WRX, SRT-4, or something else...

[syrne]

Hi everyone, first post here. Really enjoy the forums though, lots of useful information to be found. Just had a question, I am headed off to College next year and need a new car. Love my Ranger but it isn't going to work for me next year for a number of reasons I won't go into.

Anyway, been looking hard at the WRX and the SRT-4. From what I can tell they are both great cars, going to go out and do a few test drives later on this week. Insurance is kind of a bitch on both of them though.

I want something quick, doesn't have to be the top drag racer on the road or anything because I don't think there is a track near the school and street racing isn't for me. I love snowboarding so snow traction is a big plus, I know the AWD would be great there but is FWD so much worse?

Which would be more reliable for me, I won't have much of a place to work on it myself so I don't want to have to take it into a mechanic every day. Would be driving it probably about 60 miles a day 4 days a week. I have kinda narrowed it down to a WRX with 60,000+ miles or a SRT-4 with 10,000 or so miles to be within my price range around here, so not too much more than $15,000. I like the styling on both cars so that isn't too much of an issue.

Any other suggestions of similar cars would be much appreciated, needs to be about the same gas mileage, good reliability, comparable speed is a big fat bonus. Hopefully something comfortable as the first trip I will take in it is going to be cross country most likely.

Thanks for any and all help!

[illegal_eagle187]

yeah i would go with the wrx becuz of awd, you might also look into just the regular impreza rs...its awd and quick but nothin like the wrx, and insurance wont be as high as the wrx

[syrne]

Was just looking around online and came across a Nissan Sentra SE-R Spec-V...how does it compare? As you can probably tell I am into the 4-doors. Comfort? Quality? Speed? I realize it is slower but it is cheaper as well, I wouldn't be modding it much but is it a lot slower than the others? If it is a lot roomier then it might make up for it though.

[illegal_eagle187]

the spec v is a really fun car, my dad has one, it handles awesome, the comfort is ok for runnin around town and stuff but not for long trips, quality is good, and its pretty quick 175 hp 180 tq 2.5 liter I-4

[232FIed]

hey man, i have a friend of mine who drives a 2000 subaru 2.5rs. its alittle different from the wrx [bigger engine, .5l more naturally aspirated though] i figure if i had anything to say about this its that it cost him somewhere around $11,000/12,000 and it has the potential to be quick. you like the snow, its awd setup is fun in a few inches. pluss it looks alittle nicer in my opinion than both the srt-4 and the wrx, new or old. subarus last forever, and they travel well. idk, hopefully this was helpful

[King Of Crunk]

yeah man get the RS, if you're used to driving the ranger it will seem pretty quick for you and the AWD will be perfect for the snow...