Automobile Forum

I just assumed it was a factory extra, like a hardtop.

So I wrote Everyday Driver with my thoughts, I wonder if I'll wind up on their car debate podcast?

FJ sold. Bought wife awd Chevy Traverse. She picked. I'm driving her Forester until I find something. Depsite being a sedan, I was going to look at a Jetta GLI but it was gone already. There's both a GTI and a Mazdaspeed 3 that are nearby that I'm interested in as well, but finding a Subaru that I want and isn't overpriced relative to its competitors or has silly miles is proving difficult. I think I'd be happy with a hot hatch. Actually considering DSG in a Volkswagen, just to make it easier to switch because my wife is not a fan of manuals, and there are times that I need the space. Plus could keep racks off my car in that case. We'll see.

2012. Not sure when I'll get to look again, this week is getting pretty busy already. Hope to do some more serious shopping this weekend.

Side note: With the FJ gone, I'm without a manual transmission for the first time in 17 years.

Drove a Mazdaspeed 3 tonight. Went to a dealer that had a 2008 that I was initially interested in, but it had sold today. The also had a 2011 that just came in today. 45,000 miles, somewhat modded but I didn't get all the details, but I know it had Cobb tune, intake, exhaust, aftermarket suspension and brakes, maybe more. Holy bejesus it was quick when it finally hooked up in 3rd gear. Brakes felt amazing.

I thought long and hard about it. They offered way over kbb trade value on the Forester and another $1500 off their asking price for the car, but I guess I'm just not comfortable buying someone else's modded car. And I'm not sure a high powered FWD car is in my future anymore, the power was useless around town but fun on highway ramps.

Back to finding the perfect Subaru I guess. Afterwards, had a bit of an epiphany on the way home. Maybe I'm getting old, but having driven a quick car again, I realized that its really not that important to me when I was driving the pokey automatic Forester home. I just want a decent handling hatch/wagon with a manual more than power at this point. Might even go for an Impreza wagon, 07ish, if I can find one with a manual. Certainly easier on the wallet in both purchase price and gas as an added bonus.

I still can't believe I wrote that last paragraph and even moreso that its true.

I know the feeling. The X-Trail road trip made me question the need for a performance car.

It's all the more crap when you realize how shitty it is to drive out there. I'd say that even driving my econobox at 2/5ths, I'm still out-accelerating and out-cornering 95% of traffic. It would be frustrating as all hell trying to drive a car with actual power and a tuned suspension when you spend all day every day stuck behind three lanes full of Honda Pilots all doing 2 MPH under the limit.

It's More fun to drive a slow car fast than a fast car slow.

I love my small block Mazda 2. Especially as I feel exactly like Jason... I do get opportunities to give my car some fun time, but had I had a faster car, these opportunities would be more limited

It's gotten to where I don't understand why average Americans want so much power in their cars compared to car buyers everywhere else in the world. We never fucking use it. Every day on my commute I usually can accelerate without ever going over 2,000 RPM and blow by every car on the road, including a multitude of cars that put out way more torque than I do, because no one pays attention to lights and when they finally notice it's their turn to go, they go as slow as humanly fucking possible.

So I've since driven a 2005 Impreza Outback Sport and a 2007 Impreza wagon. 07 felt slightly more free revving but not necessarily faster. Neither was fast, but decently fun and lots of WRX suspension bits bolt right up. And I won't mind putting a hitch and bike rack on the back of these. Probably better overall for my lifestyle and I like that era better than newer Imprezas.

I just did the front brakes and rotors on mine a couple weeks ago. I was surprised to see dual-piston calipers up front. Probably shares the same as the WRX.

Dirty slut.

Looks like you had some fun. I've thought about going sedan, as they seem to be less in demand in Colorado, but I just like the ease of hatch/wagon.

Pulled the trigger on the 07 Impreza Wagon. Picking it up Monday. It was cheap and just had the timing belt/water pump done.

And I've already bought a WRX rear sway bar.