Greetings, I have just initiated my appearance on this board with my first post. I have noticed a very long threat about 17-18 driving STI. For those who have read the conclusions of the post, the members expanded the topic with college and education.

This being said... I need a little advice here. If you currently attend college and acquiring expenses along the way, are you planning on buying the STI? In my case I have decided to purchase this vehicle this or the forthcoming year. I have a part time job and making little over 20k and a full time university student. After I finish my studies at the university I am planning on enrolling in a law school for another four years.

As many of you are in my position and understand the hardships and consequences of such decision such buying a 35k car in this instance, what are your opinions? Should I buy or not? I know there are many other factors in deriving a solid decision here, but any opinions to provide a logical guidance will be greatly appreciated. Thanx in advance... Tom

 

I am going for it. I am attending college also.

 

Reason being is i read some wheres on one of the threads that to truly afford the STi you need to make around 120,000/year. Although i believe this number to be a lil high, you need to think about all teh expenses that goes along with a car like the STi. The payments, insurance(which wont be cheap)for someone that is college age, gas(which is through the roof), etc. As much as i am for telling someone to go for it, make sure that u can truly afford it. I drove a 91 escort lx sedan when i was ats chool. The car is sweet, but the insurance will probably be a small fortune. How are your other expenses? I know alot of people who said that they would have to cut out there social expenditures like ski trips, going out with the guys for beers and pizza, etc to pay for the car. I gave up smoking and help free up some money so i could pay for my MY02 silver wrx sedan.

I beat the snot of u my escort when i was 18. I wasnt very responsible and the car payed the price. I next bought a chevy blazer, and then a 94 grand am gt, and now i have the rex. If someone who is18 or so wants to get a car with 300hp off the bat, just drive responsibly and i recogmend a performance driving school if there isone near you.

I wish u luck Tom. The STi is going to be one bad *** ride, however if u are going to strap ur self like i would have, get a rex for now and use money as u get it to mod it. good luck

chris

 

thanks alot dude...helps alot...yes indeed my folks will support me in purchasing this vehicle...I have been saving up and i will put down 20k of my money and the rest will be on my parents so I am planning on buying it right out. just about my age I am 20...thanx again

 

why not just wait till youre out of law school, then you can buy the hottest car out there for a couple months salary.

btw, im 22 and a few semesters form grad school, and Id really like one. But if i got it id be dissatisfied, because once i can actually afford to pay for it (in a few years) some better subie will be comming out.

 

the comment that you need to make 120,000 is stupid. The median income for the US is around 40,000. If I remember correctly, (I am a senior at University of Texas and an Economics major) the number of people that make over $100,000 is around 10%. Some people have incomes that are much much higher, but it is an exponential relationship, and as such, the number who make 140,000 is not a linear relationship compared to 120,000 and even 100,000. To state that only 10% of the population should buy a car that costs $32,000 is stupid. First, cars are usually financed over a 3 to 4 year period. After this time, you will usually have a trade in value of approximatly 50%-65% of the original value of the MSRP with the exception of most options which do not add value to the car and really just end up costing you money. There is also the amount of money you have in a trade in as well as the financing arangement that you determine. Some people like to put more money down to reduce their monthly payment, while others feel they opportuninty cost of making such a large downpayment could be better applied in investments whose rate of return exceeds the interest rates the dealer will charge you for the financing. In conclusion a person who wants a large investment in a car instead of a more common decision to buy a house, or get married at a young age, or even have children shoudl be able to make that decision without too much hesitation as lond as he has a responsible financial plan.

 

#1. General rule of thumb is don't buy a car you either can't work on yourself, or can't afford to have worked on. This being a new car you don't really need to worry about that for a few years. This is for the people that buy $30K used Corvettes on their $25k income and cry when it needs the plugs changed and the dealer wants $300 and they scrape by to make the payments as it is.(I don't know that for a fact but you get the drift.)

#2. The bit about about how much you make vs. how much you should spend on a car first off most of us have agreed is bogus, and second off shouldn't apply to the price of the car but to how much of a loan you take out. In your case your putting down $20k so the loan is only around $14k give or take. Not to bad, same as buying an early RS with nothing down.

#3 If you can personally afford it is a question that only you can answer. You have to take into account all the things you want to do and have to pay for and decide. Don't forget about the all important insurance.

#4 Don't let other people's opinions sway you too much, after all they are just opinions, same as mine. Take them for what they are and do what you feel is best.

Good Luck,
Keith

 

In addition to being able to afford the STI, it is also very important for STI owners to be skilled drivers.

Assuming that you will be making proper use of the STI by participating in activities such as Track Days, Rally or Autocross, I would only recommend this car to you if you feel you are in the top percentile of the population in terms of driving skill. An AWD car with limited slip in all three locations can let go suddenly when the limit is reached. I had the opportunity to drive an EVO VI a few years ago. The car was incredibly good. It was also incredibly wicked if you drove it like a fool.

I know what you're thinking: "Does this car really bite back, or is he just trying to scare me?" Well, to tell you the truth in all this excitement about the car's arrival, I've kinda lost track myself. But, being this is a WRX STI, the most powerful rally-replica ever sold in the U.S, and would blow your mind clean off, you've got to ask yourself one question: "Do I feel worthy?"

Well, do ya punk?

 

I put half down on my 03 wrx monthly payments run me 210... with my new life insurance policy I pay less then 1100 a year for State Farm Car Insurance. Full coverage 500 deduct for everything... My 3.0 GPA makes my insurance cheap... I'm a full time college student working part-time doing snowblower work, and lawn care @ 15 an hour...

I don't know if I'd sell my WRX and put most of it down on the sti, but it seems feasible... my insurance can't increase by a whole lot more

 

thank you for all the feedback it is greatly appreciated...agent 2.8 thats some funny **** hehehe...