+ Ford Focus ST

2013+ Ford Fiesta with the 1.6L Ecoboost

Saab 9-5

Saab 9-3

Saab 9-2X Aero

Chevy HHR SS

Chevy Cobalt SS

2009+ Buick Regal turbo

2013+ Buick Verano turbo

Chrysler PT Cruiser GT

Dodge/Chrysler Neon SRT4

Dodge Caliber SRT4

Mazdaspeed 3

Mazdaspeed 6

Subaru Impreza WRX or STI

Subaru Forester XT

Subaru Legacy GT

a VW with the TDI engine

2003+ VW Golf GTI

2011+ Jetta GLI

VW Passat with the 2L TSI or TFSI engine

VW Passat CC with the 2L TSI engine.

2008+ Audi A4 with one of the TFSI engines

2006+ Mini Cooper S

Volvo S40 with the 2L turbo or 2.5L turbo

2004+ Volvo S60R

2007+ Mitsubishi Lancer Ralliart with the detuned EVO-X engine

Mitsubishi Lancer EVO

ArmadaExpress drives a turbo outback > Manwich - now Keto-Friendly 07/07/2015 at 11:21

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Wow, thanks for the comprehensive list. Honestly that helps a lot! Time to start going through the list.

ArmadaExpress drives a turbo outback > JawKnee 07/07/2015 at 11:22

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I don't think I could do that. Never been too fond of the HHR. But I bet the SS makes up for it a bit.

OPPOsaurus WRX > ArmadaExpress drives a turbo outback 07/07/2015 at 11:27

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You could always just do a WRX. Its still probably faster than you need to go on the streets and for a nicer price.

nermal > ArmadaExpress drives a turbo outback 07/07/2015 at 11:44

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I think the key is finding a good one, that’s been driven by a responsible adult and not modded. But not driven by a grandma that never took the engine over 2k rpms.

Manwich - now Keto-Friendly > ArmadaExpress drives a turbo outback 07/07/2015 at 11:59

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It was easy for me to put together as my car needs are pretty close to yours (I have two kids as well... but they’re old enough that car seats aren’t needed anymore).

The only difference is that I strongly prefer wagons/hatchbacks over sedans and I don’t care as much about having a boosted engine. Hence, I’m currently driving a Ford Focus wagon.

For pure practicality, I would rate the Forester, Escape, PT Cruiser, Caliber and HHR as being the top choices within that list. And the Golf/Jetta wagon are good too... but they’re harder to find in a good spec for a reasonable price. But given you’re willing to spend as much as $30K, you should be able to find one if you want.

And I’d like to add that many people say the PT Cruiser and Caliber suck... but a big reason why people think that is because of the automatics those cars have. They’re much better with the manual. And I used to own a PT Cruiser.

JawKnee > ArmadaExpress drives a turbo outback 07/07/2015 at 12:10

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The SS more than makes up for it. They are very quick for the size.

http://jalopnik.com/334563/chevrol…

TahoeSTi > ArmadaExpress drives a turbo outback 07/07/2015 at 14:07

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I have friends with baby seats (2 even fit) in STi sedans, they have more room in the back then you expect especially the 2008+ WRX/STi’s. The back seat has more leg room then my Jetta sports wagon for example, but not as much as my bothers Jetta sedan.

Although i would recommend the FEAL Strut Upgrades to anyone with a STi and car seats, the re-tuning takes the bobble head a way which i hear is worst for kids.

ArmadaExpress drives a turbo outback > TahoeSTi 07/07/2015 at 14:17

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I just meant that the sedan was out of the running because of the lack of luggage space. Hard to imagine putting much back there. But if I go the STi route I'll look into the upgrade. Good to know.

ArmadaExpress drives a turbo outback > Manwich - now Keto-Friendly 07/07/2015 at 14:19

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I appreciate the input. I’d love to go back to a Subaru, but the XTs are hard to find with a manual. Many, if not all XT models dropped the manual transmission right around ‘09.

ArmadaExpress drives a turbo outback > nermal 07/07/2015 at 14:21

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Yeah I've test driven a few and you can tell the difference between one that's been beaten on and one that hasn't. I expect some extra wear and tear on an STi or WRX, but I'm not willing to accept something that's been horribly beat on.. I'll just keep looking at that point.