Ok, so I am in a serious dilema here. My dad just offered me his 2004 VW Touareg V8, fully loaded with 50k miles, the car is in great shape, he said he would sell me the car for 20k $, it is worth 22k or so, I really really want an '05 WRX wagon and fix it up, but if I *HAD* to get an SUV it would be this car. AWD, V8, tiptronic, good room, and it's a nice looking car. I could buy a wagon for around 13-17. The problem is that the VW gets bad gas milage and is probably going to be experiencing the eingine problems now if any, the Subaru is good for a lot of miles, the VW obviously will be a LOT more to fix. what should I do? I really need input.
j

 

For what it's worth. I sell Suby's... the #1 car dumped at trade in is by far the VW's by a LARGE margin. Resale sucks as well. Get the WRX. Great resale WAY more fun, and the money you save on gas (you do the math) you can spend on mods. Last point (I promise). Find an '06 used. The 2.5 engine, upgraded brakes and 17" wheels and tires make it one hell of a better machine then the '05 WRX (despite the 'pig nose'!).

Now the STI on the other hand ~ jump ALL over the '05. I have sold 2 used '05's (both with under 8K on the clock) for $32K, Can you say RESALE!

 

Yea i would go with the subaru wagon. I think those cars are so clean looking with rims and dropped alil bit. But the good thing is it is all about your opinion b.c they both have really good qualities
sube yes or vw yes??? that is the question

 

Do you want something that will be economical and fun to drive or do you want something that will be expensive to operate and less fun to drive?

The heavier vehicle is going to require more brake jobs and more expensive tires. Check insurance, too.

 

Talk about the tortise and the hare... except the tortise will break down a dozen times before the finish line.

 

I personally like the VW product. We bought my girlfriend a GTI a while back and we both love it. I have driven many other VWs in the past (including the Toureg) and I believe they're great cars with the exception of the bottom line Golfs and Jettas. Anyway, it sounds like the WRX is much more of a practical car for you and it sounds like you want the wagon more by judging your previous post. Like the others said, the reliability/maintence cost of the VW will be tremendous, the Subaru not likely. It really is like comparing the tortoise and the hare, the WRX would be my choice just based on the fun factor while still having the versatility of an SUV, it's the perfect compromise. Get an 06' wagon if you buy one.

 

Wow! Nice balanced opinion. There IS the allure of 'German Engineering', eh???

 

I agree, the German engineering is always a huge plus.

 

The VW should not even be a thought, THEY ARE JUNK!!!! There the worst cars I have ever worked on in my life. I wouldnt buy it if it was only 1000 bucks!!!

 

Having been under the hood in a Volkswagen Rabbit ('71), GTI ('91), Porsche 911 Carerra and turbo (89, 92, 94) and BWM 2002 and 320i ('86), I can say with some confidence that there is a lot of German magic in there, but they cut corners and improvise solutions just as bad as any other auto maker out there. Especially the damn 911s -- amazing cars, no doubt, but such a pain to work on and so many parts in them were set to almost impossible tolerances (or just plain bad solutions, like the oil cooler in the turbo models). I tore my Rabbit down to the bare frame and back again, even wired it for a US 12v/10 watt stereo system (those of you who have worked on one, respect!) and a few other things, and a lot of the time it was better to just fix a problem with pop rivets and duct tape rather than search for a part that won't fit when I finally get it...