Help me pick my next car

Chubz.

Chubz.

Active member
I know somebody recently made a thread on this and there has been endless threads about buying a new car but it's easier to make a decision when you have people help your specific situation.

My budget is 10 grand.

My current ride: 2005 Subaru Forester 2.5x 167k, gets about 17mpg and burns oil like a motherfucker.

Currently living in WNY with plans of moving to Utah in the fall. Regardless of where i'm at in 8 months i'll be driving in hilly winter conditions for 5 months out of the year.

Car's ive been looking at:

Another mid to late 2000s subaru. Forester xt, Outback xt, NA legacy/impreza/outback

Why: familiar with the boxer engine, pretty reliable, easy to work on, pretty inexpensive.

Why not: I'm sick of the the interior layout of subaru, its so bland and boring, i want something more modern easier on the eyes. I don't want something that burns oil again. Subaru's are notorious for burning oil and i don't want to deal with the current problems my car has.

MK6 Volkswagen Jetta TDI/ sportswagen TDI (my #1 choice right now)

Why: Modern interior with nice seats, fantastic gas mileage, reliable from what i've researched. Fun to drive and able to put modifications on if i choose to.

Why not: I dont know much about VW

If i end up living in Utah I won't be able to make it up the canyons when it snows with a FWD car. This is my biggest concern and really the only reason I dont want to buy this car.

Mid to late 2000s Toyota Rav4

Why: Reliable, awd, enough room for homies/skis. Decent on gas, my family has always had toyotas so I'm familiar with the engines/brand.

Why not: I'm not a huge fan of the interior, it seems dated.

3rd Gen 4runner

Why: It would be a beast of a rig and would be able to find one well within my price range.

Why not: Gas mileage and issues with buying a 20 year old car. Dated interior..etc.

Something else that you guys know that i dont???

Thanks for the help people! Appreciate any suggestions and information y'all give.
 
Cant go wrong with a Taco or 4 runner out here, you'll have better reliability and clearance than a Subaru and with a v6 you'll be golden, kinda perfect if you wanna do desert trips or a hood trip. I suggest if it's a 4 cyl its boosted cause my 140hp crv goes up parleys summit at 75 max, otherwise go v6 or up.
 
Im in the same boat. Being able to easily sleep in the car is a must. So I am leaning towards an suv style car
 
topic:Chubz. said:
I know somebody recently made a thread on this and there has been endless threads about buying a new car but it's easier to make a decision when you have people help your specific situation.

My budget is 10 grand.

My current ride: 2005 Subaru Forester 2.5x 167k, gets about 17mpg and burns oil like a motherfucker.

Currently living in WNY with plans of moving to Utah in the fall. Regardless of where i'm at in 8 months i'll be driving in hilly winter conditions for 5 months out of the year.

Car's ive been looking at:

Another mid to late 2000s subaru. Forester xt, Outback xt, NA legacy/impreza/outback

Why: familiar with the boxer engine, pretty reliable, easy to work on, pretty inexpensive.

Why not: I'm sick of the the interior layout of subaru, its so bland and boring, i want something more modern easier on the eyes. I don't want something that burns oil again. Subaru's are notorious for burning oil and i don't want to deal with the current problems my car has.

MK6 Volkswagen Jetta TDI/ sportswagen TDI (my #1 choice right now)

Why: Modern interior with nice seats, fantastic gas mileage, reliable from what i've researched. Fun to drive and able to put modifications on if i choose to.

Why not: I dont know much about VW

If i end up living in Utah I won't be able to make it up the canyons when it snows with a FWD car. This is my biggest concern and really the only reason I dont want to buy this car.

Mid to late 2000s Toyota Rav4

Why: Reliable, awd, enough room for homies/skis. Decent on gas, my family has always had toyotas so I'm familiar with the engines/brand.

Why not: I'm not a huge fan of the interior, it seems dated.

3rd Gen 4runner

Why: It would be a beast of a rig and would be able to find one well within my price range.

Why not: Gas mileage and issues with buying a 20 year old car. Dated interior..etc.

Something else that you guys know that i dont???

Thanks for the help people! Appreciate any suggestions and information y'all give.
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VW rabbit diesel
 
2005 subaru forester. Regular oil changes. A seat cushion to raise you up a couple of inches will make it drive like a new car since the seat is way too short.
 
4 runner will be the most reliable as long as you fix the pink milkshake trans cooler issue. Toyota’s are unkillable. Also the 4 runner will be great in the snow with some all terrains.
 
14020599:DirtYStylE said:
Im in the same boat. Being able to easily sleep in the car is a must. So I am leaning towards an suv style car
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i've slept in my fozzy multiple times without any problems, great little camping car.

I didn't think i was gonna be able to afford a tacoma/4runner but their prices seem to dive if you buy them from a southern state like kentucky or virginia so im gonna do an east coast dig for a car and if i have to travel to pick one up so be it.

Still open to suggestions from y'all though.

How capable would a ford ranger/chevy colorado do in utah?
 
14020679:Chubz. said:
i've slept in my fozzy multiple times without any problems, great little camping car.

I didn't think i was gonna be able to afford a tacoma/4runner but their prices seem to dive if you buy them from a southern state like kentucky or virginia so im gonna do an east coast dig for a car and if i have to travel to pick one up so be it.

Still open to suggestions from y'all though.

How capable would a ford ranger/chevy colorado do in utah?
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Emphasis on little. Even if I were at a diagonal I can't lie down and stretch my legs all the way out. Also cannot stretch my legs all the way out in the passenger seat with the seat pushed all the way back.

Pretty sure the Impressa/ wrx has the same inside dimensions except for head room so forester not any upgrade.

Truth is it's a similar situation with SUVs though. Most don't really have enough room lie down and stretch out in the back so you have to lie at an angle.
 
14020684:OregonDead said:
Emphasis on little. Even if I were at a diagonal I can't lie down and stretch my legs all the way out. Also cannot stretch my legs all the way out in the passenger seat with the seat pushed all the way back.

Pretty sure the Impressa/ wrx has the same inside dimensions except for head room so forester not any upgrade.

Truth is it's a similar situation with SUVs though. Most don't really have enough room lie down and stretch out in the back so you have to lie at an angle.
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How tall are you? I'm a rather large guy and I didnt' have any issues falling asleep in my car, granted I don't sprawl all the way out when i sleep, i sleep in like a relaxed fetal position so i dont really need a whole ton of room. I dont ever feel cramped in my fozzy. But also not really trying to buy another Subaru, maybe if the deal is too good to pass up.
 
You are probably as tall or taller than me if I remember right. I'm 6' even. Sure I could fall asleep back there in the fetal position but it bugs me that I can't stretch out all the way flat on my back. Lately I've opted to spread out a tarp and sleep outside or even pitch my tent. Been a few years since I have slept in a vehicle. Last time I considered it was in my 05 forester and I basically got in there and was glad I could get back out and set up my tent in the dark.
 
14020679:Chubz. said:
i've slept in my fozzy multiple times without any problems, great little camping car.

I didn't think i was gonna be able to afford a tacoma/4runner but their prices seem to dive if you buy them from a southern state like kentucky or virginia so im gonna do an east coast dig for a car and if i have to travel to pick one up so be it.

Still open to suggestions from y'all though.

How capable would a ford ranger/chevy colorado do in utah?
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if you get the 4wd, the ranger and Colorado are pretty comparable to the Tacoma on the road, they should be fine. a few sandbags in the bed always helps with any truck. if you are planning on sleeping in the back often nothing beats a full size truck with a 6'5 or 8 ft bed. I've heard that the midsize trucks with the 6' bed are ok too.
 
14020679:Chubz. said:
How capable would a ford ranger/chevy colorado do in utah?
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Pretty much anything 4x4 with a selectable transfer case will perform the same, trucks could use about 100-200lbs over the rear axle though. Limited slips and lockers are a huge plus but some bfg at3s have gotten me through everything CO could throw at me in my Tahoe. Tires are the biggest factor. I’d rather drive a corvette with blizzaks than a Subaru with all seasons in the snow.
 
14020820:B.Gillis said:
Do you plan on paying for this upfront? Looks like your plan is to go used as well? Purchasing from the south may seem like a way to save a few dollars but you could end up paying twice as much in the long run for rust issues.
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You need to watch out for flood cars down south, and rust can be an issue in certain locations but the Midwest and northeast is where you need to look out for rust issues more than anywhere else.

I don't know if the second gen Colorados have come down into your price range, the first gen are garbage, not on par with similar vintage Rangers or Tacomas at all.
 
Have you looked at a volvo XC70 or XC90 for an SUV? bit of a mom car, but reliable, decent on fuel and you can sleep in them. I have an XC90 AWD with good winter tires and it is unstoppable in the snow.

Or look into a 2008 or newer GMC 1500 with a canopy. From what I've seen the ones out west are very rust free. They are pretty good on fuel (for a truck) and parts are cheap and easy to replace.
 
14020679:Chubz. said:
i've slept in my fozzy multiple times without any problems, great little camping car.

I didn't think i was gonna be able to afford a tacoma/4runner but their prices seem to dive if you buy them from a southern state like kentucky or virginia so im gonna do an east coast dig for a car and if i have to travel to pick one up so be it.

Still open to suggestions from y'all though.

How capable would a ford ranger/chevy colorado do in utah?
Click to expand...

04 Forester XT all the way.
 
Hey hope you found the right car for you although with the market it might not be as great. I have to look for a new car now as well since mine got damaged in the recent Tornado outbreak in December (damn Louisiana and the weather there). So yeah any advise lol? ;( I'm also in the process of looking for good car insurance since I will need a new car and I want to change my provier. I had too many problems with he previous one. ;( Ugh! I was also wondering if anyone can give me advise on whether you need to buy an extended plan to cover natural disaster damages. I've read an article https://www.americaninsurance.com/does-auto-insurance-cover-damages-natural-disasters. that said that you need to buy a plan with special benefits. Didi anyone ever did that? If yes can someone give me any tips?

**This post was edited on Dec 30th 2019 at 7:10:06am
 
14091360:Lafante87 said:
Hey hope you found the right car for you although with the market it might not be as great. I have to look for a new car now as well since mine got damaged in the recent Tornado outbreak in December (damn Louisiana and the weather there). So yeah any advise lol? ;(
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Gonna need a little more info on what you're looking for/budget/driving conditions etc
 
I got a Chevy Avalanche this summer. I didn't think I'd be much of a truck guy, but I love it. I traded my trailblazer with my pops for it and I kinda miss the better gas mileage and tighter handling, but the Avalanche is pretty balanced on the slick stuff for a truck even in 2wd. It's so nice to have a little more off road capability and I can fit 5 people and 5 bikes or skis and all the gear in it comfortably.

I think if i didn't have the opportunity to trade my blazer for the avalanche, I would have sold it for a 4runner. Every one I've been in has been pretty comfy on long drives and decently capable offroad in stock form. The only problem is that they hold their value well so you might want to save a little more to find a lower mileage one. I think the 3rd gen has my favorite styling too
 
14091420:No.Quarter said:
I got a Chevy Avalanche this summer. I didn't think I'd be much of a truck guy, but I love it.
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An avalanche is not a truck, its a suburban with a flat ass
 
14091427:uturn said:
An avalanche is not a truck, its a suburban with a flat ass
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Yep, better than a truck. I have an enclosed bed, can fit full size sheets of plywood, can sleep in the bed on a full size air mattress without a topper and still have room for stuff, built in bedside storage, and it handles better in snow than most trucks.
 
14091462:Chubz. said:
Gonna be buying a 4Runner in the spring
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Sweeeeeeet! New or used? Recommend used cars always but be sure to really check its history and make sure nothing needing fixing or known to be an issue is addressed.
 
Alright man, I know people tend to hate on these cars, but a nice 1980s SAAB 900 turbo SPG would be so sick. I have a turbo non-SPG and it is such a fun car to drive, especially with the 5 speed manual. So far I haven't had any problems with it in the winter either and the heater is great (probably to cope with the conditions in Swedish winters). Anyway, the turbos are solid cause SAAB was a jet company and you can find them for under 10 grand usually. That's my two cents.
 
14091517:BST_Police said:
Sweeeeeeet! New or used? Recommend used cars always but be sure to really check its history and make sure nothing needing fixing or known to be an issue is addressed.
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Definitely used hahaha hopefully I can buy a new 4Runner by the time I’m 30...but there’s a few floating around some local dealerships right now, I’m sure they’re will be more in the future. Have always wanted one so the time is now to save save save and make a purchase in the next few months. Gonna bring it to a local garage and have the whip looked up and down by them, with their blessing and the right financing I’ll be off the lot in one hopefully by the end of March.
 
14091462:Chubz. said:
Gonna be buying a 4Runner in the spring
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Where are you located at? I'll be selling a pretty sweet and tastefully modded 3rd gen that currently has 168k on the clock in May. I love the living hell out of it but want to buy something with greater towing capacity
 
14091755:whiteboi said:
Where are you located at? I'll be selling a pretty sweet and tastefully modded 3rd gen that currently has 168k on the clock in May. I love the living hell out of it but want to buy something with greater towing capacity
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I’m in NY and I’m not looking to buy something with that many miles on it
 
14091798:whiteboi said:
lol well good luck getting a clean 3rd gen for under 10k with less than 200k miles
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Sorry, I replied while I was at work and rushed.

honestly I’m looking at 3rd & 4th gens, most likely going through a dealership and financing with a big down payment + whatever I can get for my poor subie. I just want a car that will last me till I’m 30. My current car has shit out on me with 165k on it. So I’m afraid to purchase a car with that many miles on it already. I know I could buy something with 80k on it and have something with 180k last twice the amount of time...but it’s just something I’m not CRAZY about.

The market for 3rd gens with 100-115k is like $8-13k around me, 4th gens are going anywhere from $15-20k. 15,000 is probably the most I’d want to spend with financing.

how much are you thinking you’d let yours go for? I wouldn’t be making a purchase till late March/April
 
14091802:Chubz. said:
Sorry, I replied while I was at work and rushed.

honestly I’m looking at 3rd & 4th gens, most likely going through a dealership and financing with a big down payment + whatever I can get for my poor subie. I just want a car that will last me till I’m 30. My current car has shit out on me with 165k on it. So I’m afraid to purchase a car with that many miles on it already. I know I could buy something with 80k on it and have something with 180k last twice the amount of time...but it’s just something I’m not CRAZY about.

The market for 3rd gens with 100-115k is like $8-13k around me, 4th gens are going anywhere from $15-20k. 15,000 is probably the most I’d want to spend with financing.

how much are you thinking you’d let yours go for? I wouldn’t be making a purchase till late March/April
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I work as a car salesman during the summers in between the school year and honestly, I wouldn't recommend financing such an old vehicle through a dealership, banks have a hard time giving out loans with reasonable interest rates for cars that are 15-20 years old. Not to mention, a lot of used car dealerships will wrap you up into a whole bunch of warranty bullshit that's essentially useless and just adds time and money onto your loan. Also, I'd recommend selling your subie on your own as the stealerships generally wreck people on older trade-ins.

From personal experience, I'd buy private party and try to get a loan without going through a dealership if you want an older vehicle.

Those East Coast prices don't sound too bad though, if you buy one out there just be careful and watch closely for frame rust and bad LBJs as those are the two main issues with 3rd gens.

I'm not sure how much I'd sell mine for though, in the ideal world I'd like 10k. Just thought you might be interested if you'll be in Utah since i'm located in Montana
 
4 runner.. It won't depreciate like crazy, they hold their value, people on the west coast eat them up, easy to sell, reliable as hell. I miss my 4th gen.
 
topic:Chubz. said:
I know somebody recently made a thread on this and there has been endless threads about buying a new car but it's easier to make a decision when you have people help your specific situation.

My budget is 10 grand.

My current ride: 2005 Subaru Forester 2.5x 167k, gets about 17mpg and burns oil like a motherfucker.

Currently living in WNY with plans of moving to Utah in the fall. Regardless of where i'm at in 8 months i'll be driving in hilly winter conditions for 5 months out of the year.

Car's ive been looking at:

Another mid to late 2000s subaru. Forester xt, Outback xt, NA legacy/impreza/outback

Why: familiar with the boxer engine, pretty reliable, easy to work on, pretty inexpensive.

Why not: I'm sick of the the interior layout of subaru, its so bland and boring, i want something more modern easier on the eyes. I don't want something that burns oil again. Subaru's are notorious for burning oil and i don't want to deal with the current problems my car has.

MK6 Volkswagen Jetta TDI/ sportswagen TDI (my #1 choice right now)

Why: Modern interior with nice seats, fantastic gas mileage, reliable from what i've researched. Fun to drive and able to put modifications on if i choose to.

Why not: I dont know much about VW

If i end up living in Utah I won't be able to make it up the canyons when it snows with a FWD car. This is my biggest concern and really the only reason I dont want to buy this car.

Mid to late 2000s Toyota Rav4

Why: Reliable, awd, enough room for homies/skis. Decent on gas, my family has always had toyotas so I'm familiar with the engines/brand.

Why not: I'm not a huge fan of the interior, it seems dated.

3rd Gen 4runner

Why: It would be a beast of a rig and would be able to find one well within my price range.

Why not: Gas mileage and issues with buying a 20 year old car. Dated interior..etc.

Something else that you guys know that i dont???

Thanks for the help people! Appreciate any suggestions and information y'all give.
Click to expand...

i think you're on the right track. i'd go vw over subaru myself but im a little biased, and i'd go 4runner over rav4.
 
Back in 2016 I lived in salt lake but toyota SUV prices there are preposterous so I bought a 4Runner while I was home in Connecticut for a wedding. 2006 4Runner sport w/ 105k miles for $12,500, clean title 1 previous owner. I lifted it 3" and have not been happier with any car I've ever owned, it's an awesome vehicle. Just make sure you got a mechanic that'll put it up on a lift to check for rust.
 
2008 Toyota Tacoma or a mk6/mk7 VW golf. You can find 2018 VW golf 1.8T for about $13K with under 70,000 miles. Otherwise the Tacoma will last you forever and has more off-road/snow capabilities.

MPG on the golf is unreal tho. I own a MK6 R and it is pretty dope. Snow tires on the golf and FWD will do you fine.
 
I am looking for a new Tacoma right now. but the problems is that the car I want ( I mean the color and the wheel size) is available on the other side of the country and the dealership told me that they will be able to deliver it in a month. This is too long for me, and I want to ship my car using the other shipping service. I asked a couple of friends of mine what are their thoughts. One of them told me that I can try to use this service https://www.shipaa.com/ as this is the best one he ever used. He told me that he used this service last month when he had to ship a car back to his parent's house in OR from FL. The shipping took him nearly a week and a 1000$. Pretty good for a shipping service, I am going to try it

**This post was edited on Apr 14th 2020 at 12:34:11pm
 
So Chubz., what'd you do? Tell me you finally bought a 4Runner. I've owned first, second, fourth, and (currently drive) fifth generation 4Runners. Love them - they really do last forever. Tacos are great, too.
 
14126809:Autreacher said:
I am looking for a new Tacoma right now. but the problems is that the car I want( I mean the color and the wheels) is available on the other side of the country and the dealership told me that they will be able to deliver it in a month. WHat can I do?
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Wait a month, there's not much you can do with a truck right now with the quarantine. Or maybe there is, idk just stay home
 
I just bought an 08 Tacoma. I love this truck. Put some new rubber on it and the thing can handle whatever I throw it. The resell value on them are through the roof so I paid a pretty penny but I feel i made the right decision.
 
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