Decisions, decisions....(advice please)
Discussion
Murdock said:
I'm impressed you actually sought advice, considering the infatuation you have with them STi V2 RAs
oi shuddup you 
(its probably cos thats the only STi I've driven, if I'd tried a v3 or 4 i'd be going on about that instead. 
) RA was miles ahead of a standard WRX wagon tho
Hey there! I am going to throw a spanner in the works here - just cause I can
I can understand why you want another Subi, once owned one its only natural to buy another. They are great looking cars IMO, performance to boot and a general "feel good" car. I too went down this track early last year and was banging my head what model Subi to get next. I spent months searching the mags and car yards around Auckland. And of course wanted a tasty looking wagon too
The thing is it boils down to your budget, student loan, home mortgage repayments, expenses, other outgoings, it all adds up to how much money is left over TRUTHFULLY!. It doesn't matter whether your a student or been working for 15yrs with assets. You still have to have a good budget you can (WILL) stick to. For me having a home loan, two cars and a life is tricky to juggle sometimes. I often have to sell Simon on the street corner to get a new dress
But I have learnt that to get ahead generally you need a credit history. A man is only worth how much he/she can borrow (This is so true). Later in yrs to come you will appreciate this.
The way I see it is that if you buy something for $6-10K you might end up spending $2K on repairs over the next 1-2yrs, therefore you might as well hold on to what you have now because in 2yrs it will be $2k value car anyway and $8K down the toilet. But if you think the fun factor out ways the cost of the expenses and depreciation, I say do it.
If you take a step up and buy a $15-18K car with good mileage, in 5yrs time you should have paid it off and it should still be a reasonable good looking car. The fun factor I am sure would keep you grinning every time you jump in it. I am not trying to be the devil here sitting on the other shoulder, but I do believe that you could afford it if you had a good budget to stick to. If your really bad at budgeting, step away from Mr finance!! As mentioned could become a worst nightmare. I get the feeling you possibly have already made a decision anyway but asking fellow phers is always great.
I can understand why you want another Subi, once owned one its only natural to buy another. They are great looking cars IMO, performance to boot and a general "feel good" car. I too went down this track early last year and was banging my head what model Subi to get next. I spent months searching the mags and car yards around Auckland. And of course wanted a tasty looking wagon too
The thing is it boils down to your budget, student loan, home mortgage repayments, expenses, other outgoings, it all adds up to how much money is left over TRUTHFULLY!. It doesn't matter whether your a student or been working for 15yrs with assets. You still have to have a good budget you can (WILL) stick to. For me having a home loan, two cars and a life is tricky to juggle sometimes. I often have to sell Simon on the street corner to get a new dress
But I have learnt that to get ahead generally you need a credit history. A man is only worth how much he/she can borrow (This is so true). Later in yrs to come you will appreciate this. The way I see it is that if you buy something for $6-10K you might end up spending $2K on repairs over the next 1-2yrs, therefore you might as well hold on to what you have now because in 2yrs it will be $2k value car anyway and $8K down the toilet. But if you think the fun factor out ways the cost of the expenses and depreciation, I say do it.
If you take a step up and buy a $15-18K car with good mileage, in 5yrs time you should have paid it off and it should still be a reasonable good looking car. The fun factor I am sure would keep you grinning every time you jump in it. I am not trying to be the devil here sitting on the other shoulder, but I do believe that you could afford it if you had a good budget to stick to. If your really bad at budgeting, step away from Mr finance!! As mentioned could become a worst nightmare. I get the feeling you possibly have already made a decision anyway but asking fellow phers is always great.
Kylie said:
spanner
alternative viewpoints are always good, thanks for that. I did consider a Porsche 944 S2 for $17k on grounds of depreciation being pretty minimal, but the potential cost of fixing anything that went wrong with it put me off. I see your point about a $10k car being worth a fair bit less in a few years (probably more $6k than $2k imo if looked after), but if I keep the VZ, spend say $2k on repairs etc over 2 years, it'll be over 200,000km by then and only worth $1k (max at a guess), but that $3k will have been spent on a lower standard of vehicle than if I upgrade to something that has less kms/all major expected work done (thinking cambelts, maybe clutch etc) then I might lose a bit more over that time, but on a higher standard of vehicle. I guess you can extrapolate that to a $15k car as well though, and you're right it does depend on how much the experience/fun is worth to me.
as far as budgeting goes, I'm not bad at it and can crunch numbers to figure how much I can spend ok, but I still don't want to go borrowing money while I don't have a steady, reliable income to ensure I keep up with payments. Generally I'll save money before spending rather than borrowing and having to save to pay it afterwards, if that makes sense.
p.s. I haven't actually made up my mind yet, but I'm getting closer, figuring out where the balance is on how much the fun is worth for me.
Ironically the parts for an Audi, sorry Porsche 944 are probably no more expensive than for an STI Scoobie! Mind you a 944 doesn't really fit with your other criteria does it?
Unfortunately, if you want a modern car that isn't stolen or purchased from a gullible old lady whose boy-racer son has just died, you won't make money on a modern car. You may make money on a classic though but it would depend on how much you are willing to spend, the correct example and putting up with a few less mod-cons.
One 'classic' that springs to mind, if you can find one, is a mid-eighties RWD Toyota Corolla/Levin/Trueno. These things are selling like hot cakes in Japan and are getting more and more difficult to get cheaply as the drifters are picking them up and turboing them etc. If you can get a good one you won't lose money on it, it'll be cheap to insure, cheap to service, cheap to repair and easy on petrol. You will probably make money on it over a few years or at least not lose much if you look after it.
There you go, problem solved. A reasonably cheap, good looking, reliable, fun, RWD car you won't lose money on. Come to think of it, if you find one, do you want to do a swap with a '96 WRX with a mere 215k on the clock?
Unfortunately, if you want a modern car that isn't stolen or purchased from a gullible old lady whose boy-racer son has just died, you won't make money on a modern car. You may make money on a classic though but it would depend on how much you are willing to spend, the correct example and putting up with a few less mod-cons.
One 'classic' that springs to mind, if you can find one, is a mid-eighties RWD Toyota Corolla/Levin/Trueno. These things are selling like hot cakes in Japan and are getting more and more difficult to get cheaply as the drifters are picking them up and turboing them etc. If you can get a good one you won't lose money on it, it'll be cheap to insure, cheap to service, cheap to repair and easy on petrol. You will probably make money on it over a few years or at least not lose much if you look after it.
There you go, problem solved. A reasonably cheap, good looking, reliable, fun, RWD car you won't lose money on. Come to think of it, if you find one, do you want to do a swap with a '96 WRX with a mere 215k on the clock?
4AGE aren't they? 
I dont like your chances of making money on a Hachi
Theres two models the AE85 (base model, 1.5 sohc, rear drums etc) and the AE86(4AGE, better interior, better suspension etc). Both come in Trueno (popup head light) and Levin (fixed) as well as both coming in hatch and notchback
But Initial D has been around for awhile now, drifting is the craze of the moment. And Hachis are massively overpriced already compared to other comparable cars.
I wish Id listened to some of the advice in this thread before I spent 30 grand on a CRX while I was at uni
None of it was borrowed but I worked damn hard for that money which Id much rather have than the memories and the 8 grand I sold it for.
Buy something nice thats fun to drive (for me was an 86 M325i) and something that dont tempt you to modify it too much. Sure you wont save as much money as if you stick with a FWD NA legacy or a corolla or something but youve got to comprimise between being sensible and being poor
Theres two models the AE85 (base model, 1.5 sohc, rear drums etc) and the AE86(4AGE, better interior, better suspension etc). Both come in Trueno (popup head light) and Levin (fixed) as well as both coming in hatch and notchback
But Initial D has been around for awhile now, drifting is the craze of the moment. And Hachis are massively overpriced already compared to other comparable cars.
I wish Id listened to some of the advice in this thread before I spent 30 grand on a CRX while I was at uni
None of it was borrowed but I worked damn hard for that money which Id much rather have than the memories and the 8 grand I sold it for. Buy something nice thats fun to drive (for me was an 86 M325i) and something that dont tempt you to modify it too much. Sure you wont save as much money as if you stick with a FWD NA legacy or a corolla or something but youve got to comprimise between being sensible and being poor
I guess if I found the right coupe at an incredibly good price i might go for it, otherwise sedan or wagon. If I go for a legacy then its gotta be a wagon, a Legacy sedan would just feel wrong. whatever I get has to be manual(non-negotiable), and probably either rear or 4 wheel drive.
current list is
1)'96ish Legacy wagon, GT/GTB/possibly TS-R/2.5 manual (but those are like the proverbial rocking-horse poo.)$5-10k
2) R32 Skyline sedan, either 2.0 GTS at $3-5k or 2.0 turbo GTS-t at $4-8k
3) Impreza, but I decided if I go for an Impretzel then it can't be a half-arsed one, has to be an STi-R or RA. I just dont see the point in them without the DCCD, and that close-ratio 'box is
,but I've pretty much decided that I dont want over $10k or so tied up in a car when it could be earning me interest.
4)something oldish/cheap/RWD but fun, maybe old Corolla, mk2 Escort etc, but that pretty dependent on randomly finding something suitable. what sort of prices are E30 BMW's going for these days?
current favourite is a Legacy, I'll probably test-drive a GT and GTB at some stage to see which I prefer. finding manual ones can be tricky, but theyre out there, mostly $7-12k for decent ones.
I dont really need to be in as much rush at it seems, it'll be mid-next week before the bulk of money clears term deposit so can't do anything concrete until then anyway. deadline I guess is early march, next WOF due 8 march and I'll need 2 new tyres to pass that, which I'd rather not have to spend on if I'm getting rid of it.
edit: I still have the option of spending $1600 fixing up the Legacy I've got and keeping it a couple more years, but it seems to be at that age where many things start to need fixing (did cambelt/clutch a year ago), needs shocks/bushes now (2 new doors would be nice too), and I'm starting to think whats next? brakes? CVs? gearbox?
basically I'm thinking its not worth me spending more money than the cars worth fixing things on it.
>> Edited by GravelBen on Thursday 9th February 07:15
. whatever I get has to be manual(non-negotiable), and probably either rear or 4 wheel drive. current list is
1)'96ish Legacy wagon, GT/GTB/possibly TS-R/2.5 manual (but those are like the proverbial rocking-horse poo.)$5-10k
2) R32 Skyline sedan, either 2.0 GTS at $3-5k or 2.0 turbo GTS-t at $4-8k
3) Impreza, but I decided if I go for an Impretzel then it can't be a half-arsed one, has to be an STi-R or RA. I just dont see the point in them without the DCCD, and that close-ratio 'box is
,but I've pretty much decided that I dont want over $10k or so tied up in a car when it could be earning me interest. 4)something oldish/cheap/RWD but fun, maybe old Corolla, mk2 Escort etc, but that pretty dependent on randomly finding something suitable. what sort of prices are E30 BMW's going for these days?
current favourite is a Legacy, I'll probably test-drive a GT and GTB at some stage to see which I prefer. finding manual ones can be tricky, but theyre out there, mostly $7-12k for decent ones.
I dont really need to be in as much rush at it seems, it'll be mid-next week before the bulk of money clears term deposit so can't do anything concrete until then anyway. deadline I guess is early march, next WOF due 8 march and I'll need 2 new tyres to pass that, which I'd rather not have to spend on if I'm getting rid of it.
edit: I still have the option of spending $1600 fixing up the Legacy I've got and keeping it a couple more years, but it seems to be at that age where many things start to need fixing (did cambelt/clutch a year ago), needs shocks/bushes now (2 new doors would be nice too), and I'm starting to think whats next? brakes? CVs? gearbox?
basically I'm thinking its not worth me spending more money than the cars worth fixing things on it.
>> Edited by GravelBen on Thursday 9th February 07:15
The thing I found with 3 years of GTB(manual) ownership was it was two cars.
You would drive it normaly and grannies in their zimmer frames would pass you.
Or you thrashed the crap out of it and watched the fuel needle drop quicker than the you were accelerating.
So i'd go for a rather long test drive before maybe making any decisions, as while they are a reliable and capable piece of kit,I found it rather uninspiring,thankfully there was always a V8 in the garage to play with.
I agree with Jamie,a 944 is a great little car and servicing won't cost you a arm and a leg.
You would drive it normaly and grannies in their zimmer frames would pass you.
Or you thrashed the crap out of it and watched the fuel needle drop quicker than the you were accelerating.
So i'd go for a rather long test drive before maybe making any decisions, as while they are a reliable and capable piece of kit,I found it rather uninspiring,thankfully there was always a V8 in the garage to play with.
I agree with Jamie,a 944 is a great little car and servicing won't cost you a arm and a leg.
chevtrev said:
The thing I found with 3 years of GTB(manual) ownership was it was two cars.
You would drive it normaly and grannies in their zimmer frames would pass you.
Or you thrashed the crap out of it and watched the fuel needle drop quicker than the you were accelerating.
So i'd go for a rather long test drive before maybe making any decisions, as while they are a reliable and capable piece of kit,I found it rather uninspiring,thankfully there was always a V8 in the garage to play with.
I agree with Jamie,a 944 is a great little car and servicing won't cost you a arm and a leg.
cheers, I'll keep that in mind when I test-drive. compared to my current steed its 206kW @ 6500<>110kW @ 6800 and 338Nm @ 5000<>172Nm @ 5200, so on paper it shouldnt need to be revved out as much. I've heard about the 'valley of death' between the 2 turbos though, so will have to see if that annoys me. Will probably try to get a few test-drives tomorrow I think, nice way to spend a saturday.
Mustang-man said:
If you buy a Skyline, you HAVE to start attending Southern Skylines (.com) meets, and the monthly ones i organise here in Dunedin.
I daresay I would
. Do you happen to know of any decent 'liners selling sub-$10k at the moment? I'd prefer buying from a dealer as I can trade in the Legacy, if I have to sell it privately I'm gonna have to fix it up a bit to sell it. ps, standard or close to standard would also be good for insurance reasons, and I don't want to catch the modding bug until I can afford it. a mate in Timaru is just planning out the upgrades to his R32 GTE over the next year or so, and it won't be cheap. RB30 + supercharger + cam + ECU + suspension/brakes/wheels/drivetrain upgrades to handle it. gonna be a right weapon I think.
When I first started upgrading my cars I took the advice of my best mate (who looks after the Westie for me) and always started with suspension, brakes and brake lines.
Always !!! started there before messing with anything else.
. . . Except for the Aircraft Landing-lights fitted to my 180B
Always !!! started there before messing with anything else.
. . . Except for the Aircraft Landing-lights fitted to my 180B
yeah thats the sensible way to do it. I think my mates gonna do pretty much everything at the same time, at least until he runs out of money.
anyway, enough of this talk about modifying, I'm trying to not spend too much money!
oh yeah and your name seems to have disappeared.
>> Edited by GravelBen on Thursday 9th February 22:01
anyway, enough of this talk about modifying, I'm trying to not spend too much money!
oh yeah and your name seems to have disappeared.
>> Edited by GravelBen on Thursday 9th February 22:01
said:
When I first started upgrading my cars I took the advice of my best mate (who looks after the Westie for me) and always started with suspension, brakes and brake lines.
Always !!! started there before messing with anything else.
. . . Except for the Aircraft Landing-lights fitted to my 180B
The thing I would add as tops along with brakes, is performance tyres, tyres, tyres!!! No good having crap loads of speed and handling without being able to haul it in and stick to the road when needed to.
said:
When I first started upgrading my cars I took the advice of my best mate (who looks after the Westie for me) and always started with suspension, brakes and brake lines.
Always !!! started there before messing with anything else.
. . . Except for the Aircraft Landing-lights fitted to my 180B
I've vanished
I am the Phantom Thread Poster . . .
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