Want Substitute for Turbo Subaru Sedan! What Automobile Ought to I Purchase?

Wealthy had a 2009 Subaru Legacy GT that he put his coronary heart into. Sadly, the Subie has expired so now he’s searching for one thing dependable and sporty-ish with 4 doorways for round $35,000. What automobile ought to he purchase?

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Right here is the state of affairs –

All good issues come to an finish gents and my 2009 Subaru Legacy GT has reached that finish. After extensively modifying it and making it the automobile Subaru ought to have constructed, she’s lastly given up the ghost. I like her and he or she’ll at all times be in my coronary heart, however I’m considering it’s time to maneuver onto the subsequent heartbreak.

Anyway, I’ve PCS orders to a brand new AFB in SC and my household can be staying the place I at the moment am positioned in NC resulting from the truth that my spouse has a way more superior job than I, the youngsters are set of their faculties, and I solely have 3yrs till retirement. I want one thing dependable, considerably gas environment friendly resulting from driving again residence (225mi a technique) on the weekends, snug, and can also be not a whole canine. I don’t want a loud/obnoxious automobile, however don’t need a full soul-sucking commuter. What’s the subsequent evolution of a Legacy GT for a 36yr previous?

My spouse mentioned one thing concerning the subsequent automobile being no less than a household succesful automobile, blah blah blah.

I’ve a finances as much as $35,000

Fast Info:

Funds: as much as $35,000

Day by day Driver: Sure

Location: North and South Carolina

Needs: Enjoyable, 4 Doorways, Reliability

Doesn’t need: One thing too thirsty or costly to repair

Professional 1: Tom McParland – Japanese Turbo Sedan

Wealthy, after I was trying over the potential matters for this week’s column you had me at Subaru Legacy GT. I as soon as owned an ‘05 GT wagon that additionally discovered its limits of reliability however will nonetheless stay one in all my favourite automobiles that I’ve owned.

The Legacy GT had four-cylinder turbo energy with AWD and was simply sporty sufficient to be enjoyable but in addition actually livable. There aren’t too many automobiles that use the identical components, but when you are able to do with out the AWD, one comes fairly shut. The Mazda6 sedan is thought for having a number of the finest dynamics within the non-luxury midsize four-door section. It additionally feels a bit extra “upscale” in comparison with the choices from Honda and Toyota. Beginning in 2018 Mazda provided a turbo possibility with an output of 250 hp and 310 lb-ft of torque. This motor additionally returned a decent 31 mpg on the freeway.

For those who seek for Mazda6 sedans beginning within the 2019 mannequin yr all trims at Grand Touring and up had the two.5-liter turbo motor as commonplace tools. A $35,000 finances offers you numerous choices to select from a lot of which have decrease miles. Here’s a Licensed 2020 instance in Mazda’s signature Soul Pink paint with solely 17k miles. This automobile is a Reserve trim that gives some good luxurious upgrades.

Professional 2: Owen Bellwood – The Actually Enjoyable Japanese Sedan

I desperately wished to search out you a Lincoln Continental with its glorious suicide doorways that might match into your finances, however alas it was to not be. So as a substitute, right here’s one other enjoyable Japanese sedan. Wealthy, what a couple of Civic SI?

It would seem to be an apparent alternative, however typically the apparent choices are that means for a purpose. The Civic SI is flipping glorious.

For properly below 35 grand, you will get your palms on a stunning compact sedan from the wizards over at Honda. It’d be an ideal alternative for the outgoing Subaru because it comes with the practicalities of 5 seats, 4 doorways and a decent-sized trunk. However, with the SI badge caught up entrance and on the rear, you additionally get Honda’s pretty 1.5-liter engine and six-speed guide gearbox. That’s the very definition of enjoyable, proper?

Fortunately, you’ve bought a couple of totally different choices to take with this automobile. For those who can wait, a brand new Civic SI begins properly below finances at $27,700, and meaning you’ll be able to order it within the beautiful blazing Ovary Pearl end. By the time vendor charges are added, that can probably put the value up within the 30s. If you’d like it proper now, then this metallic blue, 2020 mannequin close to you’d be a peach.

The one draw back I see right here is that you just’ll lose the all-wheel drive you had within the Subaru. However, you get to exchange that with heaps of Honda excellence.

Professional 3: Kyle Hyatt – Enjoyable Is Superb, however Unhinged Is Higher

In the case of sensible enjoyable for a automobile fan with a household, it’s just about unattainable to do higher than a sizzling hatch. However what if there was one thing higher? There’s and it’s a good hotter hatch, aka the Ford Focus RS.

Positive, it seems just like the world’s angriest vacuum cleaner and it had some points with head gaskets, however in comparison with that Subie life, it’s most likely nothing. Moreover, should you get one with some miles on it, that stuff is prone to have been dealt with already.

The Focus RS’ efficiency figures are fairly foolish. It makes 350 horsepower and 350 lb-ft of torque from a 2.3-liter EcoBoost four-cylinder. It’s bought a six-speed guide and torque-vectoring all-wheel drive. It’s additionally bought room for teenagers and groceries and no matter else you’ll be able to consider within the again.

Positive, you may cellphone it in and get a Focus ST and sure be completely joyful, however why take half measures when this instance of the gnarliest hatch that anybody has ever delivered to the US simply squeaks below your finances? 

Dwell your finest life, Wealthy. Dwell RS.

Professional 4: Lawrence Hodge – How About Some Shocking, Sudden Enjoyable?

I is likely to be a little bit of a fanboy, however proper now I don’t suppose there’s a brand new automobile in the marketplace that matches the efficiency per greenback that you just’ll get should you bought a Hyundai Elantra N. Look previous the options you get for the cash and simply take into account the intense efficiency: 275 horsepower turbocharged I4 with an overboost operate that takes it to 286 hp, paired to a six-velocity guide (or an eight velocity twin clutch transmission). Then there’s incredible dealing with, nice throttle response, and doubtless one in all, if not the best-sounding inventory exhaust you’ll ever hear. And it’s environment friendly. EPA score sits at 22/31 freeway. And I’ve learn even should you drive it with a heavy foot you’ll nonetheless get round 25 mpg.

The Elantra N gained’t break the financial institution both. Additionally, you will profit from Hyundai’s incredible guarantee. If the guarantee runs out it’s nonetheless an Elantra, so most components can be low cost. You’re additionally in place to purchase one as you reside on the east coast and there are sellers which might be truly promoting them at or close to sticker worth. I discovered one in Springfield, VA going for $34,645, properly inside your finances.

Professional 5: José Rodríguez Jr. – Household-Succesful, Enjoyable and Thrifty

Wealthy, the very first thing I considered for a family-friendly automobile that’d be enjoyable to drive between North and South Carolina was a BMW wagon. The perfect of these could be an E46 3-Sequence wagon, however since these are older, they might not be as dependable.

Given your willingness to work in your automobiles, like together with your Legacy GT, bringing an previous straight-six BMW wagon up to the mark won’t be exhausting. However as a substitute of placing you thru the trials of proudly owning an previous BMW, I like to recommend this 2018 Buick Regal TourX wagon, which is able to depart a little bit wiggle room within the finances.

The Regal TourX is usually missed due to its Buick badge, which is a rattling disgrace. The TourX wagon has beauty, an important inside with higher match and end than a comparable Subaru and all of the room your loved ones might have.

Its 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine gained’t be as thrilling as that of a WRX, the subsequent step to a Legacy GT. However it is going to be thrifty on these lengthy stints within the Carolinas, getting as much as 29 miles per gallon. I can virtually promise you that you just’ll be the one one on-base with a Regal TourX, and also you’ll look the a part of a accountable younger grownup with a household within the fashionable, good-looking wagon.

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