Gone with the Rant

[NikLR 13,228]

Subaru really hold their value well, but the BRZ is a sports car. It's the same model as the Toyota GT86 (not sold in the USA) and Scion FR-S with some changes to the gear box or differential... I can't remember off the top of my head. It's rear wheel drive only. It would be a car I would buy to have fun in that has better gas mileage than the Jeep (which when driven conservatively gets about 16mpg), but not good gas mileage over all than lets say a fiesta, mazda3 etc... Specs says 34mpg highway, but 30 is more likely which was about what my Sebring got when I drove it conservatively... but that's a flat 4 engine vs a V6. Likely it would be cheaper to maintain than a VW though. Since I'm saving the money and this will be from my pay check, I want to make sure I can afford to make the payments as well. I don't want to have payments for 6 years on a car so I'd really rather have 36 months financing.

I worry that I'd be buying the BRZ so my husband can have a fun car versus a car I want. I don't have much experience with RWD except in the Jeep and with trucks (which I used for towing), but oodles with FWD. I generally know how a fwd car will react on a corner when I'm going fast plus I know how they are in the winter. (LOL) I debated a WRX because of the AWD which would be good all year round but not as much fun on road (no tail out happiness) but maybe I don't want tail out happiness and just want a car that sticks to the road so I can go fast (I do like fast. ) However the price ends up high up there again, and the gas mileage goes down down down...

Much debate and likely will take me driving all the cars before I decide what I want. I want to save 5k before I buy one, but in reality, since prices are lowest on last year models in Dec and Jan, I may wait a whole year and then I'll have more of a down payment and less worry about financing.

I always wished I'd gotten a smaller travel system. Granted it was nice to have a big bag underneath to hold all the groceries, but the large stroller was just a PITA. She barely used the stroller after she started walking and I bought a cheap umbrella stroller that was easy and light for those times.

[Pooky 3,814]

Subaru builds the Outback in Lafayette, Indiana, if I'm not mistaken.

[SAT 9,609]

Hey Steve..

http://www.thechivery.com/products/i-heart-new-york

Um.....I'm not wearing those shirts....I'll get you one of you so like.....

I kind of regret not spending like 8000+ more and getting an outback over the crosstrek. My stroller is huge and is going to take up the whole trunk, if it will fit at all.

Tree hugging car....it's really not that good.

You got suckered by their ad campaign...

[N-o-l-a 7,168]

You got suckered by their ad campaign...

Actually hadn't seen any ads for it before we bought it, but was on the Subaru website and saw it as an option. The car is great, but it is basically a compact and compacts are small.

Edited January 31, 2015 by N-o-l-a

[N-o-l-a 7,168]

I always wished I'd gotten a smaller travel system. Granted it was nice to have a big bag underneath to hold all the groceries, but the large stroller was just a PITA. She barely used the stroller after she started walking and I bought a cheap umbrella stroller that was easy and light for those times.

I got this one, which I think I linked here before: http://www.amazon.com/BOB-Revolution-Flex-Stroller-Black/dp/B00KASV6HI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1422732916&sr=8-1&keywords=bob+revolution+flex

The trunk on my Cross trek is just super small. A grocery shopping trip fills it to max capacity, especially with the winter survival stuff in there.

I don't plan on using it for shopping, but rather walking and some very light jogging. I never used a cheap umbrella stroller - I've always thought a child should walk if they are firm enough on their feet to be able to and you aren't out for sort of an exercise jaunt.

I always just wore my daughter in carrier for shopping - it was way easier. I got a newer one for this one with a wider hip spread, so I'm excited to try it out:

http://www.amazon.com/BABYBJORN-Baby-Carrier-Black-Cotton/dp/B00DNQS6PO/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1422733269&sr=8-1&keywords=baby+bjorn+one

[SAT 9,609]

There are many reasons why other cars have become much better selling brands than Subaru. It's no coincidence.

But it's none of my business anyway.

[N-o-l-a 7,168]

There are many reasons why other cars have become much better selling brands than Subaru. It's no coincidence.

But it's none of my business anyway.

It is an issue of AWD/4WD but not an SUV/truck and not a sedan, and not costing $40,000.

That is very limited range of vehicles and they've got a big market share in that.

Other vehicles may outsell them in some markets, but Subarus in the New England market? Huge.

[NikLR 13,228]

Subarus are super popular in CO. They keep value well here. Audi is popular here too. Pretty much anything with awd or 4wd (two entirely different things since you will not drive above 35 of 40mph with 4wd engaged.) But I can drive fwd in the snow.

[SAT 9,609]

It is an issue of AWD/4WD but not an SUV/truck and not a sedan, and not costing $40,000.

That is very limited range of vehicles and they've got a big market share in that.

Other vehicles may outsell them in some markets, but Subarus in the New England market? Huge.

Nuh uh.....

[N-o-l-a 7,168]

Subarus are super popular in CO. They keep value well here. Audi is popular here too. Pretty much anything with awd or 4wd (two entirely different things since you will not drive above 35 of 40mph with 4wd engaged.) But I can drive fwd in the snow.

We've got both the AWD and the 4WD and they are really different beasts, but overall for day to day commuting, I'd rather have the AWD. The 4WD is great for really adverse conditions but at least in truck can be difficult to engage and can get stuck, requiring you to rock the truck between neutral and drive to engage it. Not something you want to happen when you aren't parked somewhere, like when I did it in the middle of the street in a snowstorm.

The car babies over the summer when they were clean:

Edited January 31, 2015 by N-o-l-a

[SAT 9,609]

Troph, Honda, Toyota, Ford, has dominated the market of what you're talking about. The CR-V is the top seller in that niche, followed by the rav4 and highlander, then Ford escape. Subaru doesn't even get close. It's the boxer engine. They need to stop playing with it and get into the game.

Problem is, Subaru is not a car company. It's a part of Fuji. And Fuji isn't a car company. Fuji research doesn't benefit Subaru. But now Toyota has taken a small stake in it, do that might help.

A company like Ford, Honda, have tremendous research in their other divisions that has direct technical and scientific contributions to their cars and engines. The suspension in Honda cars comes from their motorcycle research, as well as their formula 1 division.

Between Toyota, Honda, Ford, they make trucks, cars, motorcycles, small engines, ships, boats, jet planes, racing cars, motorcycles, weaving looms.....

When you combined your knowledge in that sense, it's no coincidence that they come up with great products that sells.

Do you guys know the difference between awd and 4wd?

Edited January 31, 2015 by SAT

[N-o-l-a 7,168]

And the CR-V, Highlander, and Rav 4 are.... SUVs.

The Outback, Crosstrek, and Impreza are not.

None of those car companies make AWD sedans, hatchbacks, or station wagons in the appropriate price range.

[SAT 9,609]

The CR-V is a cross over Troph, they don't class it an suv

The Honda crosstour

Is Honda's awd cross over sedan

[N-o-l-a 7,168]

The CR-V is a cross over Troph, they don't class it an suv

I'm just prejudiced against it. In my mind it is a car for single women 50+.

[SAT 9,609]

Lexus has awd sedans, as do Acura. Ford escape is a cross over and it's a great car.