Help jlee's noob roommate pick a (first!) car!

[hanoverphist]

needs moar boost.

n/a Subarus make baby jeebus cry.

when that 2.5 pops a gasket, drop the 2.0T from an STi in it and go to about 240hp!

im a subaru fan, i have a 95 legacy wagon. id still say the 04 with a discounted price for the damage - as long as the maintenance has been done (timing belt, front end seals and the HG already redone). but there really are other choices for that money, subarus here are really overpriced.

and AWD in the desert is fun! you dont have to be on ice/ snow to want AWD.

 

[hanoverphist]

I DID AND I SHOWED YOU OTHER CARS TO BUY!!!! your making a horrid mistake....poor MPG. fickle cars. plagued HG issues....and stupid high miles....expect to dump a bunch of money into it...

actually the 2.5 should give him about 26mpg overall, the auto is fairly bulletproof on those things. the engine should last for another 100-150k with maintenance. even if it does go out, a used 2.2 or 2.5 can be found for around 800 bucks and dropped in over a weekend. the plagued HG issues are with the stock OEM gaskets, once it is replaced with a quality HG and good head bolts there isnt the same problems. its not a bad decision, its just not the one you would choose.