So I just graduated, and have a decent job lined up.

So I figure now would be a good time to get rid of my 10 year old car and treat myself.

Ideally I'd like a 2008 or 2009 Subaru WRX STI.






I like it because it's pragmatic. Sporty and fun to drive with plenty of power, but I can throw my dog in back to keep hair off the seats, or fold seats down to move furniture.

BUT, it is a bit pricey, in the upper end of my affordability range. So, the question is, what other cars offer the same benefits but cheaper?

(In b4 hatchbacks suck)

12/12/2008 2:00:14 PM

The STi hatch looks so much better in person that in pictures IMO.

I heard a lot of dealers are discounting them very heavily right now. I saw ~$7k off sticker plus 0% financing for 60 months on NASIOC a while back. Check there.

12/12/2008 2:03:34 PM

matrix?

just throwing out there

12/12/2008 2:05:06 PM

Damn fine choice.

MazSpeed3?
Audi A3?
Volvo C30
2nd the Matrix?

12/12/2008 2:07:15 PM

Quote :

"The STi hatch looks so much better in person that in pictures like crap"

fixed it!

[Edited on December 12, 2008 at 2:08 PM. Reason : /]

12/12/2008 2:08:18 PM

Matrix has 132HP or 158HP, a little more than my current car, lookin for an upgrade.
Audi is just as pricey, although a more "luxurious" interior.

I'll have to take a look at the Mazda3 though

[Edited on December 12, 2008 at 2:12 PM. Reason : ]

12/12/2008 2:11:14 PM

congrats, you graduated

double congrats that you got a job

but wait...you do realize that we are in a recession. You do realize that your job most likely is not guaranteed, right?

And you think buying a brand new car is such a smart decision, before you even begin your decent job?

hmm...

12/12/2008 2:12:07 PM

Yeah, I'd work for 6 months or so and drop a down payment on it if your financial situation is like most college students. It's so nice to have minimal bills and be able to stack money for those first few months.

12/12/2008 2:14:11 PM

^^ 2 things.

I'm not buying it right now, but I plan on it in the coming months or so, since I have a 10 year old vehicle.

I've got a job at Duke University Hospital as a member of a new group being created, so job security is fairly good.


^ Thats exactly what I plan on doing.

[Edited on December 12, 2008 at 2:15 PM. Reason : ^^, ^]

12/12/2008 2:14:58 PM

WRX STI's can be had for amazing deals right now. My friend who works in the dealer network down in Charlotte said you can probably get an STI for $28k or so with 0% financing

Too bad they're so fucking ugly, otherwise I'd maybe have considered one.

12/12/2008 2:23:14 PM

^ No shit?!

What dealership?

12/12/2008 2:28:33 PM

I'd have to ask, I don't live in Charlotte and don't know off the top of my head.

12/12/2008 2:33:35 PM

i know you just got your first job and you're all excited or whatever, but i don't really think buying a car right off the bat is the best decision you could make right now. i would suggest waiting a year or so to get settled and start up a little savings before you jump right into the debt pool. i drove a 1997 sentra until monday. i graduated may '07.

that being said...

i just test drove a shit ton of hatchbacks... i wanted a wrx sti (like everyone else it seems) but what i wanted was double my budget.

anyway, i ended up with a mazda6 hatchback which i am VERY happy with (although, i've only had it since monday) i test drove a mazdaspeed3 which someone else recommended. that was a very nice car, as well as the toyota matrix.

i test drove the versa and didn't like it, also the fit i wasn't very impressed with, i can't remember the rest but they were meh..

i personally like the body styles of the mazdas and it has enough power, for me anyway, but i don't frequent the racetrack either..

i'm not sure where you're shopping, but folger subaru in charlotte had some pre-owned forresters, and they were really nice. i think the ones i saw were '07 with real low mileage right around 14-15k

i'm not sure about other dealerships, but the nissan dealership has a "new graduates" program where they'll give you a lower interest rate or something like that, i didn't go into detail about it because i didn't want their car.

[Edited on December 12, 2008 at 2:52 PM. Reason : nissan]

12/12/2008 2:50:47 PM

^when are you going to post decent pics of your new car??

12/12/2008 2:57:51 PM

Quote :

"i know you just got your first job and you're all excited or whatever, but i don't really think buying a car right off the bat is the best decision"

exactly, you should use that money to buy a house while the market is the way it is now. cars depreciate, houses and land appreciate. if your car is working fine dont worry about replacing it now.

12/12/2008 2:59:07 PM

Listen to these folks here. Wait. Wait at least 6 months. It's a shitty time to be without a job, and EVERY job I've ever taken has at least a 30 to 90 day trial period. You'd do well to save what you can, and if things feel right in 6 months, THEN maybe consider buying.

A kid fresh out of college with a brand new car tells me one thing: IMPULSIVE AND IRRESPONSIBLE. might say the same thing to your superiors. I don't care where you work; they're not gonna keep you there because they feel sorry for you because you have bills to pay.

But you will ultimately do what you want...and that shall be the extent of your own law. You might just be THE MAN, and they may find you indispensible. I hope in your favor.

treat yourself after you KNOW you're gonna be where you are going for a good while. Stability is worth its weight in gold.

12/12/2008 3:00:31 PM

Quote :

"pre-owned forresters"

haha, you can save on insurance too. I think there were 2 stolen in the US last year

12/12/2008 3:04:46 PM

graduated 12/07

3/08: bought a $5k truck (166/month, 800/yr insurance)
7/08: dropped $4.5k for modifications
12/08: GOT DEM DUBS, $1.8K











1/09: GETTING A RAISE

12/12/2008 3:05:58 PM

I just got a Saab9-3 for the same reasons you mentioned in the OP.

12/12/2008 3:18:45 PM

Ok, just to be clear, I AM waiting at least a few months before I buy a car to replace my junker. That way I can put a large down payment.

I've worked my ass off the past 8 years to pay my way through school, making many sacrifices, and doing without luxuries like cable tv while eating mac and cheese or raman. I deserve something nice.

And no that doesn't make me "impulsive and irresponsible". Buying a house right out of the gate would be impulsive and irresponsible.

Once I start my job, I plan to put enough of my paycheck away to have $1,000,000 in investments by the time I'm 40 (assuming an average return of 9% and adjusting for inflation). After that, I'll use my paycheck to cover other necessities and save up an emergency fund and a down payment for a car.

Meanwhile, for at least a year, I'll look at the housing market, make sure my job will be a place I want to work for a few years, then purchase an affordable home.

So please get off the whole you're an irresponsible kid who doesn't know what' he's doing, and start talking about some kick ass cars I could buy!

blah, I'll have to check out the Mazda6, thanks for your input!

12/12/2008 3:21:32 PM

^^ Saab 9-3 looks good, but underpowered compared to an STI for almost the same price.

12/12/2008 3:24:32 PM

i just got my 01 to replace my 97 900. I love having a ton of space. True its not as powerful as the STI, but the my 2.0 Turbo has ~215 HP.

12/12/2008 3:26:08 PM

^ ya, 215 isn't too bad. I guess I just got spoiled b/c the STI was the first thing I looked at. I just wish the hatchback version came out earlier so I could find a decent used one for cheap.

12/12/2008 3:29:17 PM

If the STi is too expensive, there's always the WRX. I wouldn't cross shop much else, the Mazdaspeed is probably a contender but the rest are not in the same league.

12/12/2008 3:40:26 PM

[name]blah[/name], while I couldn't find a mazda6 5 door, there is a MazdaSpeed3 which might be a good choice. 265HP, hatchback, navigation system, bose sound system with an MSRP at least $10,000 less than the STI, and better gas mileage.

I think we have a contender.

(^ Had to laugh that we both brought up the same car and used "contender")






[Edited on December 12, 2008 at 3:42 PM. Reason : lol'ed]

12/12/2008 3:41:11 PM

I love that car. Just dont like the FWD and the power dying off after 5000rpm.

You could probably get that for around $21k or less the way dealerships are cutting deals.

12/12/2008 3:46:14 PM

^ Ya, the FWD is a negative, but I like the seats and the sound system.

So far it's the Subaru WRX Premium vs the MazdaSpeed3 then.



[Edited on December 12, 2008 at 4:08 PM. Reason : ]

12/12/2008 3:54:34 PM

Quote :

"Once I start my job, I plan to put enough of my paycheck away to have $1,000,000 in investments by the time I'm 40 (assuming an average return of 9% and adjusting for inflation). After that, I'll use my paycheck to cover other necessities and save up an emergency fund and a down payment for a car."

you are going to need more that $1MM

12/12/2008 3:58:46 PM

don't buy a new car at the very least.

9% ARR sounds like a good plan. Would help make up for the -35% since oct 2006

[Edited on December 12, 2008 at 4:09 PM. Reason : i like the sti hatch A LOT though]

12/12/2008 4:09:14 PM

Quote :

"you are going to need more that $1MM"

Huh?

12/12/2008 4:09:35 PM

^^ Fortunately I'm going to start my investing at the bottom of this whole thing, and hopefully ride it back up. I'll dollar cost average my money though to even out any fluctuations. I don't see us heading into a "great depression". We'll have a recovery just like after every recession.

12/12/2008 4:14:00 PM

Yeah check out the new WRX (if you're interested in the STI). 265hp (I believe) and its basically as fast 0-60 as the STI.

And please stop with the double posts!

12/12/2008 4:17:41 PM

^ almost a 1 second difference, but a 0-60 of 4.x vs 5.x isn't much in the big picture I suppose.

And what double posts?

12/12/2008 4:20:22 PM

0-60 times dont mean shit. drive the car and you will know.

12/12/2008 4:24:29 PM

don't post right after you just posted is what he means. read guidelines.

[Edited on December 12, 2008 at 4:35 PM. Reason : just use the edit button ]

12/12/2008 4:27:36 PM

gotcha

12/12/2008 4:33:54 PM

I'm just saying...

Fastest 0-60 time I've seen for a STI is 4.9. For the WRX I've seen 4.7.

I'm sure the STI handles and brakes far better of course.

12/12/2008 4:38:32 PM

sounds more like he's shotting for $0-broke in no time

12/12/2008 6:31:44 PM

Rule #1: Do not buy a new car when you get your first job out of school.

Save your money. Buy the car when you can pay cash.


--------------


to be on topic, if you like the WRX STi wagon, also look at the Subaru Impreza Outback Sport wagon. Same size, shape, no turbo, and 15K less out the door. Still zippy too.

See blah's thread for other similar vehicles and suggestions.

\/ and that was stupid.

[Edited on December 12, 2008 at 6:50 PM. Reason : .]

12/12/2008 6:47:13 PM

stfu, i just graduated this summer and bought a $52k truck

12/12/2008 6:49:02 PM

Or maybe consider picking up something with say 20k miles on it so that you get something nice and with a warranty for a few years and save yourself quite a bit of change.

12/12/2008 6:54:09 PM

I love how everybody in The Garage is managing this kid's bank account.

He wanted advice on cars, let him manage his own checkbook.

12/12/2008 6:55:41 PM

0-60mph who cares. What are the differences in trap speed?

12/12/2008 7:03:38 PM

DO NOT GET A FIVE YEAR LOAN. you will be upside down on almost any car. 4 year max, 3 year preferably with a good downpayment.

12/12/2008 7:29:44 PM

if financing is 0%, why does it matter how long the loan is? in fact, why put down anything more that the minimum downpayment?

if he knows anything, at 0% youll pay the least you can upfront and make the loan for as long as possible. they aren't making any money off interest, so why not invest some of yours and make a few bucks off of it?

12/12/2008 8:12:59 PM

beap beap

12/12/2008 8:29:00 PM

^^ good point. Whether I pay it on the front or back end, it'd still be the same amount of money. Might as well take the extra I have each month and invest it.

[Edited on December 12, 2008 at 8:30 PM. Reason : ^^]

12/12/2008 8:29:58 PM

time for a new one

12/12/2008 8:31:20 PM

I personally have never understood why you wouldn't get long term financing with a low interest rate on a car. You're upside down on a new car pretty much the second you drive it off the lot. Cars aren't an investment like a house can be, you aren't trying to make money buy selling one (unless you're a major shadetree mechanic who loves fixing vehicles up and selling them).

Hell, I paid zero down, got 2.9% on a 5 year loan and took the money I had planned on using as a down payment and paid off a credit card and used the rest to buy some other shit. Maybe not ideal, but if you can get 0-4% on a new car loan taking a 5th year isn't a bad idea in a lot of cases, especially if you have other uses for the money you save on the monthly payment (like a larger mortgage payment) and you plan to keep the car for a while. I fully expect to have my car for at least 10 years so a 5 year loan (that I'll probably pay off in 4 anyway) isn't that big a deal.

[Edited on December 12, 2008 at 11:07 PM. Reason : adadf]

12/12/2008 11:04:15 PM

a lot of your post makes sense but only in your circumstances.

a lot of people don't own the same car for 10 years, many want to get a new car every 4-5 which means they can easily get upside down
paying off a 10% credit card is a better choice than paying down payment on a 4-6% loan
in this economic environment "cash is king"

i personally like the Mazda

12/12/2008 11:25:38 PM