Buying my first vehicle.

[Zeta Crossfire]

So I currently own a 2007 chevy avalanche that my parents got me awhile back. It's gas mileage is pretty bad and like most Chevrolets it's starting to fall apart even with good care. Right now the Kelly blue book price for resale is $26,000 and I'm looking to turn most of that money into a new vehicle.


I need a vehicle that can tow small things, jet skies and small trailers.
I need a vehicle that handles well on bad weather roads. Ice, Snow, rain, mud, dirt roads, ect.
I'm very into going on back roads camping, driving on the beach to camp, taking back roads that don't exist to go airsofting ect.
I'm also looking for something that has at least 26 MPG+
Trunk space for gear is awesome.



Right now I'm looking at two vehicles specifically, the 2014 Subaru Forester as well as the Subaru XV Crosstreck. Each aren't perfect (not the most powerful vehicles on the market especially after using an avalanche) but they are known for being some of the most reliable vehicles on the market, as well as lasting for sometimes generations for proper care, they also have a great reputation.


My only issue is I've never owned a Subaru myself and don't know many people who own any Subarus after 2005 so if anyone has any experience with them I'd like to hear what you'd have to say.


Also I'm not 100% sold on either of these vehicles. If anyone else has any suggestions I'd be sure to look into them. Thanks


Forester
http://www.subaru.com/mobile/vehicles/forester/index.html

Crosstreck
http://www.subaru.com/mobile/vehicles/xv-crosstrek/index.html

[Spartanbh]

I own a Subaru Impreza 2011 and I absolutely love it. Subarus are extremely safe, reliable, and handle great in bad weather (which Pittsburgh gets often in the Winter. The hills are bastards with snow but my Subaru makes it so much better). The inside of my car at least isn't going to WOW, but it's comfy at the least. If I were you, I'd definitely go with a Subaru just because I know how useful the all-wheel drive is in bad weather. Plus I get around 30 or so MPG and I drive A LOT (had to drive 500 miles a week this past summer). I haven't had any problems so far, aside from needing new tires and will need some new brakes soon, but other than that everything has been A-OK.

[EagleOne]

Subarus are great vehicles... Until you have to say...

Replace a headlight bulb on the impreza, that either requires you to remove the wheel on the right hand side, remove wheel lining, remove the air filter box and housing, to get at it. Or for the left side, remove entire battery.

To change the spark plugs on a Subaru BRZ... PULL THE ENGINE! Replace plugs, return engine. 6 hour job for a mechanic.

When it comes to buying a new vehicle, especially the Subaru, get the extended warranty to cover these costs... It's worth it.

[Guzzie]

Looking to buy a wrx soon. Love Subis.

[EagleOne]

Looking to buy a wrx soon. Love Subis.

Why not the STi?

[Spartanbh]

Subarus are great vehicles... Until you have to say...

Replace a headlight bulb on the impreza, that either requires you to remove the wheel on the right hand side, remove wheel lining, remove the air filter box and housing, to get at it. Or for the left side, remove entire battery.


Yes this is also very true...it does take a ton of work to change the light bulbs since you have to remove the entire battery XD. I had my best bud do it for me since he's handy with cars last year and it took him about 40 minutes to get everything disconnected (he was also being very cautious). Have a warranty definitely helps. Another great thing about Subarus are their engines and how they are constructed; they are built in a way to focus the center of gravity in the center of the car, rather than putting a big engine one one side, it distributes the weight evenly.

[Guzzie]

Why not the STi?
Because STIs are 10k more expensive than a regular WRX. You can get the same HP on a WRX if you put around 3k into one. Newer WRX models have the same bodies as STIs, the only real plus the STI has over a WRX is the transmission. Oh, and that nifty "STI" on the car :).

[VerbotenDonkey]

You're getting 26k back on an avalanche? What?

[Blackhawk570]

My friend has a sti bitch get MLGed

[Ominous Solace]

I have a Kia Forte, it's awesome. Comfortable, great gas mileage and stylish.

[Zeta Crossfire]

You're getting 26k back on an avalanche? What?

Yeah, its the LTZ model with nearly every accessory you could get at the time, we bought it out right for about 55,000 at the time. Usually cars aren't worth half their value after you buy them, so even at 26k I'm only expecting 24k our of it after haggling. Glad I got nearly half out of it.



Also the WRX looks nice but can't stow my wakeboard away with easy, still looking into it it's very tempting.


With my Avalanche I currently have a fog light out and it requires me to take off the whole front bumper on my truck, 600 dollars of work to replace a .90 cent bulb. It's terrible, but most cars have these problems, I just hope they are fixed the next time I buy another.


I like the Crosstreck, its got a unique style but the horsepower Is pretty low, under 170HP

Forester is great, but there isn't a style to it, it's kind of blan. I know that's kind of a stupid reason but yeah. Still looking.



Also I'll look into that Kia, might as well check out my options.

[Guzzie]

Also the WRX looks nice but can't stow my wakeboard away with easy, still looking into it it's very tempting.

Get the 5 door. Some people like the look, but I like the 4 door model better.

[Fuzzy]

Aston Martin Vanquish fits your description perfectly Zeta ;)

[JEWmanji]

Take a look at a Toyota tocoma it gets pretty good gas millage, not as good as the foresters but still pretty good, and is the perfect for everything you want it to do and it will last you forever toyotas have some of the best engine life spans out there

[Anarchy]

Why the hell did you spend 55k on a truck in the first place.

Regardless, I'd recommend sticking with what you have tbh. More reliable knowing what the car has been through. But Subarus aren't bad.

[Yehsus]

Buying your first vehicle is like buying your first condom.

Dont buy used.

[Zeta Crossfire]

Why the hell did you spend 55k on a truck in the first place.

Regardless, I'd recommend sticking with what you have tbh. More reliable knowing what the car has been through. But Subarus aren't bad.

thing is, like most Chevrolets my truck is starting to fall apart. I have low mileage and no accidents on it's already starting to show signs on engine troubles, just by wear and tear. This is probably the last time I buy a chevy because they just aren't reliable long term, and that's why I'm looking at Subaru because even 10-15 years out they are more reliable then my truck which just hit 5 years this September.


Also when my parents bought this truck we were technically millionaires at that time. Dad bought a nice Silverado, Mom got a Corvette, personally I wanted a Ducati but hey beggars can't be choosers especially now that we aren't millionaires anymore. Need something I can afford to maintain on a college student budget.

[AbnormallyLilith]

Get a Warthog Top Gear tells you why:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rzUNdXPGOf4

[Spartanbh]

I will say though that when you have to get new tires for a Subaru, it can be a major bitch. If you have to get at least 2 new tires, you have to buy a complete set because of the all-wheel drive, it will really screw up the tire alignment. I recently had to get 2 tires changed and I had to buy 4 (luckily my Dad knows a guy who gave us a great discount) and you HAVE to get a tire-alignment with Subarus.

Regarding the lightbulb, I paid my friend $20 to do it, so as long as you know someone who is somewhat handy with cars it shouldn't be a major problem, rather than dropping $600 at a shop.

[Deathhawk]

Damn. I'm so jealous of your car buying capability. I drove a '95 Cherokee for a year before it got wrecked (only lost $300 on it tho) then I bought a $2,000 96 Camry that's head gasket blew and totally fucked me over financially for college. (I sold it and got $300...)

DON'T EVER BUY SALVAGE ITS NOT WORTH IT

[JEWmanji]

DON'T EVER BUY SALVAGE ITS NOT WORTH IT

Well duh!

[Anarchy]

thing is, like most Chevrolets my truck is starting to fall apart. I have low mileage and no accidents on it's already starting to show signs on engine troubles, just by wear and tear. This is probably the last time I buy a chevy because they just aren't reliable long term, and that's why I'm looking at Subaru because even 10-15 years out they are more reliable then my truck which just hit 5 years this September.


Also when my parents bought this truck we were technically millionaires at that time. Dad bought a nice Silverado, Mom got a Corvette, personally I wanted a Ducati but hey beggars can't be choosers especially now that we aren't millionaires anymore. Need something I can afford to maintain on a college student budget.

26k isn't a college budget.

Do you really need something with towing capacity? I'm a bit racist towards SUVs/Trucks/Overpriced chunks of metal. For 26k you could get a solid car with money still in the bank.

[Zeta Crossfire]

I own jet skies and am an avid waken boarder so I'd like some toeing compacity.

[Jam Cliché]

Dunno about the discussion so far, but if you're still looking between the two Subarus, the Forester is a solid bet. When choosing between two cars of the same make, go for the model with the longer history.

That being said, $26,000? You could get a strong, high MPG truck not unlike your Avalanche if you avoid going for late model vehicles. Get something about ten years old with low mileage and you'll only spend half your budget on a vehicle that is essentially still new.

[HighLight]

Get the 5 door. Some people like the look, but I like the 4 door model better.

Nah, 5 door looks dope. Plus there is more room for activities.

[Sicarioano]

FIRST-You're not going to get $26000 back on a used vehicle....EVER, unless it's a classic truck or car dating pre 1970's.

I have a 1972 GMC with a straight 6, 4 on the floor with a granny gear, no power steering, LWB half ton with leash springs. Greatest truck ever, but if you're going used make sure it was taken care of. And I wouldn't recommend a new vehicle anyways unless it's Ford. Dodges don't last except for the Cummins, Chevy's-they just fall apart nowadays. Those rice burners though, I don't know...your guess is as good as mine.

[Andimion]

Fuck all yall rich kids.

I bought my own 92 Toyota Camry and ive been driving it for 2 years now. Toyotas are very reliable so what Jon said is correct, look at a Tacoma.

Oh, did I mention I actually work for Toyota? =P