Waiting a year for the 86. What would you recommend for the mean time?
 

Hi all, I've been lurking for a while but now I have a question. I've got a 98 Corolla that I'm sick of. I'm all but convinced that I want an FRS or a BRZ (I even got to sit in the one at the DC Auto Show) but I want to wait a year to let those first year kinks get worked out and to get further ahead in my student loans.

But for the mean time, I'm ditching the Corolla and I want to spend 8-10K on a replacement, something like the 86. Miatas are out, I don't quite fit (too tall) and I need trunk space. I was really set on an RX-8 for a while but the ones in that price range are all '04s with questionable engines and no factory warranty. I'm thinking about a Celica, but I haven't been to any dealerships yet so who knows. What else should I consider?

Other random facts: I want a manual, I have a short commute and drive roughly 1200 miles a month and it'd be my only car. I rarely have others in the car and I don't really care about speed/acceleration, as long as it's decent.

Thanks for any suggestions!

Can someone please explain to me this "I'm going to wait a year to let the kinks get worked out"? You know this car has been in development for YEARS already right? It is not in any companies interest to release a car with issues. Have you heard of any other toyota or subaru mainstream models that have had a serious issue in their first year of production?

So basically you are willing to sacrifice a year of being able to own the car you truly want because of the fear of having to take it in for maybe 1 day of warranty work to fix a rattle or get a ECU update?

It may have been in development for years but when it first goes on sale it will have been in production for weeks. They won't get it right on the first try and if they get it as wrong as they did with the RX-8 then I'd be looking at the entire engine failing and having to wait for a replacement to be shipped out and installed.

A used GSXR 600

I need something a little more practical for my only vehicle. Also, I need to be able to drive in the snow.

Get a 1988 Caddy Coupe DeVille. They're a beaut!

I would recommend/plug something like my XRS. They're cheaper then the Celica GT-S. The ZZE131 Corolla was only make for 2 years so they are harder to locate, Matrix XRS are usually easy to come by (I know the Corolla XRS only came with stick and I think the Matrix XRS is the same). The rear seats don't fold down in my Corolla because of the brace but I think it's got decent trunk space.

I was in the same deal a couple years ago. The RX-8 was really appealing, but you get someone that didn't know it had a wankle for an engine and it's a bit of a gamble. I thought maybe a AP1 S2000, but it might be the same bucket as the Miata for you.

I was shooting for something a lower though like a Mazda 3, base Acura RSX, lower trim Civic, Golf 2.0, Matrix XR, low milage Honda Fit. I ended up wandering around dealerships looking at the average 4-5 year old joe commuter cars mentioned above. Then I stumbled upon the front of a particularly evil looking Corolla with no price tag at a used car dealership overflow lot (it had just came in the day before). I learned the price, took a drive, and was sold on it.

Just take a look around. There can be a diamond in the rough that you never researched, and the price might be right.

Save your money for the car you want? Just wait for the fucking car, jesus. Fiscally responsible decisions, make them!

Hadn't heard of the Matrix XRS, thanks! There's some around in that price range so I'll make sure I stop and see one. I've been sort of thinking about the Mazda 3 too, I've heard a lot of good things about it.

And yeah, I'm looking forward to driving up to random dealerships and seeing what they have. I'd be doing it today but I'm leaving on a trip tomorrow.

First off, my Corolla slowly becoming too expensive to own. I spent $1200 in repairs on it last year and even now it the torque converter's going out, it's burning oil, it has no air conditioning, the door lock is deteriorating, etc.

And second, I'm not going to throw the car away when I'm done with it, I'm going to trade it in (may sell it myself). I know it'll cost me a few thousand dollars overall, but hey, if I wanted to be fiscally responsible I'd just buy an old Honda Fit and forget about the 86.

Fair enough on the first point, my apologies.

I'm going to be harsher on your second point. It's only a fiscally irresponsible decision to buy the 86 IF you can't afford it. I assume you'd be making payments rather than buying outright, but that doesn't mean you can't afford it...that just means you'll pay more for it over time than you would at once. Most people do that, it's not the smartest, but I understand. Since you've more or less committed to buying it and your current car is on its way out, why don't you get a beater? A sub $2K car to carry you over in the mean time and sell for the same price or dispose of. Another Corolla, Civic, or something of that nature that has already lost its value. It makes no sense to buy a car for $10K and then take a hit on the trade in. That isn't being fiscally irresponsible, it's being dumb!

Save up the money and make a larger down payment. Don't waste money in the meantime, that's dumb.

I haven't heard about this but that seems an extreme example you are using to justify your decision. That is also not a mainstream engine in that car. It would also be warrantied and I'm sure you get reimbursement for a rental vehicle.

But if you want to go to extreme I can go to the opposite end of the spectrum. I own a 2003 honda that was a completely new car. New body, new engine, new transmission, etc from the previous year. It was built in 2002 and one of the very first off the production line and the only issue it has had was a recalled windshield wiper motor.

And being in production for a few weeks means what? They have put the cars together before as you can see there are many floating around different continents and also being driven quite hard in special events.

buy any cheap beater and wait the year?

Subaru 2.5RS? It's got 4 doors, it'll be fine in the winter, it's (i've heard) pretty reliable, and i'm sure they're fun as well as cheap!

I already have a beater. What I'm looking for is something more fun to drive. And do you think it's likely that I would take more than a $2k hit by buying a $8k car and selling it a year later?

I've thought about all the things I could spend my extra cash on and I want to get a fun car.

An Impreza? That's on my list to look for too.

+1

Those retain their value pretty well if in good condition. Things to watch out for include headgaskets, timing belt, and rust on the rear fenders. The 2.5 SOHC engine had problems with blowing headgaskets that there was never really a fix for besides for an engine coolant additive. Beyond that, a timing belt job will run you ~$300+ in parts (belt, water pump, idlers, tensioner, add a t-stat for $15 too) and another $300 in labor (figures taken from DOHC timing belt job, prices may vary). You want one that's had the timing belt job and had the headgaskets replaced as it is likely it also had the coolant additive mixed in at that time (if the work was done by a Subaru dealership).

Replace beater with another beater (in better condition and not likely to break), save money for fun time. If you don't get it you don't get it...

This could very well happen if something occured (accident, repairs etc)

I myself would rather not risk buying a 8K car if I plan to replace it one year later seems like a massive waste as in that 1 year I'm gonna waste gas, insurance money and who knows what else on a decent fun car and have less money to go towards the FRS/BRZ

buying another better beater and sucking it up for 1 year makes the most sense

buy a barbie jeep (chevy/geo tracker) they are dirt cheap and very easy to work on.

I will note that the 2ZZ-GE power-train is a rather acquired taste. The clutch and throttle are like on/off switches. Shifter isn't the smoothest either. It performs like a slug under 4000rpm, and the throttle doesn't have a wide dead spot to keep a constant speed, In the city I find it's either engine braking (3 cars lengths back) or trying to go 10-15mph faster then the car in front (tailgating) depending on my mood. But with nothing in front of you, boy can you have some fun!

I test drove a 2005 Mazda 3 last summer because I was board. It's a decent car. 2.3L MZR engine has decent power down low and you never have to cane it past 3000rpm. The shifter was smoother but rubbery as heck leading to vagueness. Steering and throttle were heavier, and the brakes required a decent effort for normal stopping (, I have USA TRD pads all round so that might contribute to the sensation).

S2K

Well, I'd be spending the gas and insurance money on the Corolla anyways. I don't know, I talked with an older friend for a while today and I'm leaning towards just getting the BRZ. He's kind of cooled my concerns about getting a first year version of a car and I really can comfortably afford it now.

Older VW GTI? They've had the same power forever...

Acura RSX Type-S or maybe a Civic Si (I'm partial to the 2002-2005). Its hard to find one in nice shape in my area though. And they get stolen often. But they'll keep their value now that they're under 10k.

But if its just a year, why not wait it out? Just one more year. It'll be easier than trying to buy 2 cars and sell 2 cars in the span of 2 years. I'm also using your excuse to wait it out. When mass production starts, who knows what things people will find!

First year car models are jokingly referred to as "rolling test beds" within the industry for a reason. Though serious issues are few and far between for most new Toyotas, there can be many nagging issues that do take away owner enjoyment, and can waste your time with multiple service visits (not to mention potentially being stranded).

First year models also suffer from untold assembly "quirks," suspect part tolerances, and a host of other nagging issues there are quietly addressed with tsb's, minor upgrades, and part number changes over the years.

With all that said, the FR-S will be the first car that I am willing to deal with in it's first model year...just because I don't think I can wait to enjoy driving again.