Looking to buy a second vehicle - Toyota GR86, 86, FR-S and Subaru BRZ Forum & Owners Community

Pforwell · 04-22-2013, 02:43 PM

So, I am looking to buy a second vehicle to compliment my F-RS. I'd like something that can tow a small trailer. I'm pretty open. I'll be putting a lot of miles on this car, but don't have more than about 7500 to spend on it. I thought about a forester but to find one in that price range most have well over 180km. I know they have problems with head gaskets as well.

The short of it is... Any suggestions?

dsmx17 · 04-22-2013, 05:52 PM

If your open to trucks, getting a used tacoma/tundra would be my suggestion.

xDBOYx · 04-22-2013, 06:08 PM

Older 200x expedition. They have great tow capacity. Can also use to hall parts around for the frs lol.

whaap · 04-22-2013, 07:24 PM

Depends on how small a trailer. Honda Fit = 200 lbs. tongue weight, 2,000 lbs. towing capacity. You get small, dependable and cheap to operate. My wife had one a few years back and the interior cargo space is hard to believe until you see the way they have the fold down rear seats configured.

NemesisPrime909 · 04-22-2013, 09:31 PM

the FJ Cruiser compliments the FR-S very well.

rice_classic · 04-22-2013, 09:41 PM

Wait for the Diesel Mazda CX-5. It will tow a small trailer.

Wouldn't it be nice to have a small SUV that gets 40+mpg on the freeway and has a ton of torque? (rhetorical)

eug · 04-23-2013, 12:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NemesisPrime909

the FJ Cruiser compliments the FR-S very well.

Amen. We traded the 2008 Sienna for the FR-S, and my wife took over the 2012 Camry Hybrid. We are totally thinking about an FJ for the camping/towing/abusing vehicle next.

gatorbushmen · 04-23-2013, 01:05 AM

My dad had an FJ Cruiser..., it's seen a rough 90k miles and still running strong. Love that truck!

NemesisPrime909 · 04-23-2013, 01:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eug

Amen. We traded the 2008 Sienna for the FR-S, and my wife took over the 2012 Camry Hybrid. We are totally thinking about an FJ for the camping/towing/abusing vehicle next.

The only vid I could find of the two together. but a you can see they do look good together.

I advice muting the vid and watch for the panning shots.

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LOLp30PIh5s"]Tejas Toyota - 2013 Hot Lava Scion FR-S - YouTube[/ame]

husker741 · 04-23-2013, 02:01 AM

I came in here to say an FJ. But seeing as the budget is 7500, that might be hard unless its high mileage and beat up.

Clembo · 04-23-2013, 08:14 AM

FJs are nice but besides initial price, cost to operate is also quite high.

Can buy a nice used Nissan Altima for your suggested price - decent power even from the 4-cyl, comfortable with some nice amenities and will run just about forever with very minimal cost. Can even get a MT if that's important to you.

Bought one for my Granddaughter as her first car - still running strong after 3 years and she loves it.

chappys4life · 04-23-2013, 09:13 AM

I was in a similar spot as you but had a 6k budget, picked up a impreza rs 2.5 non turbo that I really like as a 2nd car so far. Love the awd drive in case of bad weather (already used it once). I was also eyeballing 4 runners though.

Pforwell · 04-23-2013, 01:09 PM

Thanks everyone,

These are all good thoughts.

I have a question though. At the local Subaru Dealership I've found a 2003 Forester with 143xxxkm. They've got all the service records. Struts, drive belt, brakes, new tires, and every six months (which seems to be about 3000km on this vehicle) it had an oil change.

The price they want is 7500 safety certified and emissions tested. I asked about the head gaskets and he had said if I were to go through with it, they could do the HG as well.

Thoughts?

chulooz · 04-23-2013, 01:23 PM

If the dealership is trustworthy (hah) then it seems like a fair price, actually with all the records and a clean visual inspection I would be comfortable with that. I'd offer to pay them their full asking price if they could do a timing belt job and the HG.

Patience will help you find the perfect deal, but how much time do you have?

04-22-2013, 02:43 PM	#1
Pforwell Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Drives: Raven FR-S 6MT Location: Niagara Region Posts: 44 Thanks: 0 Thanked 6 Times in 4 Posts Mentioned: 2 Post(s) Tagged: 2 Thread(s)	Looking to buy a second vehicle So, I am looking to buy a second vehicle to compliment my F-RS. I'd like something that can tow a small trailer. I'm pretty open. I'll be putting a lot of miles on this car, but don't have more than about 7500 to spend on it. I thought about a forester but to find one in that price range most have well over 180km. I know they have problems with head gaskets as well. The short of it is... Any suggestions?

04-22-2013, 09:31 PM	#5
NemesisPrime909 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Drives: 91 Toyota Supra 16 Nissan Versa Location: Tulsa, Oklahoma Posts: 955 Thanks: 365 Thanked 444 Times in 246 Posts Mentioned: 1 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	the FJ Cruiser compliments the FR-S very well. __________________ The FRS/BRZ was not meant to be a world beating car, it was not meant to be an extremely fast car, nor a powerful car, but a well balanced fun car.

04-22-2013, 09:41 PM	#6
rice_classic Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Drives: Nevermorange FRS Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 4,173 Thanks: 757 Thanked 4,208 Times in 1,808 Posts Mentioned: 78 Post(s) Tagged: 1 Thread(s)	Wait for the Diesel Mazda CX-5. It will tow a small trailer. Wouldn't it be nice to have a small SUV that gets 40+mpg on the freeway and has a ton of torque? (rhetorical) __________________ SCCA T4 - FRS

04-23-2013, 01:05 AM	#8
gatorbushmen Amateur Drifter Join Date: Apr 2013 Drives: '13 FRS Location: Saint Augustine Posts: 355 Thanks: 220 Thanked 222 Times in 72 Posts Mentioned: 6 Post(s) Tagged: 1 Thread(s)	My dad had an FJ Cruiser..., it's seen a rough 90k miles and still running strong. Love that truck! __________________ i like 2 drift https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvo...pU-TkCZZcTh61g

04-23-2013, 08:14 AM	#11
Clembo 'Senior' Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Drives: 13 FR-S,08 Mustang Bullitt,06 MX-5 Location: Southeastern CT Posts: 389 Thanks: 117 Thanked 213 Times in 122 Posts Mentioned: 16 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	FJs are nice but besides initial price, cost to operate is also quite high. Can buy a nice used Nissan Altima for your suggested price - decent power even from the 4-cyl, comfortable with some nice amenities and will run just about forever with very minimal cost. Can even get a MT if that's important to you. Bought one for my Granddaughter as her first car - still running strong after 3 years and she loves it. __________________ "You'll never know if you don't try" - Shinroko Momose

04-22-2013, 05:52 PM	#2
dsmx17 4g63>rotards Join Date: Sep 2012 Drives: 98'GSX 11'Tundra 10'Wrangler Location: VA Posts: 162 Thanks: 60 Thanked 82 Times in 43 Posts Mentioned: 0 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	If your open to trucks, getting a used tacoma/tundra would be my suggestion.

04-22-2013, 06:08 PM	#3
xDBOYx Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2012 Drives: 2013 SWP BRZ Limited Location: Jersey Shore Posts: 596 Thanks: 0 Thanked 144 Times in 120 Posts Mentioned: 5 Post(s) Tagged: 2 Thread(s)	Older 200x expedition. They have great tow capacity. Can also use to hall parts around for the frs lol.

04-22-2013, 07:24 PM	#4
whaap Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Drives: '13 FR-S firestorm, 6 mt - '11 CR-V Location: Tucson Posts: 2,133 Thanks: 243 Thanked 1,387 Times in 657 Posts Mentioned: 36 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Depends on how small a trailer. Honda Fit = 200 lbs. tongue weight, 2,000 lbs. towing capacity. You get small, dependable and cheap to operate. My wife had one a few years back and the interior cargo space is hard to believe until you see the way they have the fold down rear seats configured.

04-23-2013, 02:01 AM	#10
husker741 Banned Join Date: Feb 2013 Drives: 2013 Whiteout Scion FR-S 6MT Location: Gainesville, FL Posts: 3,272 Thanks: 1,278 Thanked 4,183 Times in 1,415 Posts Mentioned: 28 Post(s) Tagged: 2 Thread(s)	I came in here to say an FJ. But seeing as the budget is 7500, that might be hard unless its high mileage and beat up.

04-23-2013, 09:13 AM	#12
chappys4life Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2013 Drives: 2013 frs Location: Richmond, VA Posts: 138 Thanks: 4 Thanked 8 Times in 6 Posts Mentioned: 1 Post(s) Tagged: 1 Thread(s)	I was in a similar spot as you but had a 6k budget, picked up a impreza rs 2.5 non turbo that I really like as a 2nd car so far. Love the awd drive in case of bad weather (already used it once). I was also eyeballing 4 runners though.

04-23-2013, 01:09 PM	#13
Pforwell Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Drives: Raven FR-S 6MT Location: Niagara Region Posts: 44 Thanks: 0 Thanked 6 Times in 4 Posts Mentioned: 2 Post(s) Tagged: 2 Thread(s)	Thanks everyone, These are all good thoughts. I have a question though. At the local Subaru Dealership I've found a 2003 Forester with 143xxxkm. They've got all the service records. Struts, drive belt, brakes, new tires, and every six months (which seems to be about 3000km on this vehicle) it had an oil change. The price they want is 7500 safety certified and emissions tested. I asked about the head gaskets and he had said if I were to go through with it, they could do the HG as well. Thoughts?

04-23-2013, 01:23 PM	#14
chulooz Registered you sir Join Date: Feb 2010 Drives: 99 impreza coupe Location: DC / CT Posts: 1,666 Thanks: 259 Thanked 380 Times in 207 Posts Mentioned: 3 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	If the dealership is trustworthy (hah) then it seems like a fair price, actually with all the records and a clean visual inspection I would be comfortable with that. I'd offer to pay them their full asking price if they could do a timing belt job and the HG. Patience will help you find the perfect deal, but how much time do you have?

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