A Good First Car (muscle car, vehicle, joint, auto)

[lovethewest]

I am 18 years old, and I am considering buying my first car. My dream car is a Subaru Outback. I love how it combines SUV looks/capability with car-like handling, but it's too expensive, and it might even be too big for what I want. Can anyone recommend a good used car that's similar, but cheaper? Thanks!

[Drover]

How about a used Subaru Outback? If you think you want something smaller, how about a used Subaru Outback Sport, which was based on the Impreza rather than the Legacy?

[sunsprit]

My vote, too, for a used Subie.

I've never bought one with less than 100,000 miles on the odometer, and we've had excellent success with putting another 150,000 to 200,000 miles on them with minimal expense beyond routine consumables (tires, oil/filter, trans & diff lube changes, brakes).

In my experience, the OE Subie dealer brake pads give much longer service life than anything I've found in the aftermarket, and the dealer install kit replaces a lot of the mounting hardware, too.

Even an early Outback with reasonable mileage on it should have a great deal of remaining service life, which is what you're purchasing in a used car.

For your purposes, I'd avoid any of the Outbacks with the 4-cam 2.5 liter motor, which was problematic with blown head gaskets, which can be an expensive repair UNLESS this has already been addressed in the car you're considering. This series, 1997 onward for a few years, is generally less expensive to buy because of this know fault area. The later 2.5 motor also had head gasket seeps, but these were external seeps of coolant from the motor and didn't result in catastrophic failures like the early 2.5 motors (with oil in the water or vice versa).

Our two current Subies: 1995 Legacy Wagon has 235,000 miles ... still with original suspension, drive axles, fuel pumps, original clutch, wheel bearings, etc. No major work has been performed, although you can tell that it's not a "fresh" car anymore. But it's still excellent and reliable transportation for us. I anticipate doing a valve job and replacing the clutch in the next 20,000 miles. It still turns in 32 mpg in my wife's 60-65 mph 68 mile daily commute, and has a very good heater and A/C system in it.

My 1997 Outback wagon has in excess of 350,000 miles on it, and is still reliable and good transportation. This one, however, did need front axles (cheap! $78 ea, complete new assemblies), new brake rotors and pads throughout, and the top end overhauled due to the "blown head gaskets" before any further damage resulted. I did the engine work myself, and spent only a few hundred dollars ... and replaced the clutch while I had the motor out of the car, although it wasn't yet needed; just an opportune time to do so with the motor out. Although a little "tatty" in the cosmetics department, it's still a reliable driver and performs well.

Our local postal delivery was done with a similar car for the last 10 years (postal model, right hand drive) and didn't need much work over it's service life. Just a few axles, a valve job, a fuel pump, and routine tune-ups/filters/fluids. The retirement was forced by the auto transmission finally going out of it.

Good luck in your search for a suitable vehicle in your price range.

[lovethewest]

Thanks for the responses. I have looked into used Outbacks (and Foresters), but they seem to be a rarity in St. Louis where I live. I mean, they are there, but they're only a couple years old so they're still going for 15, 16, 17 thousand. But I'll still keep my eyes peeled!

[trlhiker]

So how uch are you willing to spend? And do you want a car or truck or suv?

[djmilf]

Sounds like lovethewest wants a small SUV, something with AWD, but less expensive than a new Outback.

Options are Honda CR-V, Toyota RAV-4, Ford Escape, Jeep Patriot, Chevy Equinox, probably others. All of these vehicles are about the same price, but of varying quality. Also, they all get less than spectacular gas mileage.

You might be better off seeking a small car than a small SUV.

[Fnix]

You can get an old muscle car with a 440 for pretty cheap and you will be cool

[bhcompy]

one vehicle not mentioned is the Pontiac Vibe AWD as well. Toyota/GM joint venture, nice little car. just turned in my vibe for a Vue after owning 3 years. been very happy

[Sunnydee]

Unless you have money to spend on car repairs or the knowledge, time, and skill to fix car the car you buy yourself I'd go with a used Honda or Toyota. They're very reliable, run forever, and don't require much maintenance which I think are prerequisites for a first car.

Whatever you do do not buy a cool car that will send you to the poor house like I did - a 1970, pale yellow, MGB convertible - it was beautiful, but it was in the shop every other week. I finally had to sell it because I couldn't afford to keep it running and pay for college at the same time.

[S6Sputnik]

Miata!