With a new sales job it would help to have a newer/lower mileage car so I have money down on a '22 Toyota Taco Manual trans. I do get a small car allowance and it would hit all the reliability buttons plus it being a truck it would be handy to have around the house and with the wife and her home remodeling projects. Current ride is a '16 Chevrolet Silverado X 135,000 miles.
The downside on that new Taco is the price plus tax and fees is going to bump to $42,000 requiring me to borrow $20-$24,000? That itself is not something I care to do even if I can flip the truck if I had an issue or my job went away.
The '17 WRX STi looks to be cared for and he said he already had the dealer do the 50,000-mile service (whatever that is). One owner car that has new tires and wasn't always driven in Chicago winters. He is offering it to me for KBB dealer trade - right in the middle of numbers. Apparently, all the dealers have offered him a few thou under KBB.
What am I going to hate about having a 5-year-old WRX with 50,000 miles on it?
How much is the WRX?
I would stick with the Toyota. You need something that is as reliable as gravity because of work.
A 50K WRX seems to me that the original owner got the best most reliable miles out of it and is moving on before it causes them issues.
(All of this is from someone that only hears what the internet says about the WRX)
Duke
MegaDork
6/6/22 2:46 p.m.
Also, Subarus are not well regarded for fuel economy, if that matters to you.
Duke said:
Also, Subarus are not well regarded for fuel economy, if that matters to you.
Taco is 17-22mpg, Silverado is 15-18mpg. Wailing through my manual 5-speed, 2.4 engine Honda Accord netted me a solid 27mpg.
WRX is $26,000 - maybe I can cover all this without a loan?
WRX and sales job seems like a bad combo to me too.
EPA rating of 17/19/23 AND PREMIUM FUEL for WRX = $4,250 in fuel for 15k miles of driving
Tacoma = 17/18/21 so just as bad mpg but regular gas. = $3,850 in fuel for 15k miles of driving
2022 Prius or Corolla Hybrid 54/52/50 = $1,350 in fuel for 15k miles of driving
$4.62 regular and $5.40 premium are what the site fueleconomy.gov returned with their "compare" function.
The Prius is $2,900 cheaper than the WRX to drive for 15k miles. If you drive 30k miles a year it's $5,800 cheaper PRE YEAR or $483 cheaper per month! Like monthly car payment cheaper!
Buy a used Prius and then buy the WRX too but DD the Prius and race the WRX. You could have these both for still less than $40k
If Prius ain't your style....
Pay a premium to get a Ford Maverick Hybrid because you'll still be saving more than the dealer mark-up.
42/37/33 on regular = $1,850 per year in fuel or $2,400 less than WRX (and $4,800 at 30k miles)
Chevy Volt or Tesla Model 3 could be real options too.
No on the WRX and even more no on the Taco. I'll echo looking at a Maverick or even a Sante Fe if you need a trucklet.
In reply to Datsun310Guy :
17mpg and dismal comfort. If you're okay with that gas mileage, get something way nicer and more fun to drive. If you're okay with that lack of comfort and features at least get good mileage.
Is it an option to keep driving the Accord (27mpg)? Because, "the vehicle you already have" is often the cheapest option.
In reply to John Welsh :
The '16 Silverado replaced the '11 Accord. It's time to change - I'll be hitting the road a lot.
Mileage is more 25-35,000.
$26k is an awesome price for a low miles STI.
i do agree that it does not sound like it is the car you want, in the "meets certain parameters" sense.
We just picked up a '15 Fit for $9800. At a dealership. These are anvil reliable cars that just need occasional oil changes and fuel. And they have mad cupholders and have more cargo capacity than some SUVs twice their size.
If you are living in the car 3000mi/month then things like cupholder skill (6 in the front of the '15, 4 accessible to the driver without reaching) and fuel economy on the cheap swill become more important.
What about something like an Avalon or Camry Hybrid?
In reply to Pete. (l33t FS) :
Agree 100%, with the caveat be weary of the 2013(and maybe early 2014) cars that had some teething problems when manufacturing was moved to Mexico.
We're on our 5th Fit in the family, and I'm really sad Honda chose not to bring the latest generation to the US. They basically fill the role of the EG Civic, with a little more height & without nearly as much "tuner" culture.
"Yeah sorry Mr. Customer, can't come see you today, just shelled the rods out on my WRX" "Oh my competitor is here with his new F150?" Tell him I say "Hi""
Nothing says "I charge too much for what I sell" than showing up with a sports or sportly car to make sales. Thats why I got an F150 XLT. Still nicely optioned, 20.4 MPG on regular with the 3.5 Ecoboost, very very comfy, reliable, and can be fixed in every 2 bit E36 M3hole town if needed. Plus when the parking lot is all F150s during your customer calls, you are in good company.
You know what the right thing is already. Keep the Silverado. 135 is low miles. If it has AFM then turn it off. If rust doesn't kill it, it will run forever on low grade gasoline. If it does break then just fix it - it's a Chevy. Plus, the insurance has to be substantially lower than anything new. If you need your car to earn a living then Silverado X 1000.
