What To Do - Impreza vs. Legacy Discussion

[99SUS SFD]

So basically I've been looking at replacing my SUS. I have no real pressing reasons to get rid of it, but I feel like it's a ticking time bomb for an influx of cash. It's 10 years old, is just waiting to blow the head gaskets, the struts are squeaking, etc. I was initially looking for a 2.5 GT to replace it with, but I was also looking at Legacy 2.5i's. For kicks I looked up Impreza's last night, and found a 2007 2.5i that is about an hour north of me at a dealership.

I went and test drove the Impreza after work. It's in great shape, 1 owner, 36k miles, 5 speed, Special Edition, moon roof, 6 disc in dash, has the remainder of the 5 year/60,000 mile warranty, etc. It's clean, drove very well, shifted smooth, rode nice. When it came to talk turkey with the dealer, they only wanted to give me $3,000 for my SUS in trade. I thought that was a bit low. The price of the Impreza is $14,575. If I put $500 cash down with 60 months for payments I'd be looking at $245/month. Of course my insurance is going up by $60/month. They then offered me $225/month with $500 down and 66 months for payments. Ultimately tomorrow they're going to give me an idea of what my APR will be and the exact payments.

I can afford the payments but I'd like to get them down to as little as possible. So I'm trying to figure out if it's worth dropping the SUS now and getting into the Impreza. It'd be nice to have something still relatively new with low miles.

So what do I do? I don't HAVE to get rid of the SUS but it'd be nice to get something newer. Obviously picking up a payment sucks (especially when I don't have one now). Here are some pics of the Impreza:

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2009/08/19297A-1.jpg
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2009/08/19297A02-1.jpg
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2009/08/19297A03-1.jpg
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2009/08/19297A04-1.jpg
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2009/08/19297A05-1.jpg
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2009/08/19297A06-1.jpg
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2009/08/19297A07-1.jpg
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2009/08/19297A08-1.jpg
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2009/08/19297A11-1.jpg

[Mikey97D]

It's a nice car, but.......
Keep the SUS, put every month $300 (payment + insurance) in the bank until you have enough money to buy a car outright without a loan. Otherwise your paying interest on a depreciating asset. Another words, illogical. If you need to make a repair, take the money out of that account. Repair, not accessories.

I would really like to go get a new car right now too. But I really like owing nothing but my mortgage payment every month. It is a much better way to live.

-Mike

[kinkbmx4407]

personally i would do it. the 07 body style is my favorite in imprezas. and its a 5spd :)

[Reason]

Yea car loan payments and full insurance sucks!

[99SUS SFD]

Yeah I've got full insurance on my car now but the increase is a bummer. It'll go down next year and again the year after that (points off my license then turning 25).

Saving the monthly cash that I would spend on the payment is a good idea. But I know myself and if I have the extra cash I'm just gonna spend it. But if I know I have payments to make then I'll have to adjust my lifestyle. Hopefully not too much though.

[impreza_GC8]

IDK maybe we are just different people with different priorities but 14k will buy you a decent WRX or a swapped 2.5RS or even a very very clean original powerplant 2.5RS.

[Mikey97D]

It has the remainder of the 5 year warranty but is not a certified Subaru for the 100k? Somethings wrong there.

[Huffer]

I can afford the payments but I'd like to get them down to as little as possible.

So what do I do? I don't HAVE to get rid of the SUS but it'd be nice to get something newer. Obviously picking up a payment sucks (especially when I don't have one now).

Don't do it. Follow Mikey's advice. auto-debit the payments you would be making on a new/used car now into a savings account at a different back (or ING Direct) and watch the money pile grow.

[99SUS SFD]

IDK maybe we are just different people with different priorities but 14k will buy you a decent WRX or a swapped 2.5RS or even a very very clean original powerplant 2.5RS.

As much as I'd like to have a WRX I don't really need it. Yeah it'd be fun to toy around with but I'm trying to think logically. What should I spend my money on that would be the best all around car for me? I'll just get myself into trouble with a WRX.

[99SUS SFD]

It has the remainder of the 5 year warranty but is not a certified Subaru for the 100k? Somethings wrong there.

What do you mean by that? It's not at a Subaru dealership so maybe that's why it's not certified??

[Mikey97D]

It has the remainder of the 5 year warranty but is not a certified Subaru for the 100k? Somethings wrong there.

What do you mean by that? It's not at a Subaru dealership so maybe that's why it's not certified??
That would explain not having the extra warranty. If you bought that vehicle froma Subaru dealership, they would include a 100k warranty. Something you should seriously consider............other than saving your money. :lol:

[99SUS SFD]

Oh gotcha. I'm supposed to call them back this afternoon to see what the exact rate will be and payment. If I do anything else with it I'm going to tell them I need more for my trade.

[jey]

Those are awful deals. Let's do the math:

Impreza is $14,575
Trade in is $3,000
You pay: $11,575
But you are financing, so let's see what part goes to the car, what part to interest:
$245 * 60 + $500 down = $15200 over the course of the loan. That is $3625 interest.
$225 * 66 + $500 down = $15350 over the course of the loan. That is $3775 interest.

My friend, that is over 11, yes ELEVEN PERCENT INTEREST.


There is a 0% financing deal now with Subaru on 2009 models. Try this:
$17,495
Trade in is $3000
Down payment $500
Finance $13995, split over 60 payments: $233.25
Cheaper to buy a NEW IMPREZA.


My advice? Keep the SUS and open a savings account. Put $500 into it, and then $245 every month. By August of next year you will have $3440. That can pay for head gaskets or anything the car needs. Or if the head gaskets start to go, hobble it to the car dealer and trade it in - they will still offer you like $2500 for it, and now you also have some cash so your monthly payments will be way lower.

[Bdubs]

Your best bet...go to Nasioc and check the classified adds. So many people selling their cars on there, especially this gen. Impreza, and you can get one hell of a steal. Its an enthusiast site so you know you are buying a car which was at least taken care of, or you can always verify the history of the car with the previous owner. Can't always do that from a dealer.

Like stated above, save up some money, but it outright, or get a small bank loan with low interest, and do it that way if you want. Plenty of options out there for you, I think you can get something much better for your money honestly.

Edit: Here is an example, 11,500 for this same car (minus premium pkg) with only 2k miles more: http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/showthr ... ?t=1816055 (http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1816055)

[99SUS SFD]

I appreciate everyone's advice as a lot of it makes sense. Unfortunately I did the foolish thing and went through with the deal...picking it up Monday. I don't plan on going full term with the loan anyway so I went with the 66 month plan. That keeps my monthly payments low and I can throw more money at it to knock it down sooner.

[Huffer]

Where's Perdue when I need him...

[jey]

Congrats on the new car. I've always been a Legacy owner but since they dropped the Legacy wagon I've been a big fan of the newer Imprezas myself lately.

Good plan on the loan - but double-check whether additional payments on the loan all go to PRINCIPAL or if you're just making "early" payments. Most car loans suck in that you actually pay a penalty for not going full term on your loan!

[99SUS SFD]

Thanks jey. I'll check that out. I'm also going to consider getting a loan from the bank to pay off the car loan and see if I can get a better rate for the same term or less.

[peugoby]

Congrats! I was going to say if you do it you have to pull those 17" GT-B wheels off your SUS and put them on the Impreza! (hope you did that :lol: )

[99SUS SFD]

Haha yeah, pulled the wheels off last night. I'll throw them on the Impreza to see how they look, it might be a good idea to save the winter tires that are on it. Although my speedometer is gonna be off a bit...

[Huffer]

They'll look badass with the right profile tire, but only if the Impreza is lowered. But you can't do that, you'll mess up your warranty.

[99SUS SFD]

Yeah and I'm not sure if lowering is the right idea around here with the snow we get. I'll put them on just for shits and see how it looks.

[rougeben83]

The only reason I would buy a newer subaru for modification purposes, is if it has a turbo.

Please don't be one of those guys that rolls around in an RS with all sorts of WRX aftermarket bits on the outside...

If your car aint broke right now, I wouldn't bother taking on the extra costs of paying for a newer car.

[99SUS SFD]

Trust me, I want (ed) a turbo, but it just didn't make sense at the time.

I picked up the Impreza today and dropped off the Legacy. It was definitely kinda weird but I'm happy with the Impreza so far.

The only thing I have planned in the immediate future is stock fog lights and some tint at some point. That's it. Maybe a hood swap with a WRX if the right deal came through.

[1996Battlewagon]

The only thing I have planned in the immediate future is stock fog lights and some tint at some point. That's it.

Famous last words... :wink:

[99SUS SFD]

I know. Dammit...

But I haven't seen a lot of support for these. There's some, but not a ton. That may be my saving grace.

[rougeben83]

The only thing I have planned in the immediate future is stock fog lights and some tint at some point. That's it.

Famous last words... :wink:

Don't forget "Maybe a hood swap with a WRX if the right deal came through."

You know my deal with non-functional hoodscoops. Especially when one goes out of their way to get one on their car. :neutral:

[99SUS SFD]

I wouldn't necessarily go out of my way, just if someone with a WRX was looking for a swap.

So what if I want to improve my car's aesthetics. Pretty sure it's my car, no one elses.

[Huffer]

Oh no it's not. We're the internetz. We ownz u!

[99SUS SFD]

:lol:

[rougeben83]

I wouldn't necessarily go out of my way, just if someone with a WRX was looking for a swap.

So what if I want to improve my car's aesthetics. Pretty sure it's my car, no one elses.

I'm just saying, the only people that I've seen trying to make their RS look like a WRX are the kiddies that wished mommy sprung the extra cash to buy them a wrx instead of the car they got...

Next thing you know it, you'll find an sti guy that wants to trade his trunk with the big wing for your de-spoilered trunk, then you found a "good deal" on ebay for the rear window spoiler...it just goes on and on until you've become the very thing that people on internet forums make fun off... :smt002

[Mikey97D]

1999 SUS Limited 30th Anniversary Edition
JDM 17s, JDM projectors, some red LEDs, some white LEDs, a siren, JDM tails, tint, Stromung high flow cat, Stromung mid pipe, SPT axle back, Cosmo Racing intake, Paranoid Fabrications ground kit, and ScangaugeII.
I think you need to change your signature now. :lol:

Not sure about your logon, I think that is FUBAR now. :twisted:

[99SUS SFD]

I wouldn't necessarily go out of my way, just if someone with a WRX was looking for a swap.

So what if I want to improve my car's aesthetics. Pretty sure it's my car, no one elses.

I'm just saying, the only people that I've seen trying to make their RS look like a WRX are the kiddies that wished mommy sprung the extra cash to buy them a wrx instead of the car they got...

Next thing you know it, you'll find an sti guy that wants to trade his trunk with the big wing for your de-spoilered trunk, then you found a "good deal" on ebay for the rear window spoiler...it just goes on and on until you've become the very thing that people on internet forums make fun off... :smt002

Nah, I've got more sense than that. :smt023

[99SUS SFD]

1999 SUS Limited 30th Anniversary Edition
JDM 17s, JDM projectors, some red LEDs, some white LEDs, a siren, JDM tails, tint, Stromung high flow cat, Stromung mid pipe, SPT axle back, Cosmo Racing intake, Paranoid Fabrications ground kit, and ScangaugeII.
I think you need to change your signature now. :lol:

Not sure about your logon, I think that is FUBAR now. :twisted:

I suppose you're right...but the user name will stay the same. No point in changing it.

[Huffer]

Well, we know what you did, so I'm going to lock this up unless you have any objections. :)