Help me pick a cheap Daily Driver!, Subaru Impreza 2dr Coupe 98 Options

[jcbass7]

personally, I would get something more reliable like a early 90's late 80's celica, corolla, or camry. There is a risk that an mr2 or a supra could turn into a money pit with problems, I think one of these would be safer. When you decide you're ready to start upgrading a new car (i.e. mr2 or supra), just sell the beater and go back on the market again. Good luck and happy hunting either way

I'm buying a car that i will drive maybe once a month for the next two years and then daily for about a year, (i guess thats what i mean when i say DD). I only want a car that i will want to mod after the celi is done, (approx 2011).

I also consider myself fairly mechanically savy. (enough to save my @$$) So i'm willing to take on the risk of something not as "reliable"

I feel like buying a car and then selling it only to buy the car i wanted in the first place is working backwards... I figure i'll buy a car that I've always been interested in having and know that I plan to keep it for an extended period of time.. This way even if i have to throw some money at it, its something i plan on hanging onto, so its not a big problem.

This post has been edited by jcbass7: Feb 28, 2008 - 10:46 PM

[bccentaur3]

personally, I would get something more reliable like a early 90's late 80's celica, corolla, or camry. There is a risk that an mr2 or a supra could turn into a money pit with problems, I think one of these would be safer. When you decide you're ready to start upgrading a new car (i.e. mr2 or supra), just sell the beater and go back on the market again. Good luck and happy hunting either way

I'm buying a car that i will drive maybe once a month for the next two years and then daily for about a year, (i guess thats what i mean when i say DD). I only want a car that i will want to mod after the celi is done, (approx 2011).

I also consider myself fairly mechanically savy. (enough to save my @$$) So i'm willing to take on the risk of something not as "reliable"

I feel like buying a car and then selling it only to buy the car i wanted in the first place is working backwards... I figure i'll buy a car that I've always been interested in having and know that plan to keep it for an extended period of time.. This way even if i have to throw some money at it its something i plan on hanging onto so its not a big problem.

Thats well put there. I didn't even know the MK3 supra was one of your choice. I'd rather pic the supra over the mr2 any day to be honest.

[jcbass7]

PS: It really isn't a problem if i have down time with this car either since its not crucial that i use it.. As in i don't need it to get to work etc. It really only would be used to get me from CT to MA maybe once a month. Although if i get something before summer its going to be going with me when i get stationed in Jonesport Maine for 6 weeks..

Wanna talk about far north.... its about 15 miles from Canada haha

personally, I would get something more reliable like a early 90's late 80's celica, corolla, or camry. There is a risk that an mr2 or a supra could turn into a money pit with problems, I think one of these would be safer. When you decide you're ready to start upgrading a new car (i.e. mr2 or supra), just sell the beater and go back on the market again. Good luck and happy hunting either way

I'm buying a car that i will drive maybe once a month for the next two years and then daily for about a year, (i guess thats what i mean when i say DD). I only want a car that i will want to mod after the celi is done, (approx 2011).

I also consider myself fairly mechanically savy. (enough to save my @$$) So i'm willing to take on the risk of something not as "reliable"

I feel like buying a car and then selling it only to buy the car i wanted in the first place is working backwards... I figure i'll buy a car that I've always been interested in having and know that plan to keep it for an extended period of time.. This way even if i have to throw some money at it its something i plan on hanging onto so its not a big problem.

Thats well put there. I didn't even know the MK3 supra was one of your choice. I'd rather pic the supra over the mr2 any day to be honest.

I've been all over the place, there are plenty of early 90's cars that i would love to own. The more i think about it though i like toyota and could easily see myself with another one. That being said, a supra has a bit more space than an MR2. I love the idea of mid engine though..

[jcbass7]

So this is just me being all over the place a little bit more..

I could to get me through the summer... buy a used 5sfe, throw it into the celi and drive it like that for now...

(the 3s is all torn down and waiting for big funds to rebuild it right and strong etc.)

[Havok1997GT]

just my 2 cents

your talking about getting 2 very high maintenance cars. and with your price range i wouldnt think youd get one with very low milage or one that hasnt had the hell run out of it. your really dont buy a car like those to just drive around as a daily, you buy them to drive around and put work into to keep them runing and fix them up as you go, and so on. i understand that you want to use it as a DD now and later Sup it up, but your also trying to save up for you Celi right? if you spend all your money on the MR2 or the Supra then youll never get very fare with your Celi. i think what DEATH said would be your best bet. again, just my 2 cents

[Random_Stranger]

If you do get the 240sx.... You know you could put a corvette engine in there...

[Defgeph]

Buy a 92-95 Civic. Cheap, reliable, and cheap.

[_mikeE]

Im planning to sell my '97 Civic hatch (shortshifted and aftermarket Alpine door speakers) but too bad you're too far away from me, if anyone else interested, just pm me. Lettin it go for $1700.

But to what Random_Stranger said, haha yeah i saw the youtube vid of the guy with the corvette engine in his 240. LMAO I've a friend who dropped a 3.8L motor in his sunfire, i'm like WHAAA?!

[jcbass7]

just my 2 cents

your talking about getting 2 very high maintenance cars. and with your price range i wouldnt think youd get one with very low milage or one that hasnt had the hell run out of it. your really dont buy a car like those to just drive around as a daily, you buy them to drive around and put work into to keep them runing and fix them up as you go, and so on. i understand that you want to use it as a DD now and later Sup it up, but your also trying to save up for you Celi right? if you spend all your money on the MR2 or the Supra then youll never get very fare with your Celi. i think what DEATH said would be your best bet. again, just my 2 cents

Yes everythign you are saying makes sense. But in my situation the cicumstances are different. DD for me means this car will be dirven ONCE A MONTH. And again it is not crucial for me to drive it, so if its down, or out of commission its not going to be a problem.

About money. I have it all under control and figured out. I will have plenty for the celi. We get 30k loans with <1% interest that are automatically taken out of our pay for the first 5 years of service. We get these loans as juniors so thats.. 2010.

EDIT: I'm also way to stubborn. and honestly i don't need a car until 2010ish but it would be nice to have one to drive when i am home in the summers etc.

I have already dealt with my fair share of unreliablity (see my progress thread) and it has only taught me more about my car etc.

If you do get the 240sx.... You know you could put a corvette engine in there...

I would just buy a corvette if i wanted to have that engine. but i do love 240's

Buy a 92-95 Civic. Cheap, reliable, and cheap.

I don't think i can bring myself to do that... i'll just buy my sisters 93 nissan altima if i were going to do something like that

This post has been edited by jcbass7: Feb 29, 2008 - 7:49 AM

[ILuvMyCelica95]

If you buy a civic i'll beat you

[celicaboston1983]

too bad i didnt see this sooner I just gave away my 90 celica gt it still ran and stuff but it needed work.

[jgreening]

If cargo space is not an issue, I would say N/A MKII MR2. They are very reliable and you can get nice looking ones for about 3k if you look hard. Plus they are one of the most beautiful cars ever designed.

If cargo space is an issue, I say get a CRX. You can definitely fine those for cheap and they have more cargo space than most 4 doors. I had one when I was in college and it was perfect. There is nothing more reliable than a civic (which a CRX is) but it is more unique and looks better.

[jcbass7]

If cargo space is not an issue, I would say N/A MKII MR2. They are very reliable and you can get nice looking ones for about 3k if you look hard. Plus they are one of the most beautiful cars ever designed.

If cargo space is an issue, I say get a CRX. You can definitely fine those for cheap and they have more cargo space than most 4 doors. I had one when I was in college and it was perfect. There is nothing more reliable than a civic (which a CRX is) but it is more unique and looks better.

Some good words, what i fortgot to mention above^ was that if i bought either an old supra or MR2 i would be getting an N/A one. That way i don't have to worry about reliablity issues with a turb set-up and i can always swap later if desired...


After thinking some.. here is a new twist that i thought i need to throw out there.. i live in New England... and if i do a lot of work to the celi.. I am not going to want to drive it in the snow/winter at all...

I know i'll be "ok" with one of the other cars i was talking about but should i think more practical and go for something like an early 90's jeep wrangler as a winter car? i could drive it how i intend now, and then use it as a winter car/beater when the celi is back..

EDIT: part of my motivation is, for the time being, i want something that is nice and open in the summer.. targa top, t-tops, jeep with no doors etc.

ideas, thoughts?



This post has been edited by jcbass7: Mar 2, 2008 - 10:53 AM

[jcbass7]

UPDATED:

So my step sister just told me she is going to be selling her Scoobie in the next month or two.

Subaru Impreza, Coupe (2dr) L (not the RS)
Its a 98' with 85k on it. 5 spd, white, AWD (obviously).

Its in good shape, and she said she would sell it to me for 2,200$ which i think is a fair price.

I know this is a stupid question but is there a strong aftermarket for the coupes? i know the sti's and wrx's have good markets but i know nothing about subaru impreza coupes etc.


PS: this fits my needs for a reliable car that i can trust and maybe mod down the road. Also its a good car to have for the winter since it is AWD.