As I'm sure regular readers of Shout know I've been continually shopping for cars lately, but cannot make any sort of decision. The cars I've been looking at have been wildly varied in style, price, and condition. I have a couple of burners in the fire at the moment, and might have to make a decision soon. Some of the options I've been looking at:
1. Status Quo
-Currently we have a 2007 Ford Explorer V8 4x4 tow package, 2001 Mazda Miata Base, and a 2016 Outback (my wife drives the Outback).
-Pros: I have a car capable of towing my 'fun' car. 2 cars with AWD/4x4. Miata and Outback are fairly reliable. When I get to drive the Miata as it's meant to it's amazing. Costs can be spread out over more time.
-Cons: I'm bored with both the Miata and the Explorer. Everything is slow. Explorer is the ultimate trade off vehicle and does nothing well.
-Costs are minimal outside of the mods I'd like to do on the Miata, which totals at about $3-4K or an additional $4k if I go turbo.
2. Sell Miata for a 2002 WRB WRX
-Details: It is currently sitting at my favorite local Subaru shop having it's engine built with Wiesco pistons, King bearings, AEM fuel pump, 1050 Injectors, STI uppipe, vf48 turbo. From my searching it should be about a 270ish WHP car.
-Pros: More power than the Miata, can be a decent handling car, pretty light weight for an AWD car. Lots and Lots of options for mods.
-Cons: Turbo Subarus aren't known for their reliability. Could be opening in a major mod can of worms. Chassis has 250k miles on it. Wear items cost a lot more than the Miata. I still have the Explorer which I'm not happy with.
-Costs: Car with the motor build as listed above $7500, another 650-2000 for suspension, $400-700 for LGT Brakes, and God knows what on other mods...
3. Sell Miata for 2005 Outback XT
-Details: Car has 170k on it, blown #4 ringland needs rebuild, 5spd manual car. When the build is done it should be a 300 WHP car capable of surviving track time.
-Pro: Most like my old Legacy spec.B, wagon would be fun to troll people with at the track and autox, wagon space, decent amenities for a Subaru, depending on suspension setup can be comfortable and sporty.
-Cons: More expensive than the WRX above, doesn't handle as well as other sporty options, EJ25 is less reliable than the EJ20 in the WRX above.
-Costs: Seller is asking $2000, I'd need it for $1500 or less. Engine build installed is at least 7k for the reliability I'd want on the track. Suspension is at least $700, brakes another $400-700 for LGT brakes. Mods beyond that would likely be like the WRX ...
4. Sell Explorer and Miata for 'reliable' fun car IS350 F-Sport
-Details: https://www.vroom.com/inventory/lexus-i ... 25E5013136
-Pros: Fun daily driver, decently quick, reliable, comfortable
-Cons: Expensive, less fun than a modded WRX or Miata. Lose lots of capabilities, towing, 4x4, cargo space.
-Costs: Starts at $26k goes up to $40k depending on years and mileage.
5. Sell Explorer and Miata for more fun daily driver... Audi S4
-Details: https://www.vroom.com/inventory/audi-s4 ... L5DA199698 Wrong color but you get the idea.
-Pros: Most reminds me of my old Legacy spec.B, fast, fun, comfortable, AWD
-Cons: It's a 5+ year old Audi, not known for reliability, expensive, high maintenance, probably expensive to insure
-Costs: Starts at $29k and goes up depending on year, mileage and options.
6. Sell Explorer, keep Miata, buy something like an F-150
-Details: https://www.vroom.com/inventory/ford-f- ... T6EKF06400 Almost exactly what I'd want
-Pros: Tows better than the Explorer, better gas mileage than the Explorer, more comfortable than the Explorer, better options, better 4x4 system.
-Cons: Expensive, big, hard to park, might not fit in the garage, higher maintenance than the Explorer, will I get annoyed with it in the same way I'm annoyed with the Explorer?
-Costs: Truck with the equipment I'd want starts at $30k.
