"Should I/Shouldn't I?" crap...

[xRIEx]

I'll try to keep this brief.

I've been considering selling my 370Z for something a bit older and cheaper, I'd only intended to keep it about a year anyway. I had been thinking about something lighter with less power that I can rev a bit harder, while still being sensible (ish) on the road, along the lines of Elise, N/A Exige (OK, that one's not cheaper), VX220 type of thing.

Then I went on a rally experience day ( www.subarurallyexperience.co.uk)and left with a real hankering for an Impreza and have been browsing the classifieds for the past week. It was so much fun I've booked to go and do another day. If you're really lucky I'll do a write up sometime.

Now, I find a dealer with a VX220 Turbo and a blobeye WRX at a total advertised price there or thereabouts what I'd want for the 370Z. This would be a bonus because I fking hate selling vehicles, it feels like so much of a hassle; maybe I'm just no good at it. Both cars a bit newer than I'd intended, but is that ever a bad thing?

Anyway, VXT and WRX, or keep the 370?

[Dave Hedgehog]

if be tempted by an EVO VI and a honda S2000

[xRIEx]

Evos have been on my mind as well. I've always preferred them to Imprezas in the past, mostly for the looks, but they sound expensive to maintain (did the VIs have the 4500 service interval) and I was under the impression the Subaru boxer was much more rugged in that respect?

[Dave Hedgehog]

xRIEx said:

Evos have been on my mind as well. I've always preferred them to Imprezas in the past, mostly for the looks, but they sound expensive to maintain (did the VIs have the 4500 service interval) and I was under the impression the Subaru boxer was much more rugged in that respect?

you buy scoobys to live with every day (i had 2) but for balls out hooning you go for the EVO, use the S2000 as a daily driver, EVO for playtime

[dreamer75]

I've had an S2000 and an Impreza (06 STi). Both completely and utterly different to each other - opposite ends of the spectrum.

The S was fun, but it never got the heartstrings like the scoob did. I had the scoob for 6 years, sold it a few months ago, and cried real tears - still not 100% sure I made the right decision getting rid of it, I miss it ! They are great fun, and you can't beat that sound! Even my neighbour has commented that he doesn't like the sound of the new car, but he liked the sound of the scooby when it came home / left

[LotusOmega375D]

Better out than in, I say.

[GraemeP]

Good choice to have 2 cars, a daily and a weekend / hoon / track toy.

BUT, if you have 2 cars I think the Subaru will just give you high running costs without feeling special. Driving a prepared one on a rally stage, will not be the same as driving a road spec one to Waitrose.

That said, you could also be more extreme than the VX (Caterham) if it is only a weekend car.

[kambites]

A VX220 and an Imprezza sounds like a pretty decent combination to me, although they might be a bit... not similar, obviously, but similarly focussed.

If you're going for two cars, I'd probably go for something more extreme at the "fun" end, maybe a Caterham/Westfield; or something a bit more comfortable at the other end; or both.

Edited by kambites on Monday 17th September 09:01

[dreamer75]

GraemeP said:

Good choice to have 2 cars, a daily and a weekend / hoon / track toy.

BUT, if you have 2 cars I think the Subaru will just give you high running costs without feeling special. Driving a prepared one on a rally stage, will not be the same as driving a road spec one to Waitrose.

That said, you could also be more extreme than the VX (Caterham) if it is only a weekend car.

Mine felt special every single time I got in it - hearing the engine/exhaust note, seeing the scoop all the time, and the spoiler through the rear view. It just felt like an event every day

Mine was slightly modded but looked totally standard

:heart:

[GraemeP]

dreamer75 said:

Mine felt special every single time I got in it - hearing the engine/exhaust note, seeing the scoop all the time, and the spoiler through the rear view. It just felt like an event every day

Mine was slightly modded but looked totally standard

:heart:

I'm not saying a Subaru can't feel special, just that if you had 2 cars (a Subaru and a VX220) it is very likely that the Subaru would end up a daily driver with the VX the weekend / special car. In my experience any car that you use for the daily tasks will end up having less shine. That being the case, why not have a lower cost (this doesn't have to mean drab and horrid to drive) daily, with more budget for throwing at the other car (either upgrades, driver days, track days etc). Equally if the OP likes rally driving, why not see about doing more days with a view to getting involved?

[dreamer75]

The scooby wasn't too expensive to run - service 1/year (10k), tyres every 2-3 years (I'm not hard on them) @ £90/corner. In 6 years I had 2 sets of pads (the last set just put on before I sold it, but could have waited longer), one set of discs (just before I sold it, but could have waited longer). The only real cost was the mods and they're obviously voluntary.

Didnt' use oil, but obviously mpg not great! Insurance also not lovely, but that wouldn't make much difference sitting on the drive vs being driven.

I know what you mean though - if you use something special every day then it can feel less special. That does happen, but somehow with the scoob it still remained special. And you only had to hear it, or find a bit of clear road, and you remembered straight away why you loved it.

Conversely we had an Elise (similar to the VX) and personally I never felt that was very special and didn't get on with it at all!

[AClownsPocket]

The VX220 is a good bet, I'd be looking for an STi though rather than the WRX. For me, it just gave me that little bit extra and I adored that car. Wished I'd never sold it.