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YACT: I have $15-$17K - Here are my options

B

beer

Lifer
I need to make a decision in the next 30-45 days.

1. 2005 Scion tC (near-base)
2. 2004 Mazda3i (Sedan)
3. 2003 Accord Coupe (prob. 4cyl version)
4. 2002+ Subaru WRX

The budget is somewhere in the $15K-$17K range. You should be able to tell the genre of car that I am going for with those 4 options - is there anything else I should consider? I'm going for the sportier yet practical options here, the WRX is clearly the performance leader there and probably would be cheaper than the 03 Accord as well. Insurance (which I am investigating) will be the decision as to whether or not the WRX is feasible. So I guess I'm soliciting input from anyone that was looking near these options recently.

What's the reliability been like on the 3s recently?

Also, here are cars that I'm not going to be interested in:

1. VW Jettas - reliability scares the hel out of me! (especially after that recent thread about aftermarket stereos breaking the OBD2 readout!)
2. Celica GT/GTS - The body is 5 years old and I don't want to be driving a decade-old body style when I get rid of it
3. Tiburon - still not sure about the Hyundais and I think the options I've selected are superior cars)

EDIT 8/23:

Called the insurance agent today the WRX is double the insurance of the Scion, which is still more than a Mazda3. Given this fact I'm starting to lean towards the Mazda3 or the Scion, both of which have only positive feedback - a good thing. Civic was higher than the Scion and on par with the accord coupe (surprising - Civics often come off as econoboxes but have an insurance rate closer to a WRX than a Mazda3).
 
WRX, It would probably be the most fun to drive in the group, and Subaru's run forever, our 90 wagon that we just sold had been running solid for 15 years with no major engine work other than the necessaries.
 
If it was me, a WRX for sure. The scooby because of the AWD and good gas mileage. 2nd would be the Tc. Mostly because that is about as exciting as a 'yota can get. 🙂

 
Since your looking at used, you might consider some other cars in that range -

'02 RSX Type S
'02-04 SVT Focus
'02-03 Mazdaspeed Protoge

If you're going new, then I would look for something like a Base RSX or Mazda3.
 
Originally posted by: Rebasxer
WRX, It would probably be the most fun to drive in the group, and Subaru's run forever, our 90 wagon that we just sold had been running solid for 15 years with no major engine work other than the necessaries.
Click to expand...


Yep go Sub
 
Originally posted by: beer
I need to make a decision in the next 30-45 days.

1. 2005 Scion tC (near-base)
2. 2004 Mazda3i (Sedan)
3. 2003 Accord Coupe (prob. 4cyl version)
4. 2002+ Subaru WRX

The budget is somewhere in the $15K-$17K range. You should be able to tell the genre of car that I am going for with those 4 options - is there anything else I should consider? I'm going for the sportier yet practical options here, the WRX is clearly the performance leader there and probably would be cheaper than the 03 Accord as well. Insurance (which I am investigating) will be the decision as to whether or not the WRX is feasible. So I guess I'm soliciting input from anyone that was looking near these options recently.

What's the reliability been like on the 3s recently?

Also, here are cars that I'm not going to be interested in:

1. VW Jettas - reliability scares the hel out of me! (especially after that recent thread about aftermarket stereos breaking the OBD2 readout!)
2. Celica GT/GTS - The body is 5 years old and I don't want to be driving a decade-old body style when I get rid of it
3. Tiburon - still not sure about the Hyundais and I think the options I've selected are superior cars)
Click to expand...



mmm wrx...too bad you'll get raped for insurance...like 300 a month
 
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