Is it a bad idea for me to buy this car?

[Diode Dynamics]

Try to find a clean 240sx

Considerably cheaper than an FR-S/BRZ

Parts are easy to come by, maintenance is cheap and easy...etc

I'd save for a house first before buying a new car (just IMO)

Nick C.

[funwheeldrive]

Originally Posted by Diode Dynamics

Try to find a clean 240sx

Considerably cheaper than an FR-S/BRZ

Parts are easy to come by, maintenance is cheap and easy...etc

I'd save for a house first before buying a new car (just IMO)

Nick C.

Or even a nice, well maintained s2000 since OP prefers Honda.

[irocz0r]

Originally Posted by funwheeldrive

Who told you that?

I think it's funny that you're spending money on parts for a car you don't have, that you really can't even afford in the first place. I think you need to step back and take a look at the big picture.

For the record, I can afford the car. My reason for mentioning my salary was in regards to cost of maintenance and repairs. Yes, the car is under warranty, and yes, hopefully I will be getting paid more in three years when the warranty expires, but for the time being, I am imagining things three years, post warranty expiration, down the road like getting oil leaks fixed, CELs checked out, and god forbid engine failure, on my current salary out of pocket.

And as for "who told me that", I've driven both cars. I've test driven three Civic Si's and four FR-S's. Granted, Civic Si is less fun to drive than the FR-S or even my Cobalt, it does have comparable straight line power to the FR-S, and has better clutch feel in my opinion. The clutch feel in the FR-S is worse (softer, less responsive) than both the Civic and my Cobalt.

All in all, the Civic is slightly less fun to drive than the FR-S, but is hardly dull. The FR-S wins in the cool category by a mile, but dependability is my number one concern.

So right now, I'm leaning towards canceling my order and getting a Civic.

But I'm still torn. Please convince me otherwise. When the FR-S was released, I thought "wow, it's like God made a car just for me". But reliability is a deal killer

[J_kennington]

Originally Posted by irocz0r

For the record, I can afford the car. My reason for mentioning my salary was in regards to cost of maintenance and repairs. Yes, the car is under warranty, and yes, hopefully I will be getting paid more in three years when the warranty expires, but for the time being, I am imagining things three years, post warranty expiration, down the road like getting oil leaks fixed, CELs checked out, and god forbid engine failure, on my current salary out of pocket.

And as for "who told me that", I've driven both cars. I've test driven three Civic Si's and four FR-S's. Granted, Civic Si is less fun to drive than the FR-S or even my Cobalt, it does have comparable straight line power to the FR-S, and has better clutch feel in my opinion. The clutch feel in the FR-S is worse (softer, less responsive) than both the Civic and my Cobalt.

All in all, the Civic is slightly less fun to drive than the FR-S, but is hardly dull. The FR-S wins in the cool category by a mile, but dependability is my number one concern.

So right now, I'm leaning towards canceling my order and getting a Civic.

But I'm still torn. Please convince me otherwise. When the FR-S was released, I thought "wow, it's like God made a car just for me". But reliability is a deal killer

Just call and cancel...if you can't understand the "problems" are few and specific cases, don't get it. I've had my frs for a year, going on 20k miles and not ONCE had a problem...none...zero. No tail lights, no idle tsb, no CEL, no fuel pump, nothing.

I heard you never even have to change the oil in need for speed games...

[irocz0r]

Originally Posted by Annahra

Keep in mind, if you don't mod your car and it blows up, you DO have a warranty. When my engine blew, the dealer put me in a loaner and they were set to replace it at no cost/hassle to me (other than driving a Forester for a few weeks *shiver*).

What year is your car and how many miles were on it when it blew? Do you know why it happened? I noticed you weren't even on the list of blown motors in the thread I linked, chalk up another one :p

Believe me guys, I don't want a ho-hum Civic, I want my baby. I just have got myself all worked up and need to be convinced to calm my nerves.

[driftguy]

I've not heard of anyone ever claiming Toyota or Subaru to be historically unreliable, in fact I've heard nothing but the opposite. If your concern is the long run (8+ years) you're really just looking in a crystal ball anyway, regadless of which car you go with. The twins are brand new, and like a few have stated already, just needed the bugs taken out. You're looking at the 3rd model year (2015) and still concerned with reliablity? Buy whichever one you like more, I think reliability is a moot point between Honda/Toyota/Subaru.

[SubieNubie]

Originally Posted by irocz0r

What year is your car and how many miles were on it when it blew? Do you know why it happened? I noticed you weren't even on the list of blown motors in the thread I linked, chalk up another one :p

Believe me guys, I don't want a ho-hum Civic, I want my baby. I just have got myself all worked up and need to be convinced to calm my nerves.

If thats what you want, buy it. You'll regret it if you don't. I have 0 regets from trading in my Si.

[Annahra]

Originally Posted by irocz0r

What year is your car and how many miles were on it when it blew? Do you know why it happened? I noticed you weren't even on the list of blown motors in the thread I linked, chalk up another one :p

Believe me guys, I don't want a ho-hum Civic, I want my baby. I just have got myself all worked up and need to be convinced to calm my nerves.

There's a thread around here somewhere specific to my car, and I've posted on most of the others. My car was one of the first production models, serial #00254, had 36K mi. and a previous minor front end collision, and it blew a head gasket. It was 100% stock. Subaru covered it completely and after doing some research I ended up trading it in for another BRZ. SOA gave me a free extended warranty on the new one when I told them I didn't want the potential hassle of a dealer-rebuilt engine. The important thing here is my engine actually DID blow and I still felt confident in buying another one.

However, in your case, this platform is too new to know how it will hold up after warranty. If you really must have a bulletproof car, go with something more tried and true imo.

[billwot]

You can buy a low mileage (< 12K) FRS in the high teens. IMO, kinda hard to justify $27K for a new one.

I bought a local used '13 with 9500 miles for $20,000. I'm sure I could have done a little better if I would have expanded my search to maybe 200 miles.

JMHO

[LXXXV1]

Originally Posted by Diode Dynamics

Try to find a clean 240sx

I'd save for a house first before buying a new car (just IMO)

Nick C.

Diode Dynamics...you guys keep earning my respect, keep up the good work! Our youth needs to pay attention to the wallet breaking events coming around our 30's. I don't know many parents who are willing to pay for their daughters weddings anymore, that plus a down payment on a house, a car, and a engagement ring all usually happen around that age...I digress...

But I'd like to give the OP the benefit of the doubt here. Anyone at 40k with no college debt should easily be able to afford this car...especially when the guys 25 and has already saved up this much in cash. He knows how to save if he wanted.

Also, OP I'm in a very similar situation then you, although I make more, I'm 25 with $30k in school loans, and I live on my own. Don't let the pessismists shoot you down. You are in charge of your own money. I also came from the Honda game, coming from a 2001 Civic LX to a 2001 Honda Prelude SH, which was pushing 181k miles when she sold. I miss my Prelude, but I love the FR-S more. In terms of reliablity, there's no guarantee for any new car out there. The FR-S is only going in to it's 3rd year. The Civic has been around longer, but a each new generation will have it's own new issues. Both Toyota and Honda have a very reliable background so either way, I think you'll be in good hands. Although after reading some of your posts, you do seem to go pretty hard on your cars...

[MVJ1975]

I've had my FR-S for two years. My car was built in the first month of production, so it's had all the little annoying issues; rear deck popping, condensation in both tail-lights, and it even threw a CEL at me.

It's never left me stranded. Yes, it was in limp mode when it had the CEL, but it got to the dealer under its own power and the dealer had me in a loaner Corolla almost immediately. The worst part about the whole experience was that I had to drive a Corolla for a few days.

The new cars; heck, most of those things are fixed.

You'll be fine.

[kinda5150]

not sure if anyone posted it (yes i read them all but i'm adhd), but if you're that worried, just get the ext warranty. not sure how many yrs it is, but it's 100k miles. the standard powertrain warranty is good for 60k miles, so not sure what the concern is, at least not for anything major. good luck w/your decision.

[Rocket.BRZ]

I would go ahead and write a long suggestion but one thing I wanted to point out is that even if some people had major problems with their car they are a low percentage of the people that buy this car. On a forum, one person with a problems seems bigger than it actually is.

[Mooseknuckle44]

I'm confused? Where do you keep looking for all this negative info on the twins? I haven't had any mechanical issues out of my car at all. I drive her somewhere between spirited and raped. Not everyday mind you, my DD is a 2000 Maxima. The ONLY problem l have is the chirps but that doesn't effect the cars performance or reliability at all. Hell now l've gotta try to find all this negative press l've read about in this thread.


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