Ok, here is the deal. I have a 1997 3.0CL Premium with 110k miles. I will be commuting to my college campus which is about an hour away everyday. This does not bode well for my current car. No matter how much I love my CL, it's not what I need right now.

I've been thinking about quite a few cars, with some major considerations in mind:

- Gas milage
- Cargo room/towing capacity
- Reliabily
- All-wheel drive
- Manual transmission
- $26,000 spending limit


Of course, the boy racer in me wants a 350Z or Corvette, but a two-seat sports car isn't good for helping people move or tailgating. Then again I could get a truck with a V8, but gas comes into consideration. And SUVs for the most part are too expensive for my price range for ones that I like.


So rigth now my top consideration is the Subaru Forester 2.5XT. Does anyone have any feedback or any other suggestions? All-wheel drive, turbo, carrys stuff, can haul stuff, fits five people....

What do you guys think?

 

Mazda 6? those are sweet

 

wrx fully loaded

 

2003 A4 :o

 

tsx?

 

You cant buy the Forrester, how old are you? youll never pull any ass with that thing Get a used S4or something

 

 

AWD is nice...

i would consider CL-S 6Speed with navi. u live in FLA, why AWD? obviously not for the snow.. hehe

 

a4 wagon would be hot actually

 

I got a fully loaded Accord V6 EX with Nav for 26,400, no TTL

 

You don't need 4 doors!

Get a used S2K.

I drove a friend's today, and OMG, I was in heaven! That car rocks.

But seriously, if you don't care about the car being domestic or foreign, why not get something like a Contour SVT? You can pick up a 99 or 00 for about 10-12K, you'll have a fun car, and cash leftover to mod the shit outta it. I know 2 guys that have them, and they are fun cars.

 

People people people! You guys crack me up......I need something practical, I'd love to get all the cars you mentioned but none of them work for me. I do need four doors, as much as people ride in my car, flippin the seat up is a pain in my ass.


I need practicality, not a racer. I'm only 18, but I already think like my dad.......sigh.

 

26K to waste on a car that you'l be using to commute in.

Get a used 4-cylinder Accord for 12k and save the rest for school.

Some of you people make me laugh. Buy a brand new car for 25k and just drive it into the ground as you drive to school...

lol

 

fully loaded wrx sport wagon... practical and fun.

plenty of 04 models left to get amazing deals on. Cheap to insure. but if you do need more cargo then that wagon has to offer, then yeah the forrester is the next best choice.

 

inline-4 mazda 6-i. Efficient and nice. Of course it's only 7.96s 0-60...the S version (v6) hits 6.56 I believe...quite a bit faster but eats more fuel.

i-4: 25/32
v6: 20/28

I believe those are the numbers

 

I truly dislike wagons.....


Scrib, I know I don't think like you, but if I was going to buy an Accord I'd keep the CL......

 

why dont you just keep your CL? It will get fucked up in the parking lots at campus anyways

 

I'm not a fan either, but i see the forrester as a big ugly wagon

BUT both the WRX wagon and the Forrester have the balls to back up their apperances.

 

That too is an option.....but with 110k on it.....I'm not sure how much longer it will last.

 

But why spend that kind of money now on a car that's going to have a shitpot of miles when you've graduated.

Spend some now, put the rest away and reward yourself when you graduate and get sometihng you can not only afford, but enjoy and not rack the miles on???

 

That makes a lot of sense, but I have to take in consideration being a college student. An Accord would work, but it's not what I want. I see way too many of them, and no matter how hard these ricers try, you can't make an Accord cool....

And I'm not the one spending the money on it anyway, my parents offered to get it for me since I got a full ride, so that also is affecting the way my brain works...

 

take that money and get a apartment on campus, trust me you dont want to live at home while in college!

 

Well... That's awesome with the education. Sounds like you've really done well for yourself.

Why not have them put the money away, use the CL, and when you graduate, the money will have gained interest which they can then buy you a 35k car???

j/k Get what you want. :P

 

honestly, if you take care of your care 100K will turn into 250-300K no problem. Just gotta keep it maintained.

Possibly Scrid has the right idea. Take the suggested money (one lump some, or what they would pay in monthly installments) and start an ING direct savings at 2% interest. When you get enough in there, open a CD, or money market and leave it there till you graduate.

Then you can buy yourself a pimp ride when youre ready for the real world.

But, i know the feeling of I want it, and I want it now.

 

minch how is a wrx or a4 not practical?

 

I think hes saying if he gets something new, he wants something with more cargo capacity then a sedan.

 

Well, they are, but the cargo area is where they fail my needs requirments. A trunk is great, but a tailgate is better in that respect.

And I missed the housing deadlines for school, I'll be living out there next year....

 

Take the money and put it in a money market or CD. After you graduate, you can use it to buy a really nice car. Meanwhile, just drive your CL, it should last all through college. Just take care of it (preaching to the choir, I'm sure).

 

save your cl and either take the money and invest it and have something to start with when you come out of college

OR

take your $26g's and live on campus

 

My vote is for a used WRX. Can get them for cheap now.

 

wtf do you need all that cargo space for, you are only 18!

How about a WRX wagon.

 

a super crew truck?

wtf else can you fit a lot of people in (4) and tailgate?

 

minch is a big boy

 

c240??

 

Minch, im' seein you in a F-250. that'd be hot.

 

yea cuz gas mileage wouldnt hurt him

 

Get a Jetta TDI, I have a friend who id getting one for about 20k w/5 sp.

 

WRX

 

you're a student...no need to buy another car. You dont have a problem until the CL dies...keep driving it. Save your money and try to graduate debt free, now theres something to be proud of. Use your car til it dies...110k aint nothing

 

minch there is a fully modded cl-s 6 speed in the black market in your proce range

it even has a s/c, u cant go wrong with that