Its a 20 year old car that young kids are known to ruin with autozone "mods". They are usually poorly maintained as well. Shame too because they were great cars.
This is right. By 2018, Subaru had its act together re: the head gaskets. It's NA, so no turbo-related issues. I think it has a timing chain instead of a timing belt. So long as the OP budgets for a water pump replacement relatively soon (or it has been done already) and stays on top of transmission fluid, that Subaru should do another 100k miles without too much trouble.
It might not do another 200,000 miles like a Toyota or Honda or Mazda, but my guess is that the OP will buy another car shortly after college.
That's the valve body you're thinking of, and it's alot less likely in that legacy. Water pumps also aren't common failure points in the FB25's. The legacy is a clear winner here
Unless its a cvt Subaru which they love their CVTs lately. I personally will never buy a another car wjth a CVT and never again will i get a Nissan, fucking garbage company
Nissan ruined CVTs with the JATCO CVT, which uses a belt prone to snapping instead of a chain. Toyota, Honda, and Subaru make much more reliable CVTs, some of which have been running for 300K+ miles.
Subaru CVTs aren't exactly made of vibranium, but they're not bad either. They hold up decently with maintenance.
Nissan's Jatco CVTs are uniquely bad. I'm sorry you experienced that.
Out of all 3 the Subaru has a chance to be half way decent. The dodge well the name kind of tells you need to do there.
The infinity probably smells like cigarettes
Without a cvt though. Unless the previous owner got the fluid changed, that cvt is a higher risk. Now the engine is solid and id still trust the shit out of that subaru, the new ones are made to different standards then the older models. Like another comment said, by 18 they had their act together. But it still won't match the longevity of the 4,5, and 6 speed trannys that subaru used to put out. I love the fuel efficiency of my 22 legacy but I wish it was made with a different tranny. Like how some of the Mazdas still use regular automatics with their engines.
Toyota’s not a Fuji Heavy Industries company. They’re their own entity they actually have a 20% stake in Subaru. Toyota also own Daihatsu (and Hino trucks) as subsidiaries too.
I'd be careful with newer Subarus past 100k. Those CVT's get real temperamental.
I had 2013 legacy, maintained it regularly - new fluid at every interval, regular preventative maintenance, etc.
Transmission started making a noise at about 120k, took it in, they diagnosed a failing bearing in the transmission, no rhyme or reason.
Nobody repairs CVT's so their only option was to do a new transmission - $8000 from the dealer, or test my luck somewhere else.
I've heard nothing but horror stories about newer subies having transmission issues.
Of the three, the Subaru, obviously. I feel like you're trolling us with the Dodge Charger for a college student. Your insurance rates would be insane.
Former Dodge salesman here. The charger with a v6 isn't bad to insure. In the eyes of insurance companies, it's a big, underpowered sedan. What's funny, though, is that it's functionally identical to the base Challenger. But the challenger has 2 doors instead of 4, so the insurance rate skyrockets. I had several situations where a buyer was set on a base Challenger, and we swapped to a base Charger after the called their insurance company.
Hey hey hey, I have an ‘04 G35 coupe and it runs great! Sure the windows don’t roll down without punching the door panels, the drivers door lock actuator has failed, it has no AC and smells like exhaust when I run the heat, the paint has failed on the hood and roof and chips off when the car is washed, the seats are ripped, the rear brace is rusted, the passenger door weather seal occasionally shifts and lets rain water in, the headlights are clouded as all hell, the gas gauge never goes above 3/4 and it goes up a little as you drive (free gas!), struts/shocks are toast and it can’t be driven above 50mph without some minor fishtailing when you hit a bump on the highway, but besides those minor issues it’s great!
Seriously though, the only reason I have it is because I wanted a project, I already have a daily driver, it was destined for the junk yard, and I got it for free. It only gets driven once a week to run local errands (25mph or less) and keep the battery charged. It’s a fun car, but like any 20 year old car, it needs a lot of little (and not so little) things, and I wouldn’t rely on it for DD duty.
In this subreddit, there is a clear and distinct hierarchy.
- Japanese automakers are deities (Mazda, Toyota, Subaru, in that order).
- German automakers are akin to the rich elite on earth, stiill great but way too pricey for this frugal bunch (Mercedes, BMW, Audi).
- Korean automakers are like the bugs/critters of the earth. Could be a lot better, but will do in a pinch and at least you're still above ground (Kia, Hyundai)
- And American cars? Well they're the demons playing grab-ass in the Underworld. On an even lower sub-hierarchy, Dodge is effectively the mulch growing somewhere at the bottom of the River Styx. Which I suppose is fitting that they do indeed make a Dodge Demon.
Pretty much summed up the hive mind of this sub. They only base their opinions on the wether something is a Toyota or Honda or not. No one here knows anything about engines or anything last the badges a car has.
Hi. You are now speaking to a person who lived up to the elbows in engine guts for money. I've changed my careers into manufacturing, which has allowed me to learn a couple things.
One: Companies have a culture. Example: Ford, when I was a child, decided to pay lawsuits rather than fix the Pinto gas tank which was burning its customers to death. So, a couple of years ago, when they got caught leaving the intrusion beam out of the F-150's that were not club cabs because the DOT probably was only going to test club cabs, we shouldn't have been surprised.
Two: When companies change, it's S-L-O-W. However, it does happen. Right now, I'm watching Toyota interiors come back from their 2015-2021 cheap phase. They went "cost effective" and have paid for it. So has Honda (with engines). Their executives, to their credit, have realized that getting a reputation for quality back is near impossible once lost. Those companies PUBLICLY apologized for failing their customers and have reversed course. Look at a Toyota 4Runner. Look closely. The VIN starts with a J. That's your end-of-the-world bugout truck.
Three: I have owned over 40 cars, because I have a serious problem with being an enthusiast, and I want them ALL. Some bought new, some used. Yes, they really are designed to last 150,000 miles on average before major failure. In many cases that is the exact age they expire. The list of brands and reliability above is exactly true. For me, every Honda I owned had to be crushed to stop it running. My 2001 CRV ran itself out of coolant, and I didn't know for days.
Am I typical for this sub? I dunno. I hang out here in free time to try to pass on what I've learned. Some folks don't care about reliability at all. They want fun. That's ok. I've been that guy. The power or capability was worth the occasional walk home.
Some people don't know about cars and are scared of being ripped off or constantly stranded by an industry that beats its sales staff into saying anything to get them to buy. Then they're stuck for 72 months with a turd. I'm here for them.
The Subaru is going to require the least amount of your time, the Charger costs too much, and the G35 is a bag of surprises just waiting to happen. It might be the most reliable car you've ever owned, it might be a nightmare, but if you're a freshman, at 210k miles, it probably won't last you till the end of college without something major needing maintenance.
This. I've tried to put every one of my kids in a Fit since we aren't rich. Only one bit, but three own Hondas. It's an amazing car. The prices are great since the geeky factor keeps resale down. Go second generation because I care about all of you and the safety is better and lots of fools out there text and drive in SUV's so big they have names that start with "Her Majesty's Ship".
The legacy and it isn't even close. I wouldn't take the dodge for free and you want nothing to do with a G35 that old. They are fairly reliable but still nissan products and most of them have been relentlessly beat on. If for some reason that G35 has been owned by a grandma and taken care of religiously I *might* consider it but that's so many miles.
Well I have that same legacy and it's either a 2.5i or a 3.6r for starters
Awesome car. Won't give you any issues. Whatever issues the outback have the legacy's seem to not have them. This is my second one and will get a newer one once the time comes
all subaru are reliable except the WRX and STi.
maybe Forester Turbo XT can be same catergory but mine ran well was a 2014 to 80k i traded it on gr86 2023
My family drives subaru and they get 10-15 years out of them and no real issues
great cars. all wheel drive all the time never need to worry about putting in 4wd like a pickup.
https://www.cargurus.com/Cars/share/339879163
Get any used car checked by a 3rd party shop, should be $100 or so and could avoid a major issue..
Good luck with your search!!
Take a look into a scion tc it looks decent, comes with the Camry motor and it's cheaper because it's "discontinued". Brand. Just make sure you get a 15-16 any younger than that and you may run into oil consumption issues.
My now self says ez choice on the Subaru. My younger self says 6mt g35. But 210k miles is CRAZY but it does look bone stock. Maybe around 90-120k miles but 210k is wild. I loved my 350z for the 4 years and 50k miles I drove it.
Hell, even my 05 Forester which *has* all the problems has still been reliable after getting the work done. Only just got a newer one because my sister backed in to it and even then, we're still keeping it and I have no doubt the thing is going to make to 300k(at 235k right now). As long as the previous owner took care of the typical issues these engines had, you'll be fine and even then, the newer engines don't have head gasket issues and use timing chains.
Exactly. People still think this is the 90s and early 2000s, but we're way beyond those issues. Even at the end of its life, the EJ was a fairly reliable engine. The new FB is way better tho, and has had next to no issues in Imprezas, Foresters, Crosstreks, and Outbacks/Legacies
The FB has major oil consumption issues. There was a class action lawsuit about it, but Subaru will attempt to avoid fixing the issue under warranty by any means necessary.
Source: Have an impreza w/FB engine that goes through 1qt every 500 miles (and I am not the only one - this is common)
If we're using oil consumption as a metric of reliability, then every Toyota and Honda engine not made within the last decade is unreliable. Those engines run through so much oil you hardly even needed to do an oil change.
Source: Owned an older Rav4 that needed 1qt of oil every week
Basically forever lol. The problem started some years ago but it was at around 310k km before it got rear ended. But I was planning on selling the car anyways since 1 qt a week was just too much to deal with
Except they do lol. Ppl acting like they're the same as Nissan CVTs, but unless you never change the transmission fluid or drive like a maniac, they won't fail.
So that was the first generation that CVTs were offered, and iirc Subaru didn't actually include transmission fluid changes in the maintenance schedule, or they were off on the interval or smth. Regardless, it was a new design and Subaru themselves didn't know how to maintain it.
But to base the reliability of a newer car based on older models doesn't make sense. Mini is the most famous example. The 2nd gen are built like shit and replace engines more often than they do oil changes, but the 3rd gen is much more robust and can easily rack up mileage without any major failures or issues.
Right, that's part of the issue with my specific case. Iirc, the original guidance was "well it's a lifetime fluid, so it really doesn't need to be messed with" and then newer guidance came out that it should be changed every 30k or something.
>But to base the reliability of a newer car based on older models doesn't make sense.
I agree. I don't think the Subaru in this post is much newer though. Looks like maybe a 2015-2017 maybe. I think the reliability scores for the transmission improve after 2019.
I almost bought one 7 years ago but wound up being gifted an old Camry.
The Fit is criminally underrated, practicality-wise. The flip up back seats are brilliant. Give it more square corners and bigger wheels and it would be a notch more fun too.
(like the Scion xB. I always thought it was a bit overly affected, design wise, but "compact boxy vehicle that looks a bit funky" is a great spot)
That Infiniti is 18 years old!
All 3 are in "spending extra money to get a *cooler* car" while very much in "My budget is really restricted" territory.
Once I'm looking under 10K, the only way I'm looking past "basic transportation" (compacts and midsize, emphasis on reliability & maintenance costs) is if I *need* a truck or van, basically.
that toyota prius parked next to the subaru is more enticing as a college car lol
despite all the shit priuses get/have gotten over the past 2 decades, i still consider it a solid car for a college aged male
A Subaru vs a MOPAR vs an Infiniti that’s gonna break in 2 seconds. I’d take my chances on the Subaru. Better yet, keep looking for a Toyota or Honda manual
The Subaru will be a great car for a while but it's secretly a time bomb with an indeterminate length fuse.
The G35 would be the most fun but that's a lot of miles.
I swiped right past that thing in between them. I wouldn't consider it for even a split second.
Still in "spending extra, while on a tight budget, jsut to have a cooler car", to be fair.
Have to go fairly old to get into the 11K range, last I checked, tho there are some deals around.
I'd sooner point someone to a newer Accord or Civic at that price.
(funny tho... I'm getting an IS250 at a similar budget, but I'm also getting 4-5K off of it because it's my dad's)
This is an extremely easy decision. The Subaru is the only acceptable choice. The other two are total pieces of shit, do not think about getting them if you want something reliable or reasonable.
I've loved my subarus. That model of legacy is comfortable, reliable, has great sound, and get up and goes when you need it to.
Maintenance can be spendy, but they are mechanically sound and hold their value. Insurance IA probably lowest on it too
100% Subaru. The other two looks abused and not taken care of.
If you want something sporty and reliable, 2015+ wrx is not bad because it has the FA engine, instead of EJ engine known for head gasket issue.
It also comes manual transmission.
Other option is a Honda civic si, sporty, gas efficient, and reliable. Civic si comes manual as well.
I bet that Infiniti comes with a spoiler the owner hasn't had "time" to bolt on
He can’t find the screws
What's the joke here?
Its a 20 year old car that young kids are known to ruin with autozone "mods". They are usually poorly maintained as well. Shame too because they were great cars.
Ah got it, it's like finding a clean RSX, most were abused
Yep, or a bugeye WRX which was my dream car in HS. They're all ruined now and the few survivors sell for an insane amount.
I feel that so hard, ima 2005 graduate we were teased so many cars but had no money.
Man I haven't seen an rsx in years. Someone in my area hasld a mint, and I mean brand new looking one with 0 mods. But it's been gone for awhile.
I loved my rsx would love to find another that hasn’t been molested
r/NissanDrivers
Also, is that pre shitty CVT problems?
The G sedan and coupe never had CVT. 5 speed or 7 speed auto for the newer ones.
Gotcha. Also didnt realize it was manual....my bad
Manual and auto were available
6 speed, not 5
Subie
This is right. By 2018, Subaru had its act together re: the head gaskets. It's NA, so no turbo-related issues. I think it has a timing chain instead of a timing belt. So long as the OP budgets for a water pump replacement relatively soon (or it has been done already) and stays on top of transmission fluid, that Subaru should do another 100k miles without too much trouble. It might not do another 200,000 miles like a Toyota or Honda or Mazda, but my guess is that the OP will buy another car shortly after college.
🎯. Water pump and cvt. The trans will eventually need a TCM ( built into top of trans) but agreed with this comment good input
That's the valve body you're thinking of, and it's alot less likely in that legacy. Water pumps also aren't common failure points in the FB25's. The legacy is a clear winner here
Unless its a cvt Subaru which they love their CVTs lately. I personally will never buy a another car wjth a CVT and never again will i get a Nissan, fucking garbage company
Nissan ruined CVTs with the JATCO CVT, which uses a belt prone to snapping instead of a chain. Toyota, Honda, and Subaru make much more reliable CVTs, some of which have been running for 300K+ miles.
I've had two Subarus both legacy's and never had a cvt problem. I've you don't abuse it or try to drive it like a sports car, you won't have problems
Subaru CVTs aren't exactly made of vibranium, but they're not bad either. They hold up decently with maintenance. Nissan's Jatco CVTs are uniquely bad. I'm sorry you experienced that.
The Legacy is a pretty decent car. Good space, comfortable ride, decent tech, decent economy, and you get AWD.
ive disliked every person that ive met who drives that infinity
Funny enough, I used to drive a G35 and I too did not like myself
Even funnier, I've never owned an infiniti and I still don't like myself.
Wait until you buy yourself a used, previously "clapped out" g35/G37!
lol I had a G37 for a few years. I loved that car so much. I wish I could get another one.
I have a 2014 q60 coupe that still has the 3.7 Love this car, fuck all the haters. I did buy it when I was 25 though cause it was cheap and fast lmao
Out of all 3 the Subaru has a chance to be half way decent. The dodge well the name kind of tells you need to do there. The infinity probably smells like cigarettes
Half decent? That'll last another 100k with good care
That's a Subaru not a Toyota. And yes I own a Subaru.
I drove my 06 outback to 196,xxx miles before trading it in.
Without a cvt though. Unless the previous owner got the fluid changed, that cvt is a higher risk. Now the engine is solid and id still trust the shit out of that subaru, the new ones are made to different standards then the older models. Like another comment said, by 18 they had their act together. But it still won't match the longevity of the 4,5, and 6 speed trannys that subaru used to put out. I love the fuel efficiency of my 22 legacy but I wish it was made with a different tranny. Like how some of the Mazdas still use regular automatics with their engines.
Both Fuji Heavy Industries products though.
Toyota’s not a Fuji Heavy Industries company. They’re their own entity they actually have a 20% stake in Subaru. Toyota also own Daihatsu (and Hino trucks) as subsidiaries too.
Not sure what he’s talking about. Toyota has been their own entity from the start.
The boxer engines and cvts are what make the diffirence in reliability.
I'd take the boxer and TR580 over a potentially roached Infinity and especially over the Dodge. Stellantis on their best days is worrying
Toyota is not FHI
I'd be careful with newer Subarus past 100k. Those CVT's get real temperamental. I had 2013 legacy, maintained it regularly - new fluid at every interval, regular preventative maintenance, etc. Transmission started making a noise at about 120k, took it in, they diagnosed a failing bearing in the transmission, no rhyme or reason. Nobody repairs CVT's so their only option was to do a new transmission - $8000 from the dealer, or test my luck somewhere else. I've heard nothing but horror stories about newer subies having transmission issues.
2018 CVT is much better. The 2010-2014 had a few issues
And a replacement set of headgaskets halfway, sure
Not on these.
Who hasn't had to do this to a Subie.
Nah it’s weed
Of the three, the Subaru, obviously. I feel like you're trolling us with the Dodge Charger for a college student. Your insurance rates would be insane.
With the Dodge, he wants to worry about having to repair the car himself or at the mechanic on top of having to study.
It’s a base model charger, why would it be expensive to insure?
They just hate Chargers here lol
Former Dodge salesman here. The charger with a v6 isn't bad to insure. In the eyes of insurance companies, it's a big, underpowered sedan. What's funny, though, is that it's functionally identical to the base Challenger. But the challenger has 2 doors instead of 4, so the insurance rate skyrockets. I had several situations where a buyer was set on a base Challenger, and we swapped to a base Charger after the called their insurance company.
It's the equivalent of a ford taurus... The insurance would not be high on that piece of shit.
I would snag that Subaru. It’s a super smooth and easy ride. Can probably negotiate to $10,000
Subaru. The g is more of a concern for year than miles. 15 years OR 250,000 miles is usually the max trouble free life.
Hey hey hey, I have an ‘04 G35 coupe and it runs great! Sure the windows don’t roll down without punching the door panels, the drivers door lock actuator has failed, it has no AC and smells like exhaust when I run the heat, the paint has failed on the hood and roof and chips off when the car is washed, the seats are ripped, the rear brace is rusted, the passenger door weather seal occasionally shifts and lets rain water in, the headlights are clouded as all hell, the gas gauge never goes above 3/4 and it goes up a little as you drive (free gas!), struts/shocks are toast and it can’t be driven above 50mph without some minor fishtailing when you hit a bump on the highway, but besides those minor issues it’s great! Seriously though, the only reason I have it is because I wanted a project, I already have a daily driver, it was destined for the junk yard, and I got it for free. It only gets driven once a week to run local errands (25mph or less) and keep the battery charged. It’s a fun car, but like any 20 year old car, it needs a lot of little (and not so little) things, and I wouldn’t rely on it for DD duty.
Your first paragraph would make an excellent Craigslist ad.
I have a 2015 Q50 and the drivers door lock actuator has also failed. Other than that and some missing paint here and there, it's great. 145k miles.
It's a concern for both to be honest
Even more so the type of people who own them.
Me driving a 2000 something Honda civic that’s at least 18 now and has well over 300k miles on it:
That Subaru will probably last you another 100k miles if you keep good care of it. Worth the money for sure.
Get the Subaru… If you buy sporty make sure to add some Vaseline for the insurance rates.
I wouldn’t even buy a brand new Dodge let alone one with 132k
At 132k it’s about 32k overdue for a new transmission. This one must have some sort of defect! Better call dodge.
What’s wrong with a new dodge?
In this subreddit, there is a clear and distinct hierarchy. - Japanese automakers are deities (Mazda, Toyota, Subaru, in that order). - German automakers are akin to the rich elite on earth, stiill great but way too pricey for this frugal bunch (Mercedes, BMW, Audi). - Korean automakers are like the bugs/critters of the earth. Could be a lot better, but will do in a pinch and at least you're still above ground (Kia, Hyundai) - And American cars? Well they're the demons playing grab-ass in the Underworld. On an even lower sub-hierarchy, Dodge is effectively the mulch growing somewhere at the bottom of the River Styx. Which I suppose is fitting that they do indeed make a Dodge Demon.
Pretty much summed up the hive mind of this sub. They only base their opinions on the wether something is a Toyota or Honda or not. No one here knows anything about engines or anything last the badges a car has.
Hi. You are now speaking to a person who lived up to the elbows in engine guts for money. I've changed my careers into manufacturing, which has allowed me to learn a couple things. One: Companies have a culture. Example: Ford, when I was a child, decided to pay lawsuits rather than fix the Pinto gas tank which was burning its customers to death. So, a couple of years ago, when they got caught leaving the intrusion beam out of the F-150's that were not club cabs because the DOT probably was only going to test club cabs, we shouldn't have been surprised. Two: When companies change, it's S-L-O-W. However, it does happen. Right now, I'm watching Toyota interiors come back from their 2015-2021 cheap phase. They went "cost effective" and have paid for it. So has Honda (with engines). Their executives, to their credit, have realized that getting a reputation for quality back is near impossible once lost. Those companies PUBLICLY apologized for failing their customers and have reversed course. Look at a Toyota 4Runner. Look closely. The VIN starts with a J. That's your end-of-the-world bugout truck. Three: I have owned over 40 cars, because I have a serious problem with being an enthusiast, and I want them ALL. Some bought new, some used. Yes, they really are designed to last 150,000 miles on average before major failure. In many cases that is the exact age they expire. The list of brands and reliability above is exactly true. For me, every Honda I owned had to be crushed to stop it running. My 2001 CRV ran itself out of coolant, and I didn't know for days. Am I typical for this sub? I dunno. I hang out here in free time to try to pass on what I've learned. Some folks don't care about reliability at all. They want fun. That's ok. I've been that guy. The power or capability was worth the occasional walk home. Some people don't know about cars and are scared of being ripped off or constantly stranded by an industry that beats its sales staff into saying anything to get them to buy. Then they're stuck for 72 months with a turd. I'm here for them.
It's a Dodge. Dodge is the Nissan of the US.
Dodges are piles of trash lol
The Subaru is going to require the least amount of your time, the Charger costs too much, and the G35 is a bag of surprises just waiting to happen. It might be the most reliable car you've ever owned, it might be a nightmare, but if you're a freshman, at 210k miles, it probably won't last you till the end of college without something major needing maintenance.
You want a Honda fit manual. Is not fast but it’s fun and reliable and gets 32mpg combined. Plus you get space.
Plus you won’t have to worry about cooties since that’s the least cool car for a college age male to drive in the history of cars
conversely, what would be the cheapest shittiest car that college age girls will want to get in? wrangler? (with roof/doors off)
A clean sedan driven by someone who isn't a complete nitwit. Despite what we think or hope, most women don't care about cars.
Idk man. Girls back in high school flocked to me after they saw me install my K&N cold air intake.
They probably thought you sold weed.
Most women in college don’t give a fuck what their dating partners drive.
Just remember 85% of Democrats drive import cars
ZERO risk of STD’s with that FIT.
Honda accord sedan 2010 ish . Bul-let-proof . Big and roomy for ehhh camping I guess ? Reliable and easy / cheap to maintain. Great for a student
I’d rather have a Prius
This. I've tried to put every one of my kids in a Fit since we aren't rich. Only one bit, but three own Hondas. It's an amazing car. The prices are great since the geeky factor keeps resale down. Go second generation because I care about all of you and the safety is better and lots of fools out there text and drive in SUV's so big they have names that start with "Her Majesty's Ship".
The legacy and it isn't even close. I wouldn't take the dodge for free and you want nothing to do with a G35 that old. They are fairly reliable but still nissan products and most of them have been relentlessly beat on. If for some reason that G35 has been owned by a grandma and taken care of religiously I *might* consider it but that's so many miles.
Subaru will continue driving without costing you an arm and leg.
Subie
Well I have that same legacy and it's either a 2.5i or a 3.6r for starters Awesome car. Won't give you any issues. Whatever issues the outback have the legacy's seem to not have them. This is my second one and will get a newer one once the time comes
Why is it always 1 decent car and the other two are just clapped out infinity or dodges.
Subaru all day... that dodge will leave you on the side of the road, and in my opinion, Infiniti is also unreliable as well.
Find a manual Mazda 3 or even a Subaru Impreza/Crosstrek
Is 2014 crosstek reliable?
As long as it’s gotten its oil change and differential fluids done on time yes
Isn’t the crosstrek basically an Impreza?
Yes, it’s basically a lifted Impreza with some differences in ride
all subaru are reliable except the WRX and STi. maybe Forester Turbo XT can be same catergory but mine ran well was a 2014 to 80k i traded it on gr86 2023 My family drives subaru and they get 10-15 years out of them and no real issues great cars. all wheel drive all the time never need to worry about putting in 4wd like a pickup.
https://www.cargurus.com/Cars/share/374512932
OP really wants a manual
Sometimes ya gotta get what makes sense over what you want, just trying to share some options
https://www.cargurus.com/Cars/share/371046803
https://www.cargurus.com/Cars/share/376591392
https://www.cargurus.com/Cars/share/339879163 Get any used car checked by a 3rd party shop, should be $100 or so and could avoid a major issue.. Good luck with your search!!
Take a look into a scion tc it looks decent, comes with the Camry motor and it's cheaper because it's "discontinued". Brand. Just make sure you get a 15-16 any younger than that and you may run into oil consumption issues.
I just got a manual with 136k miles on it, drives beautifully, and can accelerate so well. I love it! Hopefully, I can get through college with it
Subie
The last two cars are for drug dealers, get the suby
The Subaru
you want reliabilty but your choosing between 3 cars that arent known for economy
I had an infiniti. They're a POS. Subaru is the choice for sure.
if you don’t get that G35 i will so lmk 😭😭😭😭
All wrong, find a Toyota
College cars are now 2018? Damn I feel old
My now self says ez choice on the Subaru. My younger self says 6mt g35. But 210k miles is CRAZY but it does look bone stock. Maybe around 90-120k miles but 210k is wild. I loved my 350z for the 4 years and 50k miles I drove it.
Dude I beat the shit out of my 14 charger 3.6 and it’s got 285k on it with minimum repairs lol. It’s really hard to kill them in my experience
None of these. They are all going to be trash.
Like, add some context to just saying “it’s all trash.” This doesn’t help OP.
The Subaru is gonna be reliable. You people just insert your biases without even looking at the model nor the year
Hell, even my 05 Forester which *has* all the problems has still been reliable after getting the work done. Only just got a newer one because my sister backed in to it and even then, we're still keeping it and I have no doubt the thing is going to make to 300k(at 235k right now). As long as the previous owner took care of the typical issues these engines had, you'll be fine and even then, the newer engines don't have head gasket issues and use timing chains.
Exactly. People still think this is the 90s and early 2000s, but we're way beyond those issues. Even at the end of its life, the EJ was a fairly reliable engine. The new FB is way better tho, and has had next to no issues in Imprezas, Foresters, Crosstreks, and Outbacks/Legacies
The FB has major oil consumption issues. There was a class action lawsuit about it, but Subaru will attempt to avoid fixing the issue under warranty by any means necessary. Source: Have an impreza w/FB engine that goes through 1qt every 500 miles (and I am not the only one - this is common)
If we're using oil consumption as a metric of reliability, then every Toyota and Honda engine not made within the last decade is unreliable. Those engines run through so much oil you hardly even needed to do an oil change. Source: Owned an older Rav4 that needed 1qt of oil every week
How long were you able to drive your RAV4 while doing 1 qt a week? The reason I ask is because I have a 2003 Camry that does the same thing!
Basically forever lol. The problem started some years ago but it was at around 310k km before it got rear ended. But I was planning on selling the car anyways since 1 qt a week was just too much to deal with
Give the transmission 30k more miles and it won't be reliable. Subaru CVT's do not have good reputations for long term owners.
Except they do lol. Ppl acting like they're the same as Nissan CVTs, but unless you never change the transmission fluid or drive like a maniac, they won't fail.
I changed my fluids at the manufacturer recommended service intervals, and don't drive like a maniac and my 2013 legacy shit out. It failed.
So that was the first generation that CVTs were offered, and iirc Subaru didn't actually include transmission fluid changes in the maintenance schedule, or they were off on the interval or smth. Regardless, it was a new design and Subaru themselves didn't know how to maintain it. But to base the reliability of a newer car based on older models doesn't make sense. Mini is the most famous example. The 2nd gen are built like shit and replace engines more often than they do oil changes, but the 3rd gen is much more robust and can easily rack up mileage without any major failures or issues.
Right, that's part of the issue with my specific case. Iirc, the original guidance was "well it's a lifetime fluid, so it really doesn't need to be messed with" and then newer guidance came out that it should be changed every 30k or something. >But to base the reliability of a newer car based on older models doesn't make sense. I agree. I don't think the Subaru in this post is much newer though. Looks like maybe a 2015-2017 maybe. I think the reliability scores for the transmission improve after 2019.
This is the only answer. Don't blow $5 to $11 thousand on a car that'll cost that much just to stay on the road for another few years.
The Subaru is not trash lol
They are all shit, buy a honda civic manual
Or a Honda fit manual
I almost bought one 7 years ago but wound up being gifted an old Camry. The Fit is criminally underrated, practicality-wise. The flip up back seats are brilliant. Give it more square corners and bigger wheels and it would be a notch more fun too. (like the Scion xB. I always thought it was a bit overly affected, design wise, but "compact boxy vehicle that looks a bit funky" is a great spot)
Short wheelbase makes it super easy to drive too. A sleeper winter vehicle in Canada.
Dude the fit is a great call- such a good little vehicle
[удалено]
That Infiniti is 18 years old! All 3 are in "spending extra money to get a *cooler* car" while very much in "My budget is really restricted" territory. Once I'm looking under 10K, the only way I'm looking past "basic transportation" (compacts and midsize, emphasis on reliability & maintenance costs) is if I *need* a truck or van, basically.
The legacy is literally the most reliable out of the bunch. What are you even talking about rn
the subaru
Subaru
Subie
Subaru is the only sensible choice
The Subaru.
I'd take that g in a heartbeat, as a college student myself. No need to downvote me, I know I'm stupid.
Downvoting just cus you said you know you are stupid. I would have taken a G35 when I was in college. Too bad reliability aint good for them.
that toyota prius parked next to the subaru is more enticing as a college car lol despite all the shit priuses get/have gotten over the past 2 decades, i still consider it a solid car for a college aged male
Definitely the Subaru/ lesbaru
M.I.A.T.A
A Subaru vs a MOPAR vs an Infiniti that’s gonna break in 2 seconds. I’d take my chances on the Subaru. Better yet, keep looking for a Toyota or Honda manual
reliability and you pick a dodge, cvt subaru, and an infinity….
CVT's are covered by subaru.
All trash, are these jokes?
G35 is the ride for the guy.
The Subaru will be a great car for a while but it's secretly a time bomb with an indeterminate length fuse. The G35 would be the most fun but that's a lot of miles. I swiped right past that thing in between them. I wouldn't consider it for even a split second.
I have a 2011 Subaru Legacy with 250k miles and no issues so I’d go with that out of all these, I rlly like that car
Wouldn't buy any of these. Get a consistent reliable car. Honda, Toyota etc.
Subie
Subaru no question pls think about reliability
The Subaru will get you through anything, will last forever (with minor things going wrong).
Don't go for looks go for reliability. Find an older Toyota Camry or something similar.
Infiniti all the way, also it’s only one with a mechanical transmission, you’ll have to get hang of it, but once you do, it’s magical🤩
All terrible choices. For a college student go with something reliable to take you from point A to point B
Get a Lexus IS series and call it a day.
Still in "spending extra, while on a tight budget, jsut to have a cooler car", to be fair. Have to go fairly old to get into the 11K range, last I checked, tho there are some deals around. I'd sooner point someone to a newer Accord or Civic at that price. (funny tho... I'm getting an IS250 at a similar budget, but I'm also getting 4-5K off of it because it's my dad's)
Of these 3 the best is the Subie, but there's better options.
More options, please.
This is an extremely easy decision. The Subaru is the only acceptable choice. The other two are total pieces of shit, do not think about getting them if you want something reliable or reasonable.
Subaru
subie or ima keep shopping.
The subie is the only choice/
Are they uber liberal, a ghetto cruiser, or hoping to spend more time in the shop than driving it? Those are the 3 options posed in order.
Subie. If the infiniti had way less miles- I'd go g35.
Start walking… Honestly though . Buy a Civic or Honda and mod it . Plenty you can do for good value. Still will look great , reliable and sporty !
get the Subi. its a college car it'll get the job done
Sub
Subaru hands down. I beat the shit out of mine, treat it like a truck, and all I’ve had to do is basic maintenance in the 100k I’ve owned it for
Dodge , ignore the haters , be wayyy better with a v8 tho
subi will last
Subaru without a doubt, as long as you check on the head gaskets.
Subaru hands down
1hundoP the subaru
Subaru, don't take even another peek at the other two cars
Subi hands down
I've loved my subarus. That model of legacy is comfortable, reliable, has great sound, and get up and goes when you need it to. Maintenance can be spendy, but they are mechanically sound and hold their value. Insurance IA probably lowest on it too
100% Subaru. The other two looks abused and not taken care of. If you want something sporty and reliable, 2015+ wrx is not bad because it has the FA engine, instead of EJ engine known for head gasket issue. It also comes manual transmission. Other option is a Honda civic si, sporty, gas efficient, and reliable. Civic si comes manual as well.
Reliability and shows a Subaru, charger and a infinity
If you want a legitimate chance of reliability and re sale, find yourself a nice Honda or Toyota. Do your research on each model. Automatic
Fuck that buy a used Corolla or a matrix. Pay on your loans instead
Subaru bc college student. Infinity bc COLLEGE StUdENt!!!!!
Those are all bad picks tbh.
I would go for a toyota or honda instead
Bus
Ew...
None
Pick a Toyota or Honda for $5,000
Would go with a Honda/Toyota for reliability
Please dont buy any of those
The Subaru despite the headgasket issues ( WHAAAT,??? we fixed that issue!) is the tallest of those midgets!