$12000, need car for chicago winters

[serge_saati]

Originally Posted by akboss

Look for a 2002+ Subaru WRX. Fast, AWD, reliable, fairly easy on gas. I would recommend an Audi A4, but for $12K you're potentially looking at having a very expensive car to maintain, as with any other premium brand.

Subaru also has the Legacy GT (2002-2004) that will come in under your price range and offer decent performance, and have lots of room for your golf gear. If you can find a 2005+ GT for that price you're getting 250 horsepower, but they are typically more expensive.

Happy hunting!

Not all the 2002 Subaru are reliable. I know someone who bought a used 2002 Impreza, and the engine starting making a very lound metallic noise after 30K miles of driving. She goes to Subaru, and had the engine repaired. It was the piston pins that were damaged. After 40K miles of driving, the problem come back again. Dealer didn't accept to repair it for free, cause it's out of warranty.

And the driver was a woman, not a racer that rev up all the time. A car specialist told her that Subaru 2.5L boxter engine was misdesigned. But the problem was resolved with 2004 and more.



About the BMW 328xi, it's a very good choice. But AWD BMW are very expensive, more than the regular 323i. I don't know if you can find under 12K.

[akboss]

Originally Posted by serge_saati

Not all the 2002 Subaru are reliable. I know someone who bought a used 2002 Impreza,

This is all you needed to say - you can't base a car's reliability solely on one persons used car experience. Who knows what the person before her used the car for! And because Impreza's have a lot of potential for performance, they are popular with younger, aggressive drivers and you have to look hard for one that has been taken care of. Overall, most professional review sites agree that a Subaru is a well-built, dependable car, not to mention topping the safety charts for at least the last 3-4 years.

[serge_saati]

Originally Posted by akboss

This is all you needed to say - you can't base a car's reliability solely on one persons used car experience. Who knows what the person before her used the car for! And because Impreza's have a lot of potential for performance, they are popular with younger, aggressive drivers and you have to look hard for one that has been taken care of. Overall, most professional review sites agree that a Subaru is a well-built, dependable car, not to mention topping the safety charts for at least the last 3-4 years.

The woman I am talking about had 32 years old when it happens and she drive slowly as a grandma. The problem happens twice and she did all the maintenance to keep to make the car last (oil change, trans fluid change, anti-rust...).

She bought the car in a certified dealership and had the car fully inspected before buying.

As I already mentioned, a car specialist told there was a complaint for the Subaru 2001-2003 with 2.5L engine. A bad design with the piston pin and rod bushing. Piston rotates on its pin and make this metallic sound after ~40K miles. This issue was corrected in 2004. They use bigger pistons in height.


I forget to mention that Outback is not reliable too. There's problem with fuel delivery system. Engine misses at highway speed. My father wanted to buy one, but too many complaints on these cars.

[MagicRat]

I like this site for owner-written car reviews. www.carsurvey.org.

Sure, one bad experience does not make for a bad car, - and some owners are extremely biased - but when you get the same problems popping up in many reviews, then you know the problems are legitimate.

[serge_saati]

Ok, but I don't like Impreza pistons.



They are too small, not like the one in post #16. By the time, they get worn, rotate and make noise. They're not enough big too support the torque of the connecting rod.

[Shpuker]

Originally Posted by serge_saati

Ok, but I don't like Impreza pistons.



They are too small, not like the one in post #16. By the time, they get worn, rotate and make noise. They're not enough big too support the torque of the connecting rod.

Since when does an Impreza have torque