What's an Opponaut to do?

"inferno493" (inferno493) 05/23/2015 at 15:17 • Filed to: oppositelock, wrx

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Let me start by laying out the particulars. I currently have three cars. One keeper (a 4Runner) and two that I am looking to replace with one of equal or slightly greater value. Just what type of vehicle takes their place is currently a matter of lively discussion between myself and my better half. This is where the Oppo army steps in. Do me a solid and read through the details then let me know what course of action would be in our best interest.

The first car is a Chrysler Pacifica AWD. It has been a generally reliable machine of surprising agility and overall capability in a family truckster package. I like it to the Millennium Falcon, it may not look like much, but it’s got it where it counts. At this point it has nearly 200,000 miles on it and I feel it’s only a matter of time before something major gives out and I have to replace it on short notice. This is my primary commuting vehicle as the AWD comes in handy during the winter months crossing a mountain pass on my route.

The second is a Honda Accord automatic with a 4-banger. It’s an insipid metal lozenge that gets you where you need to go with neither excessive excitement or overwhelming lethargy. It’s got 160,000 miles and a transmission that seems a bit jumpy. Word on the intertubes is that it has a penchant for failed transmissions and may not be the pillar of reliability that I believed it to be.

My tentative plan is to sell both of these vehicles for $7000-8000 (total) and get myself a WRX with around 100,000 miles as a replacement, which I figure will cost $10,000. This will provide me with a car that I desperately desire (well an STI would be ideal but beggars can’t be choosers) and also can hold my kids and get me to work. It seems to exhibit standard subie longevity and parts are readily available if necessary (I do pretty much all of the mechanical work on my vehicles now).

The wife wants a 4 door Tacoma 4x4. A fine choice but completely opposite the direction I want to go. They also seem to be more expensive than the WRX for something with similar mileage.

Help me Oppo, you’re my only hope.

Luke's Dad Sold His 2000TL To Get a Sienna > inferno493 05/23/2015 at 15:21

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Here’s one thing I need to point out. Selling those two cars and replacing it with an STi may make your insurance go up significantly. My dad sold our 2000 TL and 2000 Odyssey, took me off the insurance since I was in college, and purchased a 2015 Sienna and for some reason our insurance went up. (Insurance right, how does it even work.) I can only imagine an STi will have a pretty high insurance rate.

Second, I was gonna come here and suggest getting a turbo Forester and maybe putting bits on it to make it look like a JDM STi Forester so you keep the utility of a covered back end and some STi goodness in your fleet.

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > inferno493 05/23/2015 at 15:25

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A $7k Tacoma probably won’t break down on you. A $7k/100k mile WRX will most certainly break down on you.

Jedidiah > inferno493 05/23/2015 at 16:25

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I’ve always liked pretty much any body style more than I like sedans. Mainly because hatches and wagons are infinitely more useful that their three box-styled counterparts. If the Subaru is a wagon, I’d probably go for it since you could probably convince the wife because it can carry more stuff than the sedan. If it’s a sedan, I’d get the truck.

(My Unpopular Opinion) Speed and handling have always been at the bottom of my priorities. Since neither vehicles in question are classic or beautiful, Personally I’d pick the truck since the truck will have heavier duty parts and probably last longer. It will likely be easier to work on and use common Toyota parts. The Subaru is bound to have been ruined by some kid at some point who thinks he’s a race car driver.

OPPOsaurus WRX > inferno493 05/23/2015 at 16:44

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I support the WRX.

inferno493 > Luke's Dad Sold His 2000TL To Get a Sienna 05/23/2015 at 17:13

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I already checked on the insurance, it’s not an issue due to the decrepit nature of my youth. Being 40 does have some privileges. The turbo forester is something I would consider but the wife is right out.

inferno493 > Jedidiah 05/23/2015 at 17:17

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It would almost certainly be a wagon, and it also has to be stock which I think will remove a large portion of the boy-racer population. While speed and handling is not a priority, it is nonetheless an insatiable addiction that can only be assuaged by speed and handling.

inferno493 > Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies 05/23/2015 at 17:24

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I’m looking at spending $10k. Double-cab 4x4 tacoma’s tend to have near 200,000 miles on them at that price point. WRX’s I have seen have significantly less. From what I’ve found researching so far, unmodified WRX’s seem pretty stout although they do tend to receive a lot more abuse and need to be more thoroughly vetted. Don’t get me wrong, I already have a 4Runner precisely due to their longevity and capability. I would like to have some fun as well.

Jedidiah > inferno493 05/23/2015 at 18:15

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Then that’s what you should get.

Ask the wife if she’s opposed to an awd wagon instead of a truck.

They’d likely share much of the same functionality, so she’s bound to be happy with it and it’s what you want.

DougNuts > inferno493 05/23/2015 at 18:36

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Interest rates are low. Splurge for a new car and get a 2015 Outback or a 2015 Accord LX for $19,700. Those, IMO, are the best cars for the money.

The Outback will do everything you probably would do with the Tacoma, with more comfort and higher MPG. The Accord can swallow 255 width tires and there are mods available.

inferno493 > DougNuts 05/23/2015 at 19:26

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I’m a no debt kind of guy. Having a car payment is not something I want to take on right now.

rockingthe2 > inferno493 05/24/2015 at 02:57

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Personally, I’m in a similar situation, my buddy owns a Forester XT, that thing is pretty fun and very practical, and it escaped the beat to death part of wrx’s. I’m a big Toyota guy, wife wants a new Tacoma, but its not in the cards. I’ve honestly been looking at the Honda Element, you can get it in 5spd/AWD trim, and people routinely stuff a motorcycle in them. More power? Get a set of k24a2 rods and pistons, a k24a2 head, and maybe a turbo kit. More ground clearance? They make mild lifts. Better gas mileage? There is a 6spd swap you can do. Hell I’d be willing to bet you could swap a s2k or similar diff with the stock rear diff, pull a fuse, and get real time AWD. The biggest part for me is the fact that I’ll never care about it, its a toaster, its not “cool” for what im used to (mid engine sports car with 300whp) but its practical, mostly economical, and I guess it could even be fun. That and a new motorcycle would be an awesome DD pair.

inferno493 > rockingthe2 05/24/2015 at 17:52

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I already have a fun motorcycle (see my track day post), but it is strictly a point A to point A machine and zipping around in the hills is frustrating due to all the hazards inherent in road riding. I want something fun that I can have my coffee in and drive up to the mountain in the winter. I love my motorcycle, but it is a terrible snow machine :) I have a 4Runner for hauling and this would be primarily for commuting and around town. I suppose the real issue is whether there’s any validity to selling two paid off cars and getting one slightly lower mileage car to replace it.

rockingthe2 > inferno493 05/25/2015 at 04:16

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There’s always a validity to selling a Chrysler pacifica, those things are so boring I’m not sure how any of them are still on the road, I almost fall asleep driving them. You said you’re not a big debt guy, so buying used is the way you’re gonna go, and you need something to haul the kids around, so 4 seats or more right? So from what I gather these are what you want:

AWD

4 doors

“Fun” -relative term, so the quotations

Under $10k

Practical

Reliable

I’m guessing you don’t want a project? Those can be fun.

inferno493 > rockingthe2 05/25/2015 at 08:02

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I think what you have there about sums it up. I wouldn’t mind something I could upgrade, but it needs to be primarily a daily driver. I can’t have the engine out for a week while I swap out pistons or something to that effect. I also wouldn’t be able to continue putting money into it as I went. My experience with my motorcycle is that nice parts aren’t inexpensive and it always takes longer to put things together than I anticipate. The one place I have some flexibility is in price. I could go to $12-15k to get something with lower mileage.

rockingthe2 > inferno493 05/25/2015 at 13:42

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Yeah, I’m guessing a Forester XT might be your best bet if you can convince the wife, wrx’s and sti’s are awesome cars, but I would probably stay away from 99% of them due to being raced and abused like no other. If you know of an adult owned, not abused one, I would get it, but not any others. Usually the Forester XT is the forgotten, not so popular sibling to the sti and its an awesome deal.

boxrocket > inferno493 05/25/2015 at 14:29

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Get a Subaru Baja instead of the WRX. Satisfies the Subaru itch, usable as a truck, and more efficient than the Tacoma.

inferno493 > rockingthe2 05/25/2015 at 14:29

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I wholeheartedly agree with that assesment. The problem is my wife would like an STI but she is the more fiscally restrained of us. She also is wicked stubborn, so she would rather not get it at all than have to compromise.

rockingthe2 > inferno493 05/25/2015 at 14:42

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Does she know the XT is an STi but with a wrx turbo and more headroom? Or is she more of a wants car not crossover person?

inferno493 > rockingthe2 05/25/2015 at 14:51

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She thinks it’s ugly. We went to a rally school up in WA where they used STi’s and have wanted one ever since.

rockingthe2 > inferno493 05/25/2015 at 15:23

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Ah, I really want to go to one of those one day, but how roadkill did it, with an old muscle car (or truck, I would totally do it in a muscle truck).

inferno493 > rockingthe2 05/25/2015 at 15:54

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They have brz’s if you want a rear wheel drive experience. It’s crazy expensive though, my dad took us because he’s awesome like that.

rockingthe2 > inferno493 05/26/2015 at 14:29

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Can you.bring your own cars?

inferno493 > rockingthe2 05/26/2015 at 14:45

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I don't believe so.