Eldest child is starting to think about a new car. After suffering with an Acura MDX for the last few years she's desperate for something smaller with AWD and manual trans again.
Budget is realistically $4-6Kmax. Wagon or small SUV, AWD and manual non negotiable. All I can come up with in that price range is an Imprezza, Forister or Saabaru.
Magic snail of awesome on the side would be great, but they tend to be modded and get E36 M3ty mileage so NA may be a better bet.
So, when (if they have) did they fix the head gasket issues with the NA engine?
Cheers
NGTD
UltraDork
2/4/16 5:09 p.m.
They were better 05-and up, but not totally cured.
NGTD wrote:
They were better 05-and up, but not totally cured.
I was about to say, I don't think it is 100% resolved yet. We were in the market for gently used Foresters last summer and I ran in to plenty 2012ish Forester's on their second set of headgaskets around 100k
Yes, the correct answer is never. The mileage difference isn't nearly what you'd think, and the turbos (2.0 anyway) are more reliable.
More power, more reliability, similar mileage. Just get the turbo.
old_
Reader
2/4/16 6:25 p.m.
Never was fixed. If you want one just plan on replacing the gaskets at some point
The 2.2 is the only actual reliable screwabru engine, aside from oil leaks and being low on power the 2.2 is the best if you need awd.
What about a Suzuki sx4, I know they were available in stick but I don't know how hard they are to find.
nepa03focus wrote:
What about a Suzuki sx4, I know they were available in stick but I don't know how hard they are to find.
Pretty sure AWD was auto only 
Brian
MegaDork
2/4/16 7:07 p.m.
Nick (LUCAS) Comstock wrote:
nepa03focus wrote:
What about a Suzuki sx4, I know they were available in stick but I don't know how hard they are to find.
Pretty sure AWD was auto only
Nope, they had stick with AWD.
I found leg room to be lacking with a 32" inseam and now they are orphans with part supply issues. That is why I would pass on one.
nepa03focus wrote:
What about a Suzuki sx4, I know they were available in stick but I don't know how hard they are to find.
I wouldn't touch one unless you have a reliable ex-dealer nearby for parts. They are the Daewoo of the millenium.
I think they improved the head gaskets right around the time they started putting lousy piston rings in them.
Brian wrote:
Nick (LUCAS) Comstock wrote:
nepa03focus wrote:
What about a Suzuki sx4, I know they were available in stick but I don't know how hard they are to find.
Pretty sure AWD was auto only
Nope, they had stick with AWD.
I found leg room to be lacking with a 32" inseam and now they are orphans with part supply issues. That is why I would pass on one.
Really, I shopped them heavily back around 07' or so. I was very disappointed in the fact that I couldn't get AWD with a stick. I test drove a FWD one but decided to pass because I really wanted AWD but didn't want an auto. At least that's what I remember, but I have slept since then so...
Brian
MegaDork
2/4/16 7:38 p.m.
In reply to Nick (LUCAS) Comstock:
I think it was only on the taller "crossover" hatch. But by the end they did.
I test drove an AWD,stick Suzuki several years ago. It was OK, but under powered.
ddavidv wrote:
nepa03focus wrote:
What about a Suzuki sx4, I know they were available in stick but I don't know how hard they are to find.
I wouldn't touch one unless you have a reliable ex-dealer nearby for parts. They are the Daewoo of the millenium.
I don't know if I would say that. While Daewoo is ALL THE WAY gone, Suzuki still sells other stuff here. I bet you can get plenty of those parts still.
ddavidv wrote:
nepa03focus wrote:
What about a Suzuki sx4, I know they were available in stick but I don't know how hard they are to find.
I wouldn't touch one unless you have a reliable ex-dealer nearby for parts. They are the Daewoo of the millenium.
Oddly, we ahve one that rallycrosses locally with us. two full seasons and I'm not aware of them having any issues with the car (other than it getting spanked by all the subies).
Driven5 wrote:
Adrian_Thompson wrote:
Budget is realistically $4-6Kmax. Wagon or small SUV, AWD and manual non negotiable. All I can come up with in that price range is an Imprezza, Forister or Saabaru.
Caliber/Compass/Patriot
Don't recommend that layer of hell for his daughter. Sheesh, you don't even know the dude.
If you are game, just purchase a set of steel head gaskets that don't have a half-life of 80k miles and have her be on her merry way. Plus you don't have to run Subaru's garbage coolant conditioner.
Honda elements with AWD and stick do exist, and I think CRVs could be had that way for a few years too, but they are nearly unicorns.
The last generation of Suzuki Vitara could be had with 4WD and stick.
Volvo? The one below is a bit over budget, but I'm not sure what prices are in your area.
http://raleigh.craigslist.org/cto/5385211584.html
NGTD
UltraDork
2/4/16 11:09 p.m.
DirtyBird222 wrote:
Driven5 wrote:
Adrian_Thompson wrote:
Budget is realistically $4-6Kmax. Wagon or small SUV, AWD and manual non negotiable. All I can come up with in that price range is an Imprezza, Forister or Saabaru.
Caliber/Compass/Patriot
Don't recommend that layer of hell for his daughter. Sheesh, you don't even know the dude.
If you are game, just purchase a set of steel head gaskets that don't have a half-life of 80k miles and have her be on her merry way. Plus you don't have to run Subaru's garbage coolant conditioner.
Yes this. Fixed right they stay fixed.
DirtyBird222 wrote:
Driven5 wrote:
Adrian_Thompson wrote:
Budget is realistically $4-6Kmax. Wagon or small SUV, AWD and manual non negotiable. All I can come up with in that price range is an Imprezza, Forister or Saabaru.
Caliber/Compass/Patriot
Don't recommend that layer of hell for his daughter. Sheesh, you don't even know the dude.
The car not being its own layer of hell was never put forth as being a non-negotiable item...Muahahahaha!
Seriously though, even though my week behind the wheel of one was miserable, I do also know a couple of people who bought them and seem content enough with their purchase.
HappyAndy wrote:
Honda elements with AWD and stick do exist, and I think CRVs could be had that way for a few years too, but they are nearly unicorns.
The last generation of Suzuki Vitara could be had with 4WD and stick.
I've seen tons of crvs with 4wd and a stick. I've never seen an element with Awd and a stick.
Also is Awd/4wd absolutely mandatory? Our Prius on all weather tires does amazing in snow for half the year.
I can say with a fairly level of confidence that they hadn't figured it by 2005, at least not on well maintained cars with crazy high mileage (83k)...
Wow, thanks for all the replies guys. I'd never considered the SX4, I kind of forgot they existed in this country. My mother and Sister have had a series of Suzuki's in the UK and they tend to be awesome running wee beasties. I will mention it to the offspring. I was surprised to 47 AWD with Manual trans currently on offer on Cars.com. Most are beyond her potential budget, but they are out there.
The Volvo, great suggestion but the one posted is realistically going to be beyond her price range and it's also a sedan not a wagon/hatch so off limits. It would also be banned by me as I would be too jealous of the AWD. As most people here know I've got my beloved C30 I picked up new at the factory in 08 and still love it every day. It's just C30's are FWD only.
Someone mentioned Jeep patriot/compass things. Ugh. gas sucking piles of doo doo. Having said that once the Renegades drop from typical FIAT/Chrysler depreciation into pocket lint territory I'd be all over one of those for her or the youngest who is still a couple of years off driving.
So, keep the search to 05 plus Scoobies or get the magic snail of awesome and hope for the best.
