Looking for a second car not necessarily a Subaru

[subiesailor]

Originally Posted by 1 Lucky Texan

test drove a Matrix when we were shopping years ago. Glad to hear they are holding up.

it was on our short list, but rejected as too small for our purposes.(needed more cargo space as we were replacing a minivan)

Pretty simple basic car regarding tech his has held up well and has hauled a few Uhaul trailers between AZ and CA over the years. I don't find it very enjoyable to ride in other than short trips cargo hauling ability is pretty impressive however. As I said for a cheap car given you can find them for cheap prices its very hard to ignore simply because they run and run and run with very little to go wrong or costly services like the TB etc.

[there4igraham]

There's nothing wrong with a Matrix/Vibe but like the G5 and Soul there are much better options for the same money.

[Looby]

Originally Posted by hiker74

I have thought about an Impreza but the ones up her for sale
all have over 120K miles and are still over $10K Nuts.

Yep, nutz! IMO, Soobies (and Hondas) are excellent values
as new cars, but they're very overpriced as used cars.

OTOH, Nissan and Mazda tend to be rather good values as
used cars due to their (unwarranted) greater depreciation.

Our "beater" is a '97 Mazda 626-V6 5MT with 140k miles.
The Miata spends most of the winter in the garage. It's
ultra-reliable, and a blast to drive -- with the top down --
but with the top up, it's claustrophobic (for "normal-sized"
drivers), and suffers from extremely poor visibility on the
rear quarters.

Looby

[awd-gg]

Originally Posted by there4igraham

There's nothing wrong with a Matrix/Vibe but like the G5 and Soul there are much better options for the same money.

My neighbor was a BMW fan until he bought a MAtrix... His average BMW lasted 4-5 yrs before his repair-maintenance bills forces him to tradein the car. He switches over to Matrix 8 yrs ago and still own it (as daily driver-actually only car) today.... No repairs in 6 yrs....

[hiker74]

My 1997 Nissan Altima needs half shafts (popping noise as i turn the wheel), new windsheild (cracked and leaking around the upper seal), Exhaust work (sounds like a lawn mower), front brakes (will probably do myself). I can probably get everything done for under $1000, so I am in a tizzy. I really want a different car, but really do not need a different car. I replaced a leaking valve cover gasket on the car the other day as it looked like a smoke bomb going down the road. I rarely drive out of town except to Chicago a few times per year from Indy. There are advantages to driving a beater. You dont necessarily worry about it parked in a garage downtown. Who cars if someone scratches it with their door or keys it. If I had a 2010 Altima Coupe or even a Kia Soul I would probably worry about stuff like that

[subiesailor]

Originally Posted by hiker74

My 1997 Nissan Altima needs half shafts (popping noise as i turn the wheel), new windsheild (cracked and leaking around the upper seal), Exhaust work (sounds like a lawn mower), front brakes (will probably do myself). I can probably get everything done for under $1000, so I am in a tizzy. I really want a different car, but really do not need a different car. I replaced a leaking valve cover gasket on the car the other day as it looked like a smoke bomb going down the road. I rarely drive out of town except to Chicago a few times per year from Indy. There are advantages to driving a beater. You dont necessarily worry about it parked in a garage downtown. Who cars if someone scratches it with their door or keys it. If I had a 2010 Altima Coupe or even a Kia Soul I would probably worry about stuff like that

Hiker the renter we had up stairs a few years back had a late 80's Maxima with not kidding 310,000 miles on it looked like it too. It was their only car however they did not drive much given it was in SF where everyone takes public transit all week anyway. I remember the day it decided to unload all its fuel on the floor. He had some local LEO run new fuel lines for nearly no money. They had it another 3yrs before moving back to VT where their family was he sold the car to a local wrecker for scrap value before they left. Lots of our renters in SF are professionals making big money saving every penny with plans on moving back EAST where family is when the first kids arrive. Pay cash for a house and live an otherwise zero stress life with a pile of money and investments saved up from living and working the fast life in the Bay Area.

Fix the Maxima and keep driving it till it throws a rod or the noisy heads finally eat them selves. Save your money!

[hiker74]

I think I may keep it and just wait until the Outback is paid off. After that its my turn to get a different car