I am the original owner of a '98 Outback Wagon, 5 spd., 92,200 mi. It's in great shape and has never gone much more than 3k mi between oil changes. The only "mod" is a K&N panel filter.

Although there is absolutely nothing wrong with this car, after nearly 5 1/2 years of ownership, I'm getting tired of it in its present form. I want more power, improved handling, and a better stereo. Further, the finish on the alloy wheels is starting to deteriorate.

What should I do? Should I start doing major modifications (e.g., full aftermarket exhaust, etc.)? Or should I just keep up basic maintenance, save my money, and in a couple of years trade it toward a new WRX? Or should I keep the OB for daily transportation and buy a used Legacy or Impreza sedan and start heavily moding whatever sedan I buy?

 

dude, trade that sucker in for a WRX TODAY!!!

why wait for tomorrow, when you can have the adrenaline and the glory today. lol.

but seriously, interest rates are probably the lowest you will ever see them in your lifetime.

Either 0 percent or close to it on almost every car on the market. You can't beat getting a car for nothing extra.

I'd highly advise you to get a car as soon as possible and capitalize on the low interest rates.

 

You are right. Interest rates now are extremely favorable. However, the other side of the equation is that used car prices are depressed (low interest rates on new cars have drawn buyers away from that market). I know. My wife bought an '03 H-6 in March. The offers we received for her trade were next to nothing.

My Yankee frugalness won't let me sell my clean, mechanically excellent OB for a low ball price. Plus my only debt is my home mortgage (the loan on the H-6 is in my wife's name :-) ). I can't bear the thought of a $15k-$20k loan (after trade and/or downpayment) for a new car.

So I perceive three options: (1) tolerate the OB in existing form for a couple more years until I can pay cash for a new or little used WRX; (2) heavily mod the OB; (3) buy a used, several years old Impreza or Legacy sedan (at current depressed prices) and start moding that (turbo, ect. If I break something in the process, I'll have the OB to get me around).

 

Option 1 is the least exciting way to go, but being able to pay cash for a new car...well, it's extremely liberating. I waited for a year and a half, socked money away and was able to pay it all off. I was driving a mechanically sound Ford SHO at the time and was looking at:
1) WRX (which I eventually bought)
2) Nissan Maxima (the 220 HP version)
3) Dodge Intrepid R/T
4) Grand Prix GTP
I had the car bug in a real bad way, but I waited and, like you, the only albatross around my neck is my house. It's the least exciting of the options, but no monthly check going out to the bank...priceless!
Doug

 

Mod it!

I just bought a '98 Outback Sport. I paid $8600 for it at the dealer, but I think I got a fair deal. It has 56k miles on the clock. Only options are the digital guage pack, keyless entry, and upgraded security.

I am now actively looking into forced induction - that would be fun! Imagine the look on the Honda owner's face when you toast him in an Outback! Come one, it couldn't get any better!

BTW, my '91 Civic Si is now for sale ...