Which car would you choose? - Snowboarding Forum

skycdo · 02-01-2012, 06:34 PM

So my car is probably going to be totaled from the wreck I was in. I've been looking around and I have a hard time deciding what car to get. I'm torn between the Outback/Forester and the Impreza WRX. The Outback/Forester has good ground clearance, a lot of room on the inside, is able to go off road to a certain extent, and it can actually tow something behind it that is moderate in size. The Impreza WRX is similar in size to my old car(Civic), has AWD so it can still handle shitty conditions, and it has a turbo, and everyone loves turbos. I just can't justify between the two. The one thing about a turbo-charged car is that I know it can create havoc down the road. Intake manifold can leak, you have to let the car cool down so the oil doesn't burn the bearings in the turbo, you need to change the oil more frequently, etc. Is this all true? Anyone who has a turbo'ed car have any input on maintenance on the engine?

KIRKRIDER · 02-01-2012, 06:38 PM

122K and my WRX is problem-less. In 6 years I changed : 1 Battery, 2 fog light bulbs, 1 Timing belt, 1 windshield. (apart the normal maintenance). I was looking for an Outback back then, I made the mistake of test driving the WRX

Beside we also have a minivan.
You will love it on the snow with good AS tires. The new WRX comes out at 265HP...Like the old STI. I "only" have 230 on my 06 one. Perfect for solo trips, pr more people with a board rack.

Rider161 · 02-01-2012, 06:49 PM

well the forester 2.5xt comes with a turbo

. I've owned a few cars with a turbo and I use to use a turbo timer to help cool the oil before shutdown however I think that technology has come along way and any new model vehicle should be fine. I own a Audi Q5 and my oil changes are 10k and I'm sure they use synthetic oil. Also as far as choosing a model think about if you could live with a smaller storage space and better looks or more storage space and decent looks

xDoty posted this earlier in another post
modded subaru forester

KIRKRIDER · 02-01-2012, 06:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rider161

well the forester 2.5xt comes with a turbo

. I've owned a few cars with a turbo and I use to use a turbo timer to help cool the oil before shutdown however I think that technology has come along way and any new model vehicle should be fine. I own a Audi Q5 and my oil changes are 10k and I'm sure they use synthetic oil. Also as far as choosing a model think about if you could live with a smaller storage space and better looks or more storage space and decent looks

xDoty posted this earlier in another post
modded subaru forester

SUV's handle like trucks...the Impreza is a rally car

Oil change every 10K ? I doubt it...I never go past 5K with synthetic.
(Unless you meant Kilometers? then yes.)

gmore10 · 02-01-2012, 07:03 PM

turbos are really coming along look at the new ford eco boasts a v6 that has as much power as a v8 on the oil change thing you should do it every 3k in reality my truck has lasted till 250k on original tranny and motor diesels are more like every 5-6K

Rider161 · 02-01-2012, 07:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KIRKRIDER

SUV's handle like trucks...the Impreza is a rally car

Oil change every 10K ? I doubt it...I never go past 5K with synthetic.
(Unless you meant Kilometers? then yes.)

mm I wouldn't go more than 5k myself but hey it's their scheduled maintenance program so if it blows it's on them

nice mods

Memphis Hawk · 02-01-2012, 07:16 PM

Put Forester suspension on the STI in the winter, then summer time have a nice little sedan. Turbos are not really anything to worry about having a problem with these days, on Subaru turbo charged motors usually the number 3 cylinder eats a dick from the excessive heat caused by the turbo before the turbo ever blows.

skycdo · 02-01-2012, 10:43 PM

Well it wouldn't be anything close to a new car. All the cars I am looking for are around 2003-2004. I really just need to test drive but I know as soon as I touch the stick on the WRX what will happen...

grafta · 02-01-2012, 11:55 PM

You don't need to go turbo on the Impreza if you don't want to. Get a 2.5 TS wagon or something? It'll still be faster (lighter) than an outback of the same spec. That was the compromise we took.

Also, keep in mind that a lot of the Impreza sedans rear seats don't fold so you can't put boards in the trunk. Worth checking if you're not a racks kinda guy.

Good luck, car hunting is fun

david_z · 02-02-2012, 12:05 AM

insurance on a turbo is usually considerably more expensive than insurance on a "station wagon" like the forester. and the WRX usually considered a "sports car", too. Expensive to insure especially with AWD. For some reason, AWD/4WD wagons tend to be much less expensive to insure. I've never priced out the Forester but IIRC the WRX was about double the insurance rate of my Jeep Cherokee (also a "station wagon"). Just wanted to throw that out there if you haven't thought about how much the insurance will cost, might be worth checking in to. Might sway your decision one way or the other.

02-01-2012, 06:34 PM	#1 (permalink)
skycdo Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Durango, CO Posts: 119	Which car would you choose? So my car is probably going to be totaled from the wreck I was in. I've been looking around and I have a hard time deciding what car to get. I'm torn between the Outback/Forester and the Impreza WRX. The Outback/Forester has good ground clearance, a lot of room on the inside, is able to go off road to a certain extent, and it can actually tow something behind it that is moderate in size. The Impreza WRX is similar in size to my old car(Civic), has AWD so it can still handle shitty conditions, and it has a turbo, and everyone loves turbos. I just can't justify between the two. The one thing about a turbo-charged car is that I know it can create havoc down the road. Intake manifold can leak, you have to let the car cool down so the oil doesn't burn the bearings in the turbo, you need to change the oil more frequently, etc. Is this all true? Anyone who has a turbo'ed car have any input on maintenance on the engine?

02-01-2012, 06:38 PM	#2 (permalink)
KIRKRIDER Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Bay Area, CA Posts: 2,212	122K and my WRX is problem-less. In 6 years I changed : 1 Battery, 2 fog light bulbs, 1 Timing belt, 1 windshield. (apart the normal maintenance). I was looking for an Outback back then, I made the mistake of test driving the WRX Beside we also have a minivan. You will love it on the snow with good AS tires. The new WRX comes out at 265HP...Like the old STI. I "only" have 230 on my 06 one. Perfect for solo trips, pr more people with a board rack. __________________ 2012/13 -12- Kirkwood days Arbor A-Frame 158 2009-10 Jeremy Jones Hovercraft 156, 2011/12 Burton Driver-X K2-Cinch-CTX Subaru WRX 06

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02-01-2012, 06:49 PM	#3 (permalink)
Rider161 -LIFETIME MEMBER- Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Southern MD Posts: 377	well the forester 2.5xt comes with a turbo . I've owned a few cars with a turbo and I use to use a turbo timer to help cool the oil before shutdown however I think that technology has come along way and any new model vehicle should be fine. I own a Audi Q5 and my oil changes are 10k and I'm sure they use synthetic oil. Also as far as choosing a model think about if you could live with a smaller storage space and better looks or more storage space and decent looks xDoty posted this earlier in another post modded subaru forester

02-01-2012, 07:03 PM	#5 (permalink)
gmore10 Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: the 410 Posts: 259	turbos are really coming along look at the new ford eco boasts a v6 that has as much power as a v8 on the oil change thing you should do it every 3k in reality my truck has lasted till 250k on original tranny and motor diesels are more like every 5-6K

02-01-2012, 07:16 PM	#7 (permalink)
Memphis Hawk Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Aomori, Japan Posts: 166	Put Forester suspension on the STI in the winter, then summer time have a nice little sedan. Turbos are not really anything to worry about having a problem with these days, on Subaru turbo charged motors usually the number 3 cylinder eats a dick from the excessive heat caused by the turbo before the turbo ever blows.

02-01-2012, 10:43 PM	#8 (permalink)
skycdo Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Durango, CO Posts: 119	Well it wouldn't be anything close to a new car. All the cars I am looking for are around 2003-2004. I really just need to test drive but I know as soon as I touch the stick on the WRX what will happen...

02-01-2012, 11:55 PM	#9 (permalink)
grafta Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Vancouver, BC Posts: 1,752	You don't need to go turbo on the Impreza if you don't want to. Get a 2.5 TS wagon or something? It'll still be faster (lighter) than an outback of the same spec. That was the compromise we took. Also, keep in mind that a lot of the Impreza sedans rear seats don't fold so you can't put boards in the trunk. Worth checking if you're not a racks kinda guy. Good luck, car hunting is fun

02-02-2012, 12:05 AM	#10 (permalink)
david_z Official SBF Blogger Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Detroit suburbs Posts: 3,032 Blog Entries: 5	insurance on a turbo is usually considerably more expensive than insurance on a "station wagon" like the forester. and the WRX usually considered a "sports car", too. Expensive to insure especially with AWD. For some reason, AWD/4WD wagons tend to be much less expensive to insure. I've never priced out the Forester but IIRC the WRX was about double the insurance rate of my Jeep Cherokee (also a "station wagon"). Just wanted to throw that out there if you haven't thought about how much the insurance will cost, might be worth checking in to. Might sway your decision one way or the other.