trade yaris for subaru wrx, maybe sti?

[Fenrizwolf]

I work 30 miles away. Last winter on the freeway I saw a durango come across the median slamming into a ford ranger killing the ranger driver. The ranger was the car in front of me. I am very scared now and I will have an AWD subaru with the best snow tires. It wont save me from other drivers but It will make me a safe driver. I was going to buy a 02-05 wrx and keep the yaris for years and years, and years. The mpg is of course unbeatable. My wife said if I want the Subaru I have to trade the yaris in. The cost of 3 cars, insurance, and gas will not be less than 2 cars and insurance, and a subaru using premium gas and more of it. What should I do guys? On one hand I have the Yaris for a very long time which is so cheap, and a used Subaru which will nickel and dime me for a long time. OR a brand new warrantied Subaru. What should I do?

If this helps people look at the numbers I have 3 cost of ownerships.
http://www.internetautoguide.com/cost-of-ownership/99-int/2007/toyota/yaris/base-sedan/341/index.html 2007 toyota bought brand new with under 30K on it
http://www.internetautoguide.com/cost-of-ownership/99-int/2003/subaru/impreza/wrx-sedan/1725/index.html Used Subaru with ? miles and ? things wrong with it

vs.

http://www.internetautoguide.com/cost-of-ownership/99-int/2010/subaru/impreza/wrx-sti-wagon/3077/index.html Brand new 20010/11 wrx or maybe sti

[silver_echo]

i would suggest to keep the yaris for good weather days, and drive the wrx on bad weather days... but the offset for fuel is not that bad when you consider that the wrx is stable in slick conditions... and my wrx, while it hit me a little up front with minor repairs and maintenance, has been gas and oil changes for money into it... the only other things are washer fluid and wipers... but those are standard maintenance... and i do drive it a little harder than i should... just a little bit harder...

[Fenrizwolf]

Thats what i'd like but a third car payment and 3rd full coverage insurance is whats making my wife say no. I can pick up your car basically, for around 7-9K Or payout the same per month lose the Yaris and have a new subaru.

[silver_echo]

however, the increase in auto insurance will be less than you are thinking because when you have more cars than drivers, the insurance companies usually notice this and adjust the rates... i.e. you drive the yaris 60% of the time and the wrx 40%... but for a less expensive option, look into a forester, use it as the daily, and build the yaris...

[Fenrizwolf]

we almost bought a forrester instead of our new Tucson.

[Fenrizwolf]

The guys over at the subaru forums all say I should go for a new wrx...

[detroiter]

I don't think a Subaru (older ones anyways) are going to nickle and dime you to death. We're not talking about a Chrysler here.

Subarus are built pretty tough and built to last. Light, and some heavy, off roading capabilities are second to none in the awd car/suv catagory. As much as I love the Yaris, I'd have to say you'd be doing yourself a favor bumping up to a Wrx/Sti if you can
financially afford it.

[FSANE]

thanks to the teens with some money, insurance rates on WRX are at record high. I would check to see the cost difference first before buying the car.

[Altitude]

AWD will NOT make you a safer/better driver. Common sense will. I'm sorry but the mentality of I need an SUV/AWD or gimmicks to avoid accidents is whats wrong with drivers nowadays. Most cars in the ditch that I see are AWD luxury cars.

Thank you for pointing that out and saving me some keystrokes. A 4WD or AWD vehicle will give you better traction to get out of a snow bank or sand/mud, but when you're barreling down the highway it makes little difference. It's just as easy to spin out an AWD/4WD as 2WD.

[Fenrizwolf]

You guys, I know that too, but AWD with winter tires gives superior traction over any other configuration, and that is the bottom line there. After speaking with wife, STI is just out. A new one is too much, a used one will have a higher interest rate, and insurance will be too high. So now we are looking at the 5 door wrx wagon, '11 or I will try to get a great deal on '10.
Wanted to add, I have commuted for 3 winters. 60 miles to school for 2 and 30 miles to work for one. I have seen horrible things and safely cruised by in my '03 eclipse and sometimes the yaris. I do drive safe and I can tell you first hand it is overconfident people in the 4wd truck I most often see off the road ,or spinning out of control. I am choosing a Subaru for safety, the 50/50 AWD and reliability.

[yarrr]

AWD will NOT make you a safer/better driver. Common sense will. I'm sorry but the mentality of I need an SUV/AWD or gimmicks to avoid accidents is whats wrong with drivers nowadays. Most cars in the ditch that I see are AWD luxury cars.

Thank you for pointing that out and saving me some keystrokes. A 4WD or AWD vehicle will give you better traction to get out of a snow bank or sand/mud, but when you're barreling down the highway it makes little difference. It's just as easy to spin out an AWD/4WD as 2WD.


Rofl, apparently neither of you have driven AWD cars, or learned how to pull out of a spin in one. There are sitiuations that you can pull out of with AWD(especially with traction/yaw control on a WRX) that you will never pull out of in a FWD/RWD vehicle.

I'm all for learning how to drive and stuff, but you guys are just wrong on this one. @altitude, barrell down the freeway on a curve and hit some sand someone kicked on the freeway and tell me AWD makes no difference.



thanks to the teens with some money, insurance rates on WRX are at record high. I would check to see the cost difference first before buying the car.

uh your trans am does a wheelie... But DAMN those kids

[fnkngrv]

The guys over at the subaru forums all say I should go for a new wrx...

Ok, I am normally the first to not be rude, but here it goes...

Making a statement like that is just universally stupid. If you go to a Subaru forum or WRX forum OF COURSE THEY ARE GOING TO TELL YOU TO BUY ONE OVER A YARIS! I truly doubt that you will have a ton of peeps on a Subaru fourm telling you "no, don't buy a Subaru, keep the Yaris". You are looking at a completely different demographic here. On a Yaris forum you are going to get a mix of opinions because in all honesty it is a different breed of driver. People do not buy a Subaru, let alone WRX for good EPA for example where a lot of the people you see here do. Another part of the Yaris community buy it to forge ahead with something that "isn't supposed to have performance" and want to make it so it does. There could be arguments for either way for you, but it is really bad form to post up a response like the one you did above because it is the improper context. If you are limited in your choices because of one reason or another you have to make a very simple choice...

What are you trying to get to in the end for results and which gives it to you the soonest with the best financial decision so you can really enjoy it?

[PETERPOOP]

it's not the car, it's fate. if you die, you die. Don't live your life worrying about it. Nothing you can do will change it.

You could drive your yaris and get hit by a truck and die. You could drive a sti then get hit by a truck and die. you could drive a truck and get by a semi and die. You could drive a semi and a plane could crash into you.

[fnkngrv]

it's not the car, it's fate. if you die, you die. Don't live your life worrying about it. Nothing you can do will change it.

You could drive your yaris and get hit by a truck and die. You could drive a sti then get hit by a truck and die. you could drive a truck and get by a semi and die. You could drive a semi and a plane could crash into you.

+1

[Altitude]

You guys, I know that too, but AWD with winter tires gives superior traction over any other configuration, and that is the bottom line there.

No doubt you will have superior traction. You'll be able to pull snowy hills much better than a 2WD car. You'll be able to plow through deeper snow than a 2WD car could. You'll be able to do a lot of things a 2WD car can't. Afterall, you'll have twice the chance that one of your tires will find traction.

The problem comes when there is no traction to be had.

I'm just trying to offer advice from first hand experience. The worst thing you can do is become overconfident with AWD in hazardous conditions.

[fnkngrv]

No doubt you will have superior traction. You'll be able to pull snowy hills much better than a 2WD car. You'll be able to plow through deeper snow than a 2WD car could. You'll be able to do a lot of things a 2WD car can't. Afterall, you'll have twice the chance that one of your tires will find traction.

The problem comes when there is no traction to be had.

I'm just trying to offer advice from first hand experience. The worst thing you can do is become overconfident with AWD in hazardous conditions.


+1

I have noticed plenty of people that get a "God" complex when it comes to having their AWD. I care less what anyone else thinks...if you really know and practice how to drive in snowy conditions then you can do just about anything with your FWD. The biggest hurdle that I have found is the snow becoming compacted up into your engine bay with snow that is too deep and regardless of whether it is 2WD or AWD you can cause damage if you are over zealous. Case in point would be my next door neighbor last winter with their Subaru. They did all kinds of damage trying to "beast" their way thru deep snow in their yard. I think in IMHO the only way they would have been safe if they had bought a Forrester because of the ground clearance.

[Fenrizwolf]

Ok, I am normally the first to not be rude, but here it goes...

Making a statement like that is just universally stupid. If you go to a Subaru forum or WRX forum OF COURSE THEY ARE GOING TO TELL YOU TO BUY ONE OVER A YARIS! I truly doubt that you will have a ton of peeps on a Subaru fourm telling you "no, don't buy a Subaru, keep the Yaris". You are looking at a completely different demographic here. On a Yaris forum you are going to get a mix of opinions because in all honesty it is a different breed of driver. People do not buy a Subaru, let alone WRX for good EPA for example where a lot of the people you see here do. Another part of the Yaris community buy it to forge ahead with something that "isn't supposed to have performance" and want to make it so it does. There could be arguments for either way for you, but it is really bad form to post up a response like the one you did above because it is the improper context. If you are limited in your choices because of one reason or another you have to make a very simple choice...

What are you trying to get to in the end for results and which gives it to you the soonest with the best financial decision so you can really enjoy it?

They were weighing options of my first post. 2 cars one being a old wrx and the yaris or 1 new wrx. The fact is a new wrx is safer(than both), has a low interest rate, and has a great warranty. In the end it is cheaper than owning 2 cars. I was always getting a wrx just didn't know which one. I'm sorry about my "stupid comment" and "bad form."

Thanks for comments my family will decide what is best for us.

[fnkngrv]

In the end it is cheaper than owning 2 cars. I was always getting a wrx just didn't know which one. I'm sorry about my "stupid comment" and "bad form."

Thanks for comments my family will decide what is best for us.

Like I said, I am normally not rude, I made a bad choice in posting the way I did. Either way though, you really have hit the nail on the head by having your family make the choice. No matter how you slice it you will always get skewed responses when you start a thread on opinion because ultimately it is YOUR choice and yours alone. Go with your gut...9 times out of 10 it won't do you wrong.

[why?]

AWD will NOT make you a safer/better driver. Common sense will. I'm sorry but the mentality of I need an SUV/AWD or gimmicks to avoid accidents is whats wrong with drivers nowadays. Most cars in the ditch that I see are AWD luxury cars.

Still so true.

thanks to the teens with some money, insurance rates on WRX are at record high. I would check to see the cost difference first before buying the car.

This is a great reason to call up your insurance agent and ask him what the insurance would be on said cars before buying them.

I work 30 miles away. Last winter on the freeway I saw a durango come across the median slamming into a ford ranger killing the ranger driver. The ranger was the car in front of me. I am very scared now and I will have an AWD subaru with the best snow tires. It wont save me from other drivers but It will make me a safe driver. I was going to buy a 02-05 wrx and keep the yaris for years and years, and years. The mpg is of course unbeatable. My wife said if I want the Subaru I have to trade the yaris in. The cost of 3 cars, insurance, and gas will not be less than 2 cars and insurance, and a subaru using premium gas and more of it. What should I do guys? On one hand I have the Yaris for a very long time which is so cheap, and a used Subaru which will nickel and dime me for a long time. OR a brand new warrantied Subaru. What should I do?

If this helps people look at the numbers I have 3 cost of ownerships.
http://www.internetautoguide.com/cost-of-ownership/99-int/2007/toyota/yaris/base-sedan/341/index.html 2007 toyota bought brand new with under 30K on it
http://www.internetautoguide.com/cost-of-ownership/99-int/2003/subaru/impreza/wrx-sedan/1725/index.html Used Subaru with ? miles and ? things wrong with it

vs.

http://www.internetautoguide.com/cost-of-ownership/99-int/2010/subaru/impreza/wrx-sti-wagon/3077/index.html Brand new 20010/11 wrx or maybe sti

Just note that the Ranger prolly had 4wd, so that wouldn't change anything in a situation like that. And that type of situation is prolly 1 in a billion or more.

Just do the math, and you will get your answer. A brand new WRX would be really cool to have, if you don't care about the gas mileage, and everything else looks good to you. I'd just triple check all the math, insurance, gas, maintenance, any loan money still left to pay off the Yaris, etc, just to make sure everything works for you.

It is a completely different driving experience though, and is completely up to you.

As for safer driving, that is all you and none of your car. A car can't drive for you (yet). Don't buy a car just because it would make you feel better, to me that is a waste of money. Investing in some driver schools would be better off for that type of thing, there are some really amazing ones out there.

[id3379]

Rofl, apparently neither of you have driven AWD cars, or learned how to pull out of a spin in one. There are sitiuations that you can pull out of with AWD(especially with traction/yaw control on a WRX) that you will never pull out of in a FWD/RWD vehicle.

I'm all for learning how to drive and stuff, but you guys are just wrong on this one. @altitude, barrell down the freeway on a curve and hit some sand someone kicked on the freeway and tell me AWD makes no difference.

+ 1, My father has a sti and i drive it whenever he visits me, weve taken it to adams track and the AWD makes an extreme difference in being safe.

Any time you start to loose control or spin out, your AWD kicks in and helps prevent you from loosing control where as a FWD car couldn't, this is pure common sense also, i can't believe this was even questioned.

[Fenrizwolf]

Well my wife said no to the wrx i looked at, but we picked up a 2007 base model impreza with the same mileage as our yaris for dirt cheap. It does not have the nice updated interior like the yaris, or the mpg, but it is safer, (frontal and side impact) and has awd, and is a low payment. We will be sad to see the yaris go as it was our first car, and we have loved it.

[zachryboles]

i say you get the subi sti and we go drifting.......... just saying

[why?]

AWD doesn't "kick in", its always on and transfers the power from the wheels that slip to the wheels that grip (just like Subaru says) and thats when you are driving not spinning. And trust me you can make the AWD useless in some situations, and once you are spinning the car is pretty much on par with anything else on the road it might be harder to get there but once it happens its already too late. Every winter I see about a dozen accidents and the vast majority is either a SUV with AWD/ETS/STD/PMS/ABS/AA/ETC or one of the Mercs/Subs/Audis, just because you have an electronic nanny in your car doesn't necessarily make it safer. People are relying way too much on electronics nowadays to bother driving properly (the new trend now is the automatic blindspot warning system, I mean how f!@#$% lazy do you have to be not to be able to rotate your head for a second to verify that you are not plowing into someone, might as well give it a rest and just take a bus)

quoted for oh so much truth. Time to make getting a license a lot harder in the USA, it is just far too easy.

[silver_echo]

quoted for oh so much truth. Time to make getting a license a lot harder in the USA, it is just far too easy.

that, and our drivers are not trained in how to handle an emergency(like a gas pedal sticking under the floormats)... i personally think that getting a driver's license should be like it is in europe... costs as much in europe to get a drivers license as it does to get a pilot's license in the us...

[why?]

that, and our drivers are not trained in how to handle an emergency(like a gas pedal sticking under the floormats)... i personally think that getting a driver's license should be like it is in europe... costs as much in europe to get a drivers license as it does to get a pilot's license in the us...

I don't think the cost is really important, but the fact that the test is just completely lame. They just need to make training much more rugged and much longer.