20k to buy a car.. what should i get?

[IanAvery-Leaf]

Are you serious? They are both lil crossovers (or baby SUVs), nearly identical cargo capacity, it's just a waste of a turbo on anything but a car.

you're seriously trying to compare a mom mobile that only comes in an auto with a WRX in a forester body? Sure its comparable to a bunk '09+ FXT, but not a true '04-'08. I put the pink STi springs on my fxt in addition to a vf43 and it handles just like a stock STi. Not sure how that is "a waste of a turbo" when you can have the same speed and feel but space of a larger vehicle vs a tiny wrx/minuscule wrx sedan

Fwiw I think wrx wagons are bunk too, ugly and smelly with your boots in the main cabin.

so you hate everything thats not a sedan? That problem is not exclusive to a wrx, and a thule box easily solves the boot issue for all 5 door vehicles

you never answered me on what vehicle has a good amount of trunk space, has a turbo and manual transmission. All I can think of besides a fxt and obxt are Audi wagons but that goes back to my point of the practicality:speed ratio, a forester xt is as good as it gets

 

[Static]

you're seriously trying to compare a mom mobile

I'm comparing mom mobileS, you're delusional if you think a forestor is above it. You can dump money into anything and make it work.

 

[IanAvery-Leaf]

I'm comparing mom mobileS, you're delusional if you think a forestor is above it. You can dump money into anything and make it work.

I agree if you're talking '09+ forester xts, but before that then you're calling a wrx a mom mobile too, which is far from true

 

[Static]

I agree if you're talking '09+ forester xts, but before that then you're calling a wrx a mom mobile too, which is far from true

Dude you gotta get over this notion that a forestor and an impreza are the same car.

 

[turnt_table]

word I definitely agree both benefit from being stiffened up, fuck the new '09+ CVT foz XT mom mobile, you definitely gotta try an '04-'08 stick model.

Subaru went downhill bigtime IMO around '09 when they got rid of frameless windows and fucked their whole car line. They lost the classic subaru design and got rid of the outback XT, legacy GT wagon (could only get it in stick in '05 anyway), and after 2014 the hatch/wagon + turbo + stick combo doesn't exist. Fuck new Subaru

Preach, the Focus RS is everything a new STI should have been. Now to find $35k lying around...

 

[IanAvery-Leaf]

Dude you gotta get over this notion that a forestor and an impreza are the same car.

again, you keep speaking of the '09+ forester XTs which I've stated multiple times are trash...

have you ever even driven an SG ('04-'08) FXT?

 

[mmccarthy81]

I just got a 2009 wrx hatchback a few weeks ago with 88k miles. The only previous owner was a lady in her mid 30s and didn't seem to abuse the car whatsoever. Its super fun and if you can find an sti hatch in similar condition to mine I'd go for it, or a low mileage wrx. I can't wait to drive mine in snow and shit.

 

[clorox]

If you can also afford to maintain it, look at C7 Audi allroads (2013+)

 

[Randy_Quench]

for real, turbo subarus are fine. but don't get a fuckin' forester (might as well get an ecoboost ford edge or some shit), just get a wrx.

Are you serious? They are both lil crossovers (or baby SUVs), nearly identical cargo capacity, it's just a waste of a turbo on anything but a car.

Fwiw I think wrx wagons are bunk too, ugly and smelly with your boots in the main cabin.

You don't have the slightest clue what you are talking about. Yeah, the forester is marketed as an SUV, what's your point? 04-08 Foresters are actually LIGHTER than 04-08 STIs, have better gearing and a stronger transmission than the 04-08 WRX, and with simple suspension upgrades can be just as nimble (albeit maybe a little more top heavy) around corners. All while offering more cargo room. It literally outperforms a WRX in every discipline.

 

[californiagrown]

Anyone who drives anything STI, or WRX is generally an immature asshole driver who likely tries really, really hard to come off as extreme, rad and mountain dew. It's the city boy equivalent of a lifted diesel truck.

Subarus are fucking terrible for anyone over 6' anyone.

 

[crotchvent]

Anyone who drives anything STI, or WRX is generally an immature asshole driver who likely tries really, really hard to come off as extreme, rad and mountain dew. It's the city boy equivalent of a lifted diesel truck.

Subarus are fucking terrible for anyone over 6' anyone.

Im over 6' and fit in my forester just fine. I do feel sorryvfor anyonewho has to sit in the back though.

 

[SkiBum.]

Dude just get a new base impreza. Unless you care about having a cool car. New one is under 20k, you don't inherit someone else's problems, and it will run forever.

Bought one of these new for the girl few months back. Was like $23k all said and done. Awesome gas mileage. I drive it all the time.

 

[250r]

well thought id throw this in here. buying this on friday. fuckin stoked. its v6 5 speed 4x4 which are kind of hard to come by these days. its got a 3" body lift, but i think ill take it off and get coilovers up front, add a leaf + rear shock in back. possibly aftermarket control arms but shit gets expensive. fuck im only paying 7k for it but this thing is going to make me broke haha.

[img=]https://images.craigslist.org/00G0G_aTODCCpy5di_600x450.jpg[/img]

[img=]https://images.craigslist.org/00p0p_aeYiFA8l6sX_600x450.jpg[/img]

 

[mmccarthy81]

You don't have the slightest clue what you are talking about. Yeah, the forester is marketed as an SUV, what's your point? 04-08 Foresters are actually LIGHTER than 04-08 STIs, have better gearing and a stronger transmission than the 04-08 WRX, and with simple suspension upgrades can be just as nimble (albeit maybe a little more top heavy) around corners. All while offering more cargo room. It literally outperforms a WRX in every discipline.

The forester xt is pretty cool but newer than 08 I believe doesn't come in manual and for $20,000 you can no doubt get a newer wrx hatch that would no doubt outperform an xt. I've never driven an xt but even the older wrx years outperform it in numbers.

 

[mmccarthy81]

No doubt

 

[Randy_Quench]

The forester xt is pretty cool but newer than 08 I believe doesn't come in manual

This has been addressed. Note that everyone suggesting foresters has only suggested the 04-08 models mainly for this reason, but also because after 06 they just got chunkier.

for $20,000 you can no doubt get a newer wrx hatch that would no doubt outperform an xt.

I agree, for $20k I would probably widen my horizons to a newer car > a 12 year old forester. I mentioned this in my first post.

I've never driven an xt but even the older wrx years outperform it in numbers.

Don't trust Subaru's official numbers.

Subaru under rated the 04-05 FXT to 210hp so that it would not draw buyers from the Impreza WRX wagon's sportiness (rated at 227hp). In 06 XT's hp listing was changed and listed back to 230hp since the newer Impreza had the 2.5T therefore it didn't distract buyers anymore. Subaru went back down to 224hp in the 2007 XT because they changed the way the measure HP to a more accurate measurement.

Obviously the largest difference between pre2008 XTs and pre2008 WRXs is in engine displacement. The forester is 2.5l vs the WRX's 2.0l, but also the forester has shorter gearing = quicker than the WRX off the line. Ultimately the two would probably even out to a close race once at speed where aerodynamics starts coming into play.

Dont let the SUV image fool you. The 04-08 XT is Subaru's best kept secret.

 

[YoungWookiee]

clean evo 8/9. 4g63

This^ although I found an original owner tastefully modded 2010 X for 22.5 68k miles

 

[YoungWookiee]

You don't have the slightest clue what you are talking about. Yeah, the forester is marketed as an SUV, what's your point? 04-08 Foresters are actually LIGHTER than 04-08 STIs, have better gearing and a stronger transmission than the 04-08 WRX, and with simple suspension upgrades can be just as nimble (albeit maybe a little more top heavy) around corners. All while offering more cargo room. It literally outperforms a WRX in every discipline.

Foresters are one of the only Subaru I'd want to own other than an 04/05 blob eye STI

 

[Davin]

This^ although I found an original owner tastefully modded 2010 X for 22.5 68k miles

i drive an x that i paid about the same for. reliable as fuck if 2011+ mine was a 2008. Id say in his price range he could find a really clean 8/9 for 17k

 

[californiagrown]

i drive an x that i paid about the same for. reliable as fuck if 2011+ mine was a 2008. Id say in his price range he could find a really clean 8/9 for 17k

Reliable as fuck... as long as it's basically new haha.

 

[YoungWookiee]

Reliable as fuck... as long as it's basically new haha.

Well the evo x is a pretty reliable car as long as you don't beat the piss out of it and keep up on all the maintance ( I do). And the reason the 2011+ are more reliable is they had some sort of pin? That was prone to breaking and obviously a first year model isn't gonna be too good considering it will have some quirks to fix. Although my 10 hasn't given me any problems (2010)

 

[IanAvery-Leaf]

You don't have the slightest clue what you are talking about. Yeah, the forester is marketed as an SUV, what's your point? 04-08 Foresters are actually LIGHTER than 04-08 STIs, have better gearing and a stronger transmission than the 04-08 WRX, and with simple suspension upgrades can be just as nimble (albeit maybe a little more top heavy) around corners. All while offering more cargo room. It literally outperforms a WRX in every discipline.

thank you

The forester xt is pretty cool but newer than 08 I believe doesn't come in manual and for $20,000 you can no doubt get a newer wrx hatch that would no doubt outperform an xt. I've never driven an xt but even the older wrx years outperform it in numbers.

I agree, for $20k I would probably widen my horizons to a newer car > a 12 year old forester. I mentioned this in my first post.

Don't trust Subaru's official numbers.

Subaru under rated the 04-05 FXT to 210hp so that it would not draw buyers from the Impreza WRX wagon's sportiness (rated at 227hp). In 06 XT's hp listing was changed and listed back to 230hp since the newer Impreza had the 2.5T therefore it didn't distract buyers anymore. Subaru went back down to 224hp in the 2007 XT because they changed the way the measure HP to a more accurate measurement.

Obviously the largest difference between pre2008 XTs and pre2008 WRXs is in engine displacement. The forester is 2.5l vs the WRX's 2.0l, but also the forester has shorter gearing = quicker than the WRX off the line. Ultimately the two would probably even out to a close race once at speed where aerodynamics starts coming into play.

Dont let the SUV image fool you. The 04-08 XT is Subaru's best kept secret.

I wouldn't give up hope on finding a clean manual one. Here is an image gallery/specs my cars previous owner typed up. This will give you guys an idea of what you can find if you hunt hard enough. Not all FXTs out there are abused, high mile, high rust, ticking time bombs
https://imgur.com/a/OlnT2#21

it was stock until ~26,000 miles, I bought it at ~29,500 for $18k last November in New Hampshire, so still under OPs budget

Power:

- FHI VF43

- ARC TMIC

- OEM JDM Forester STI DP

- Fujitsubo super legalis R exhaust

- DeatschWerks DW200 fuel pump

- Cosworth penel filter

Whees, suspension and brakes:

- FSTI pink springs OEM

- FSTI 18X7.5 forged wheels OEM powder coated gunmetal with Continental extreme contact DWS tires

- 4/2 Pot FHI brake calipers, Goodridge st.steel braided lines, Hawk Performance Ceramic pads, DBA 4000 rear rotors,

Interior:

- V9 STI Spec C RA-R seats front

- STI Genome 3 gauges with controller and BNA solutions gauge pod

Exterior:

- Forester SG Fender Molding / Flares OEM

-JDM '02-'03 STi scoop and Grimspeed splitter

just as fast as a WRX, but way more practical. I love it

 

[Titus69]

thank you

I wouldn't give up hope on finding a clean manual one. Here is an image gallery/specs my cars previous owner typed up. This will give you guys an idea of what you can find if you hunt hard enough. Not all FXTs out there are abused, high mile, high rust, ticking time bombs
https://imgur.com/a/OlnT2#21

it was stock until ~26,000 miles, I bought it at ~29,500 for $18k last November in New Hampshire, so still under OPs budget

Power:

- FHI VF43

- ARC TMIC

- OEM JDM Forester STI DP

- Fujitsubo super legalis R exhaust

- DeatschWerks DW200 fuel pump

- Cosworth penel filter

Whees, suspension and brakes:

- FSTI pink springs OEM

- FSTI 18X7.5 forged wheels OEM powder coated gunmetal with Continental extreme contact DWS tires

- 4/2 Pot FHI brake calipers, Goodridge st.steel braided lines, Hawk Performance Ceramic pads, DBA 4000 rear rotors,

Interior:

- V9 STI Spec C RA-R seats front

- STI Genome 3 gauges with controller and BNA solutions gauge pod

Exterior:

- Forester SG Fender Molding / Flares OEM

-JDM '02-'03 STi scoop and Grimspeed splitter

just as fast as a WRX, but way more practical. I love it

OP should just get a 2011 wrx hatch honestly, sounds like he wants something known to be fast. They look damn good, likely handle a bit smoother but...theyre everywhere

nice forester, gonna keep an eye out for you in NH

 

[IanAvery-Leaf]

OP should just get a 2011 wrx hatch honestly, sounds like he wants something known to be fast. They look damn good, likely handle a bit smoother but...theyre everywhere

nice forester, gonna keep an eye out for you in NH

yeah I can't argue that a clean one is way easier to find, and stock will still handle/perform great. OP definitely go 2011-2014 if you go that route since that's when they switched to the widebody

and thanks man, unfortunately she's not in NH anymore, I brought it out to SLC with me but I'm still reppin the NH moose plates

 

[JayRich]

https://imgur.com/a/OlnT2#21

Such a nice car!

 

[airjake]

wow, can't believe all the responses thank you guys. I have taken everything into consideration. few thoughts are turbo subies have gotten mixed reviews for reliability. but I love the WRX. Im so torn. i defiantly want something fun and fast but a honda accord coupe may be calling my name. can these build any power though?

 

[YoungWookiee]

evo

 

[mmccarthy81]

wow, can't believe all the responses thank you guys. I have taken everything into consideration. few thoughts are turbo subies have gotten mixed reviews for reliability. but I love the WRX. Im so torn. i defiantly want something fun and fast but a honda accord coupe may be calling my name. can these build any power though?

It's probably easier to get power out of the boxer with the turbo rather than the accord coupe with the v6, especially with cobb tunes for the subaru. The rwd coupe will usually be the more fun car than the 4 door awd, but you also sacrifice winter drive-ability and snow donuts. The golf r is also a sick car that I wish I could have been able to afford. Don't know much about mods for them but they are way nicer than wrx's in my opinion.

 

[dustygoldflakes]

I would look into older STis, S4s, and EVOs. I have a 2006 WRX STi and I personally think the hawkeye years 06-07 are the best looking STis ever made. A lot of people share this opinion. But with any of these cars, you're going to get a fun car to drive and mod along the way to suit your personality. I know for a fact you can find low milage cars I just listed for well under 20gs. I got my STi for 16,000 and it only had 100,000 miles on it. It's fast as fuck, loud as fuck, low as fuck, and very reliable. Hope this helps

 

[Randy_Quench]

https://imgur.com/a/OlnT2#21

- FSTI pink springs OEM

Were the top pics taken before the STI pinks, or are the FSTI pinks just that much taller? I feel like STI pinks should drop you down more. Looks awesome man, love the Cayenne red.

 

[IanAvery-Leaf]

Were the top pics taken before the STI pinks, or are the FSTI pinks just that much taller? I feel like STI pinks should drop you down more. Looks awesome man, love the Cayenne red.

all those pics were taken by the previous owner after everything was put on, the pink Forester STi springs don't make it sit super low compared to USDM STi springs but compared to stock forester xt suspension I'm 1.5 inches lower and significantly tighter for cornering, stock is so sloshy

 

[Huck_Norris]

The nicest Tacoma you can find.

/.02

 

[Frozinballz]

A car worth 15k. Then have 5k travel fund to break it in.

 

[iH8pow]

How old are you? I'd probably advise against spending 20k on a car since there are so many good ones for half that price. Shit I make 80-100k on most years and I just bought my first *expensive* car for 20k (not counting my truck) and I'm 30.

My only suggestion would be to make sure you are happy with the way the rear seats fold down (a lot of cars actually don't even have rear fold down seats). I had a TL and I ditched it within a couple months since I couldn't fit a snowboard anywhere other than the back seat (god forbid I ever put a ski rack on any of my cars) because it's seats dont fold down..

A civic Si would be a solid choice. My TSX has 315,000 miles on it and still hits its top speed limiter at 142 so I'd say it's still running solid. Only ever replaced an AC condensor and two clutches although right now it does need new CV joints or motor mounts.

Take away, don't get a Civic Si, get a TSX. Much better luxury.

 

[Titus69]

It's probably easier to get power out of the boxer with the turbo rather than the accord coupe with the v6, especially with cobb tunes for the subaru. The rwd coupe will usually be the more fun car than the 4 door awd, but you also sacrifice winter drive-ability and snow donuts. The golf r is also a sick car that I wish I could have been able to afford. Don't know much about mods for them but they are way nicer than wrx's in my opinion.

Accords arent rwd.....Golf Rs are good but arent as exciting as their rivals, theyre better for long drives and comfort or at least the new one is. They have just as good as tuning as cobb with subaru but usually VWs are tuned by/with APR tuning.

 

[mmccarthy81]

Accords arent rwd.....Golf Rs are good but arent as exciting as their rivals, theyre better for long drives and comfort or at least the new one is. They have just as good as tuning as cobb with subaru but usually VWs are tuned by/with APR tuning.

Fwd my bad, I was referring to tuning the honda tho not the vw.

 

[Titus69]

Fwd my bad, I was referring to tuning the honda tho not the vw.

Ohh, i don't know much for them. I'd imagine people supercharge them more than turbo, that's at least what I'd do. I imagine a full exhaust and an intake is enough, don't want a lot of power with fwd, at least without an lsd or good suspension and tires.

 

[Stackz]

Can't go wrong with a Subaru Sti