Poll: what car to get next?

[frapjap]

My stupid Subaru is costing too much per year in repairs, so its time to get out from under it, albeit, a bit earlier than I really wanted/planned to.

The next car is just going to be an econobox, but I am not really willing to torture my soul consider a Corolla or Camry.
The amount of money I'm willing to spend on a lease monthly is $200-250. Ideally I'd like to put nothing down, but could lay out $1,500. Looking for 24-36/mo with 12k miles per year.
This obviously limits the options, but in case I'm missing something, I wanted to ask you guys if I'm forgetting a decent car.

So far, I'm interested in a base Impreza or a Chevy Cruze. I really like the Cruze and its become my go-to rental car if the rest of the lot is uninteresting. It isn't a super fast car, but the handling is very good and the geared automatic transmission is impressive.
However, the Impreza fits more of my utilitarian needs considering we have a real winter here in NH, and the fact that I ski and end up driving on unplowed roads fairly often. AWD is pretty nice to have in a pinch. I also have a set of snow tires that fit this car ready to go.

Both options can be had for 200/mo, 0 down, with 36k miles over 3 years.

Whats your vote? Anything else out there that I've forgotten?

[RicerX]

As far as Subaru vs Chevy, Subaru all day.

As for alternatives...

Not a Juke fan? You should be able to hit a lease on the Nismo trim for that ballpark figure. They're swimming in them and it shouldn't be hard to work them on a deal - you could keep a manual transmission too.

ALSO - you should seriously look into a Mazda3. The new ones are absolutely fantastic. I know they have lease deals going on the 6s too. Both can be had with three pedals if you'd prefer that, but both have excellent 6-speed automatics too. I think the new Imprezas are CVTs now.

[frapjap]

Thanks!

I forgot all about the 3! Thank you. I haven't driven one of those for a few model years, will have to stop by their dealership.

Surprisingly, the Impreza still comes with a standard transmission at the base model. However, their CVT is pretty decent. Leaps and bounds better than Nissan.

The Juke is that cheap?
Riding in Torry's, there wasn't a ton of room in the trunk/cabin for skis. Might have to revisit cargo numbers to see if its comparable to the Impreza.

[OriginalWheelman]

Mazda3

[BusyBadger]

Despite its quirkiness, or maybe because of it, Holli & I both love our Juke. We opted for a maxed out SL version, as far as I can tell the only typically available option in most Nissans that is missing from an SL trim Juke is the Homelink mirror. Ours is a 2013 so the Homelink mirror may have been added, at least as an option, to the newer model years.

No kids here so the back seats usually stay folded down to maximize the cargo space, and only when we were replacing a couple of deckboards was space really an issue. I'm not sure they would have fit well in the Xterra either though. The front seats do have a huge concave back so there's a reasonable amount of legroom for the occasional backseat passengers despite the Juke's CUV footprint. I do recommend setting aside some cash to replace the OEM Goodyear F1 tires that leave a lot to be desired. Our biggest expense so far has been the set of Continental DWS 06 tires to replace the questionable Goodyears. Despite the OEM rubber it was a trooper last winter, navigating Appalachia with aplomb with its AWD...which leads to the CVT. We've not had any problems with it so far (searching for wood to knock on) and it's close to the 30K mile mark. It's time for a CVT fluid change which, next to the new tires, will be the biggest expense so far.

Overall it's peppy enough in traffic to not leave you feeling like you're poking along and combined with the AWD you can dig from a stoplight if you need to get ahead for a lane change or just pull around slower traffic. With sport mode engaged the transmission holds the rpms longer before "shifting" but the real gem is how it tightens up the steering feel. It's what I typically run the vehicle in unless I'm creeping through slow traffic or a parking lot where the higher revs can make the throttle a little touchy. There's an eco mode as well, it's ok to use as a diversion on long trips but I've never really noticed much of a difference in the overall fuel economy between normal and eco mode. Sport mode can have an impact, especially if you're running with AWD engaged, but it's a blast in the snow!

The biggest complaint that the two of us have with the Juke is the limited cruising range, I guess the Z has spoiled us. In the Z I can get off the interstate, fill up and get back on I can run for 400 miles +/- before filling up again. The Juke with its smaller tank has a cruising range of somewhere around 280 miles. Other than that it's been a great vehicle for us.

Of course, in a perfect world instead of a Juke and Z in the garage there would be a Macan and a Cayman...but we're working towards that.

[PapaSmurf2k3]

The only subies I've ever driven/ridden in and liked are WRXs, and an older Legacy GT.
I agree with you, the Cruze is way more fun than it really should be. Its flying under the radar quite a bit, but the interior does feel cheap.
Definitely check out the 3's pricing.

I'd say wait until there's some snow on the ground, and go try out a Cruze to see how well it does. You'd be surprised what some pizza-cutter thin all season tires can do in the snow.

[BusyBadger]

You'd be surprised what some pizza-cutter thin all season tires can do in the snow.

As far north as Ray is I'd skip all seasons for snow purposes and go straight for one of the winter performance tires offered by Bridgestone or Michelin.

[OriginalWheelman]

You want skinny tires in snow for the same reason you want wide tires in sand. Flotation.

[PapaSmurf2k3]

Not really. Wide tires = floatation. Skinny tires cut through the s*** and grab the grippy pavement below.
Works great until the snow is so deep that you wouldn't be able to get to the pavement. Then tracks rule supreme

[frapjap]

My snow tires are actually wider than my all season tires...
::Shrug:: works for me.

[PapaSmurf2k3]

Well, you have a different compound and tread pattern at that point.

Apples to apples, skinny tires are better in the snow.
But don't take my word for it:

[OriginalWheelman]

Not really. Wide tires = floatation. Skinny tires cut through the s*** and grab the grippy pavement below.
Works great until the snow is so deep that you wouldn't be able to get to the pavement. Then tracks rule supreme

That's the point. You want to float on sand, not cut through it. You want to cut through snow, not float on it. Same coin, opposite side. Flotation is the reason, you just don't want it in snow.

[PapaSmurf2k3]

AH! I see what you're saying.

Still... tracks

[OriginalWheelman]

All the mudders laughed at me back in Buffalo because I took my 33x12.5s off for 30x10.5s for the winter. Until I started pulling them out of ditches. Once, I was driving my Hardbody, following my old Pathfinder (owned by a friend) through 4 feet of unplowed snow. We were doing 30mph. He was heavier so he plowed and I threw the snow out. Cars were following in our tracks with their tires on the pavement. An impatient Impala tried to pass us in the unplowed lane and got stuck.We would overtake cars as we came up on them and they were falling into the line behind us. Eventually we looked like a train going down US 20.

[nissangirl74]

Mazda Speed 3 is pretty badass. You can lay the seats down and fit a LOT of cool stuff in the back. I'm not sure if Mazda is as generous with rebates / deals on the Speed3 as they are the regular version but both are really fun. Time for test drives! Out of the two you listed in the poll, I chose the subie. I'm not a fan of Chevrolet unless it's a Vette, a Cadillac, or a full size truck.

[MinisterofDOOM]

This is the single most depressing next car poll I've ever seen.

[frapjap]

This is the single most depressing next car poll I've ever seen.

I know, its not particularly exciting to pick a DD.
At least Corolla isn't on the list.

[PapaSmurf2k3]

IT IS NOW!!!
[/adminpowerzzz]

[frapjap]

Well, that changes everything.

[Bubba1]

Ray, I'm currently using my son's corolla as my DD. I really don't mind it. yes, it's got no zip at all, and regretfully it's an automatic. But call me crazy, I like getting low to mid 30's for gas mileage with insanely good reliability, real back seats + decent sized trunk, a strong heater/ac and no silly hybrid nonsense. It also handles well enough to have fun. I certainly wouldn't want one as my only car, but as a nearly invisible commuter, it's a pretty good choice.

If you are concerned about people bashing you about owning a...(gasp)... Corolla, you might look at an old Acura TSX, 2008 or older. That's prior to the ugly front end. It's essentially a gussied up Civic, and surprisingly comfortable. We've used my wife's TSX on many road trips. They're plentiful, inexpensive, and despite being wrong wheel drive, are fun to drive.

[float_6969]

I voted subie. The AWD in the snow is hard to beat. That being said, I've been running Bizzaks on FWD cars for DD for the last 10 years and I've never been stuck. I do run narrower than stock width in the snow tires.

[numbnuts240]

IT IS NOW!!!
[/adminpowerzzz]

voted

[Bubba1]

Another thought as your situation reminds me of me when I was younger. You're both settling down, bought a house, live in an area that gets snow, and you have a fun car, and I presume your better half has has a car DD. Instead of another car for a DD, why not seek a reasonably fuel efficient larger wagon/SUV? (maybe bigger than a Subie and not full-time AWD). I used an old 4 Runner as a DD for 17 yrs and logged a quarter million reliable miles on it which included many blizzards, easily averaged over 20 mpg. It was a part time 4WD (and I almost never engaged 4WD) and I filled that sucker to the brim with stuff and people regularly. I'm not suggesting buying a 17 yr old 4 runner, but perhaps vehicle that can do things that your other vehicles can't.

[Jong-Bon Rhee]

Subaru!

[MinisterofDOOM]

Modern Subaru is thoroughly soulless. They've traded their quirk for Accord-appeal, and traded their driving dynamics for leather seats. The Legacy, in particular, is baffling to me--but the brand as a whole is clearly completely lost, and desperately grasping at straws in order to find something resembling a niche. Problem is: trying to appeal to everyone is exactly the opposite of niche. Aside from AWD, Subaru no longer does anything any differently than the rest. You could argue that their flat-fours set them apart, too--except that now they're glued to CVTs that undermine most of their dynamic benefits.

They're also universally hideous, strangely packaged, and just generally don't feel well-designed.

Subaru was never my personal style, but at least Subaru of the past had its uniqueness. I could see why people wanted a Legacy or a WRX. Now, though? I don't get it. At all.

[Kompresshun]

^What MoD said...

Mazda3 dude. Seriously. If I need a good, simple no nonsense commuter it would be at the top of the list. Spring for the MS3 if you want, but I think the plain old 3 is pretty excellent on it's own.

I will admit that I got in my sister-in-laws Mini Cooper today and really liked it a lot. Not saying that I recommend one(because I even told her not to buy one), but still a very interesting car none the less.

[frapjap]

Thank you guys for all of the suggestions and personal anecdotes. The Legacy breaking often and costing too much money on top of the monthly lien are what led to this decision. This past year it cost 2k in repairs + monthly payments. I just paid off my credit cards and really want to streamline expenses and minimize surprises while we save for our wedding and honey moon. Having a predictable payment without additional (potential) surprise expenses help that happen. I ended up leasing a base model Impreza. Hard to beat for a capable daily driver in the land of the ice and snow (and rust) for the minimal cost (~$219/mo).

However, I'm really surprised with what a 'base model' comes with, considering I didn't even sit in the car before negotiating pricing against the Mazda 3 and Cruze. The Cruze and 3 were more expensive by $50-$70, given the lower payment and added utility, the Subaru made sense. Thankfully it doesn't have a CVT. However, it does come with a light clutch, steering wheel controls, a touch screen infotainment thing that I haven't taken time to figure out (analog guy, here), hands free blue tooth, cruise, and a bajillion air bags.
Its nothing too special but will be suitable for winter time and daily commuting on days that the rain doesn't agree with my convertible.

Given that I've only driven ~8 miles so far, I don't have many driving impressions aside from the new 2.0l engine being very peppy with a lick of torque, a good bit of body lean in the suspension, but otherwise seems competent and confident. It feels and drivers bigger than my '07 Legacy (probably because it is), but that space is welcome. They made an interesting architecture design- the roof itself is short and small, but the class has gradual slopes, leaving you with a good bit of interior space and a large green house- even in the rear. I also like the front quarters of the side windows because they're easy to see through when most manufacturers just build in an obtrusive plastic triangle there behind the side mirrors. The engine bay looks easy to service, but I look forwards to not having to do a damn thing to this car, more time for the t/a.

[float_6969]

Congrats! Pics?

[Jesda]

Subaru is dead to me. For a long time, they made fun reliable cars.

Then they made fun not-so-reliable cars.

Now they make slop for slobs.

If you buy a Cruze, make it an Eco. It's lighter and comes with a mandatory stick shift. It's actually more fun to drive than the regular Cruze.
I'm surprised by how many of my car buddies have Cruzes to complement their Corvettes, F-bodies, etc. It's an adequate if not at all special car.

The Corolla is fine if you avoid comparing it to other cars in its class. It has doors, seats, and it goes places reliably. They're overpriced for how dated the engineering is.

Having said all that, a couple grand a year is nothing IMO. I poured thousands into my old Saab over 40,000 miles and thousands into various older Cadillacs. Of course, I made more money when I was doing this so I was liberated to follow my heart and set reason aside.

[frapjap]

If the folks at the Chevy dealers would have come closer to the pricing of the Subaru, I probably would've taken it for a few dollars more since I really liked the car a lot. The quotes for the Cruze were all over the place- two with 20 month leases (?) and high rates with 2k down, one with waaaaaay to high of a lease price and 1900 down (too much for a Cruze), and only one competitive/fair (comparably) quote that was still ~$60 more/month than the Subaru. Note that these were leftover 2015 models, too!! The 3 just has too high of a demand to lease out at a price that makes sense. The pricing on those nearly puts you into the pricing bracket of an Accord or highly optioned Civic.

I was pretty disappointed with the Chevy dealers. I would have opted to buy, but it doesn't make sense to finance a base model of the second lowest car in the models lineup only to have it depreciate like a mofo and be stuck with the thing.

Jesda- I feel you on putting money into something, but the Legacy had no love attachment to it. Its next repair was going to be a transmission or a center differential. That repair would have been more or just about as expensive as the value of the vehicle that I still owed on the lein. If it were a car that I loved, or if I owned it outright, the outcome probably would've been different.

Regarding the Impreza- its a cheap car that will winter better than anything else I priced it against.