Good morning! Working till 5 today.

 

This isn't about me.

 

Good morning folks!

 

working from my bedroom

 

I'm afraid I can't do that, Dave.

 

needs more interweb points

 

Good morning. Working until 12:30p.

So I've been shopping for a new (to me, preferably used) car lately.
However I've been hitting a wall on what to get.
Essentially I need a wagon/hatch vehicle that can last a while and be enjoyable to drive as I'll be doing a great deal of traveling for work.
I would like something with manual and turbo, but it seems the turbo option undermines longevity.
I was looking at Forester XT, Legacy Wagon GT and Outback XT. But maybe I will have to go with N/A because I keep ready negative stories of turbo issues.

 

Every car is going to have its issues you are going to get skewed statistics on turbos since every person that is probably giving their opinion beats their car like it was their wife in the 1950s. It's not difficult to find bugeyes that have a bunch of miles on them, GDs are getting there too.

Get a BMW 135i since it'll be in the same ball park as the other cars plus Inna will love it!

 

+1 on the 135i

 

I understand that some opinions seem skewed, but I do see and hear of more issues (turbo, headgasket, oil consumption, etc) on the earlier EJ25 than say the 20 (turbo) or the 22. Is this accurate?

Due to my budget, I'm looking in the 2002-2005 year range. Essentially trying not to go above $10k.

 

Since I never regularly drove a turbo'd Subaru I can't speak on the motors in that regard. However in the conversations that I have had, the 22 seems to have been the best motor that Subaru put together compared to the rest.

The RS 25 was known for needing headgaskets or would develop rod knock post 100k.

 

you want a fun reliable car with low miles and well kept, and you want to spend very little money for it. those goals are optimistic. not impossible, but optimistic.

if taken care of properly, a turbo car will require just slightly more maint due to the added complexity and wear, but will not be anywhere near as you describe. the key here is "taken care of properly".

I'd gladly buy a high mileage well maintained ej over a low mileage abused ej
I've wrenched on and tuned 15k mile EJ's that were almost toast, and yet other's with 150-200k miles that were still chugging along like champs.

The words you're looking for are "maintained" and "unmolested".

 

Dave I'll recommend the same car I did to Jen.... Outback with the 3.0 H6. If you want better handling upgrade to the LGT suspension.

 

Parents are selling a mint '09 OB H6 with low miles for around 15k but I think that's more than you want to spend.
I'll second the H6 over turbo. Secondhand LGT's and FXT's have higher than normal engine failure rates for a few reasons.

 

And another friend is selling a Paul-maintained '07 NA EJ25 OB for more like 9.

Both are autos though - and that's the main problem with an H6 - no 5/6MT without a swap.