New car thoughts

[Dan Langille]

The current car is a 2001 Legacy Wagon with about 160,000 km (100,000)
miles) on it. It's time to get new tires and there are some odd noises
coming from the right rear wheel that I need to get checked out.

For the past week or so, I've been considering buying a new car. I've not
been following, and was surprised to see that stationwagons are now just
Outbacks, and Legacy is only sedan. No worries... I will adapt. I'll be
buying in the USA.

Manual transmission is a must. That rules out the 2.5i Limited and the
3.0R Limited.

If I want to stick with regular gas (87 octane), that leaves the 2.5i and
2.5i Special Edition. Pity, I'd really like a moon roof again (I had one
in my '86 Prelude).

From what I see, for my extra $1600, I get:
- foglights
- heated side mirrors
- splash guards
- cross bars
- heated drivers seat
- cargo area cover
- 440 stereo system

For the price difference, I guess that's fair enough.

There are also a number of special programs on at the moment. The Cash
Back offer ($2000 back, 0.0% financing) sounds good.

I'm also an IMBA member and that gives me some kind of a discount. We'll
see what happens when I visit the dealer. The IMBA FAQ claims $1300-$3000
off the MSRP.

Of course, the financially responsible thing to do is keep my existing car
for another 3 or 4 years.

 

[Carl 1 Lucky Texan]

The current car is a 2001 Legacy Wagon with about 160,000 km (100,000)
miles) on it. It's time to get new tires and there are some odd noises
coming from the right rear wheel that I need to get checked out.

For the past week or so, I've been considering buying a new car. I've not
been following, and was surprised to see that stationwagons are now just
Outbacks, and Legacy is only sedan. No worries... I will adapt. I'll be
buying in the USA.

Manual transmission is a must. That rules out the 2.5i Limited and the
3.0R Limited.

If I want to stick with regular gas (87 octane), that leaves the 2.5i and
2.5i Special Edition. Pity, I'd really like a moon roof again (I had one
in my '86 Prelude).

From what I see, for my extra $1600, I get:
- foglights
- heated side mirrors
- splash guards
- cross bars
- heated drivers seat
- cargo area cover
- 440 stereo system

For the price difference, I guess that's fair enough.

There are also a number of special programs on at the moment. The Cash
Back offer ($2000 back, 0.0% financing) sounds good.

I'm also an IMBA member and that gives me some kind of a discount. We'll
see what happens when I visit the dealer. The IMBA FAQ claims $1300-$3000
off the MSRP.

Of course, the financially responsible thing to do is keep my existing car
for another 3 or 4 years.

Why stick only? have you driven the auto? Have you considered a
Forester? You can get stick+sunroof+regular gas.

I have no problem putting premium fuel in both my soobs.

Carl

 

[M.J.]

The current car is a 2001 Legacy Wagon with about 160,000 km (100,000)
miles) on it. It's time to get new tires and there are some odd noises
coming from the right rear wheel that I need to get checked out.

Good reasons to start thinking about a new car!

For the past week or so, I've been considering buying a new car.

Boy, ...I love Americans )))))

Of course, the financially responsible thing to do is keep my existing car
for another 3 or 4 years.

I generally get rid of cars when they start giving me problems,
otherwise I keep them. The wagon version of the Legacy is a great
car, and believe me many people would not let one go easily.
2001 is not that old, neither is 100,000 miles that much.

M.J.

 

[M.J.]

Good reasons to start thinking about a new car!



Boy, ...I love Americans )))))



I generally get rid of cars when they start giving me problems,
otherwise I keep them. The wagon version of the Legacy is a great
car, and believe me many people would not let one go easily.
2001 is not that old, neither is 100,000 miles that much.

On the other hand, the global and American economy are not
doing too well, so anyone who can afford to buy a new car now
would be as an individual tremendously helping to turn around
a stagnating economy.

The additional reward of course is a decent price at the dealership.

M.J.

 

[Dan Langille]

Good reasons to start thinking about a new car!



Boy, ...I love Americans )))))

Oh, I see I'm set then.

I'm Canadian.

I generally get rid of cars when they start giving me problems,
otherwise I keep them. The wagon version of the Legacy is a great
car, and believe me many people would not let one go easily.
2001 is not that old, neither is 100,000 miles that much.

We'll see what the mechanic says.

 

[Dan Langille]

Why stick only?

I like driving manual.

have you driven the auto?
No

Have you considered a
Forester? You can get stick+sunroof+regular gas.

Hmm, more of an SUV than a car...

I have no problem putting premium fuel in both my soobs.

It's the extra cost at every fill up I'm considering. Mind you, I have not
calculated that cost on an annual basis.

 

[M.J.]

Oh, I see I'm set then.

I'm Canadian.

Makes no difference to me, you still an American,
a North American to be precise.

We'll see what the mechanic says.

If you had any signs of headgasket trouble such as coolant leaks or
overheating, even the slightest, than it maybe a good idea to trade.
From what I've read on several Subaru forums these troubles frequently
show up around your milage, on the 2.5l engines.

M.J.

 

[NHYankBoy]

I have a 2000 Legacy Brighton wagon and a 2009 Forester X Premium.
Both have stick and I love them both. Test drive the Forester and you
will find that it drives like a car, not like a SUV. If you want a
moon roof you will LOVE the HUGE moon roof in the Forester.

Good Luck

 

[Dan Langille]

Why stick only? have you driven the auto? Have you considered a
Forester? You can get stick+sunroof+regular gas.

Stick only? I like drive a manual transmission.

I test drove the Forester tonight. The 2.5X Premium (manual) and the 2.5X
Limited (auto). I think I'm leaning towards the former.

I'll try driving the Outback next wee and see what that's like. But
definitely auto. It'd be a shame to not have the moon roof though....

 

[Boris]

If you had any signs of headgasket trouble such as coolant leaks or

overheating, even the slightest, than it maybe a good idea to trade.
From what I've read on several Subaru forums these troubles frequently
show up around your milage, on the 2.5l engines.

I have 2001 Forester. In 2007 my dealer replaced headgasket - luckily, I had
7 year/100K miles extended warranty, so the repairs were covered (except for
$100 deductible).
The car has 87K miles now - I don't notice that it drives any differently
than when it was new. Gas milage isn't great though: 20 city/22-23 highway.

Boris

 

[M.J.]

I have 2001 Forester. In 2007 my dealer replaced headgasket - luckily, I
had 7 year/100K miles extended warranty, so the repairs were covered
(except for $100 deductible).
The car has 87K miles now - I don't notice that it drives any differently
than when it was new. Gas milage isn't great though: 20 city/22-23
highway.

Try synthetic fluids in differentials, if you haven't already.
I noticed some improvement in fuel efficiency in my '00 Impreza.
Small, maybe 1 mpg, but still worth the switch.

People get bored with an aging car, so no wonder many start
thinking and rationalize buying something new despite nothing
being wrong with the old car.

I myself have only 55k+ miles on my Impreza; it is in great shape,
and a fairly attractive coupe model, but still got sort bored by it.
The beautiful new Mitsu Lancer was recently on my mind.

But when I think how tough the little Impreza is, and the
fact that the Mitsu engine while more tight and powerful
when new, after approximately 50k miles will slowly
lose its pep and become loose, while the Subaru boxer
while not as strong and peppy when new, but will
keep running 'as if new' for a much much longer time
....then I stop thinking about buying, but thank Subaru
for offering such a durable naturally balanced engine
design.

The old-car boredom can be somewhat killed with a good
waxing, a set of good performance tires, or struts and shocks,
new and different color lamb-skin seat covers, an upgraded
stereo, or new better looking tail lamps, etc.

M.J.

 

[Boris]

Try synthetic fluids in differentials, if you haven't already.
I noticed some improvement in fuel efficiency in my '00 Impreza.
Small, maybe 1 mpg, but still worth the switch.

I put new tires some time ago - after that gas mileage became 1-2mpg worse
than before. But both handling and drive quality improved - so it's fine
with me.
In terms of oil: I do all service (including oil changes) at a dealership -
don't want to interfere with how they handle it.

People get bored with an aging car, so no wonder many start
thinking and rationalize buying something new despite nothing
being wrong with the old car.

I myself have only 55k+ miles on my Impreza; it is in great shape,
and a fairly attractive coupe model, but still got sort bored by it.
The beautiful new Mitsu Lancer was recently on my mind.

But when I think how tough the little Impreza is, and the
fact that the Mitsu engine while more tight and powerful
when new, after approximately 50k miles will slowly
lose its pep and become loose, while the Subaru boxer
while not as strong and peppy when new, but will
keep running 'as if new' for a much much longer time
...then I stop thinking about buying, but thank Subaru
for offering such a durable naturally balanced engine
design.

The old-car boredom can be somewhat killed with a good
waxing, a set of good performance tires, or struts and shocks,
new and different color lamb-skin seat covers, an upgraded
stereo, or new better looking tail lamps, etc.

I'm not concerned about boredom. However some things: like braking
distances - seem worse than what newer models have. I'm also a bit worried
that the car could break down during a long trip.

Boris

 

[Dan Langille]

Stick only? I like drive a manual transmission.

I test drove the Forester tonight. The 2.5X Premium (manual) and the 2.5X
Limited (auto). I think I'm leaning towards the former.

I'll try driving the Outback next wee and see what that's like. But
definitely auto. It'd be a shame to not have the moon roof though....

I think my decision is now made. It's the Outback.

Both cars handle about the same. The moonroof is nice, but won't pull me
away from the stationwagon. There's more room in the back for bikes.

The dealer will be contacting me later this week with prices.

 

[Dan Langille]

I think my decision is now made. It's the Outback.

Both cars handle about the same. The moonroof is nice, but won't pull me
away from the stationwagon. There's more room in the back for bikes.

The dealer will be contacting me later this week with prices.

I took delivery of a 2009 Subaru Outback XT on Friday. She drives just
lovely.