rogerdugans
02-06-2008, 07:08 AM
Started looking around in the last month:
Bought a new car and as always, real-world user info is best, and enthusiast forums is the place to find it.
Pertinent info about me:
I hate fwd cars, personally.
I tend to be a cheap SOB, although sometimes "you get what you pay for" is true.
Never done hard-core car mods, but have done tranny swaps, rebuilt motorcycles etc. Shade-tree mechanic so I could get to work early in life, and so I could buy cheap cars/bikes later in life.
My taste in vehicles is eclectic:
88 Suzuki Samurai was one of my favorites, back in the 80s
89 Ford Crown Vic with modified suspension and dual exhaust was another
62 Land Rover Model 88 was fun for odd reasons
94 Mazda Miata was one of the best cars I've had, for pure joy of driving
Generally speaking, I prefer "sleeper" cars, to avoid unwanted attention. :D
On to stuff more Subaru-specific:
Living in NE, Subarus rep has always been known to me although since I am not a fan of 4cyl cars per se, I have never seriously considered buying one.
Mildly followed the WRC successes and admired the tech and driving traits Subaru has been putting in their cars in recent years: always solid vehicles, but now fun too.
My last car was great, but had no cargo room and was requiring fairly major work annually: it was time.
I checked into the few cars I really LIKED in the under 30k range and eliminated all but one with research due to my requirements:
manual transmission
NOT fwd
convertible or at least sunroof
I did test drive a Mustang, and enjoyed it but....
The "feel" just wasn't what I really want to live with on a daily basis anymore: too numb and uncommunicative.
So then I thought of Subaru. :)
Looked at 'em, talked to a salesman, test drove one.
Somewhat to my surprise, I bought one. :D
2008 WRX hatch, with dealer installed sunroof. (not planning on racing and I like having the wind.)
I have had it about a month now, and have no regrets: great car.
I am still getting used to it, and I think I will need to do a few things to the car:
too much body roll and "float" at speed on the highway, so sway bars will be happening
Shifter is a bit long and numb, so a short shift is probably the next thing.
I live in Northern Mass, but lived in NH for quite a few years; most of the Subaru meets/action here seems to be on the south shore or out west which makes NH closer, so I may crash SeacostSubaru meets a bit. :D
Bought a new car and as always, real-world user info is best, and enthusiast forums is the place to find it.
Pertinent info about me:
I hate fwd cars, personally.
I tend to be a cheap SOB, although sometimes "you get what you pay for" is true.
Never done hard-core car mods, but have done tranny swaps, rebuilt motorcycles etc. Shade-tree mechanic so I could get to work early in life, and so I could buy cheap cars/bikes later in life.
My taste in vehicles is eclectic:
88 Suzuki Samurai was one of my favorites, back in the 80s
89 Ford Crown Vic with modified suspension and dual exhaust was another
62 Land Rover Model 88 was fun for odd reasons
94 Mazda Miata was one of the best cars I've had, for pure joy of driving
Generally speaking, I prefer "sleeper" cars, to avoid unwanted attention. :D
On to stuff more Subaru-specific:
Living in NE, Subarus rep has always been known to me although since I am not a fan of 4cyl cars per se, I have never seriously considered buying one.
Mildly followed the WRC successes and admired the tech and driving traits Subaru has been putting in their cars in recent years: always solid vehicles, but now fun too.
My last car was great, but had no cargo room and was requiring fairly major work annually: it was time.
I checked into the few cars I really LIKED in the under 30k range and eliminated all but one with research due to my requirements:
manual transmission
NOT fwd
convertible or at least sunroof
I did test drive a Mustang, and enjoyed it but....
The "feel" just wasn't what I really want to live with on a daily basis anymore: too numb and uncommunicative.
So then I thought of Subaru. :)
Looked at 'em, talked to a salesman, test drove one.
Somewhat to my surprise, I bought one. :D
2008 WRX hatch, with dealer installed sunroof. (not planning on racing and I like having the wind.)
I have had it about a month now, and have no regrets: great car.
I am still getting used to it, and I think I will need to do a few things to the car:
too much body roll and "float" at speed on the highway, so sway bars will be happening
Shifter is a bit long and numb, so a short shift is probably the next thing.
I live in Northern Mass, but lived in NH for quite a few years; most of the Subaru meets/action here seems to be on the south shore or out west which makes NH closer, so I may crash SeacostSubaru meets a bit. :D