Subaru "S210" Prototype Unveiled

[Russ_G93]

Originally Posted by neg_matnik

Subaru hasn't reworked a single thing in the HTCVT/SPT. Again, not a single thing.
USDM Ascent peak torque has been sitting at 277 from day one; the HTCVT/SPT has always been able to deal with that torque figure.
Only 2 parameters really matter as far as the transaxle is concerned: maximum engine torque and maximum engine RPM at the input shaft.
From these 2 params you can work out max allowable engine peak power for that transaxle.

No no, I didn't mean "Taken apart, and re-put-together" for an entirely different transmission ID number. Re-worked as in "Gear shift characteristics to match engine output." But thats good info right there.

* Registered users of the site do not see these ads.

[JustyWRC]

Originally Posted by Pre

Arrogant? No, it’s called the truth. The truth isn’t some concocted deal, it’s real. 100p. On a stack

And this has nothing to do with Americans “overseas” whatsoever. Was that your attempt at a pivot? Nah, go pack your lunch again.

A number of us “members” here have stuck around. I can remember McRae flipping a Boobaru, LIVE, and then finishing the course. As well as his Rally Stages I could get on “Speedvision.” Now there is a channel Gen Z knows zero about. Colin didn’t live to 40. We were watching live. We know what Subaru Technica International means.

You’re so busy in defensive mode, you forgot where you’re at with the “arrgoance”. STi is a sticker now. A vinyl sticker or some trim pieces. This is not the same mf’ing company that was innovating and paying “the” Scot to drive their car. Any attempt to defend, or whatever it is that you do, is a fools errand. You can call me whatever you want. Arrogant or a fool I am not.

You're correct. They are worst here.


The S models are the "epitome" of their product at the time. I'm not arguing that the 210 is not less than previous ones; but, it is the "epitome" of the vehicle they provide now. This one has just as much improvement over the available standard car and any S model had over their respect models.


THAT is what STI is. Enhancing their models. That "sticker" is them doing just that. Just because it's not a higher horsepower car, doesn't change their mission.

Since our foundation, our mission has been to make "SUBARU the best in the world". We will continue to aim for the top of the world with "cars which allow total driver control at will.

But it's nice to hear you know what STI is because you watched them on TV way back when. So did I. Shoot, I was still living in Japan when the first WRX came out. I was a bit more focused on the SVX sitting at the lot versus a car with a hood scoop, however.


A "fools errand" to defend the S210. Ha. Every single one of them will sell. And I'd wager as enthusiastically as the previous JDM models. Just wished they would be available when I'm in Japan in April. Maybe they will have the prototype sitting in their headquarters lobby/showroom.

[Pre]

Originally Posted by JustyWRC

You're correct. They are worst here.

The S models are the "epitome" of their product at the time. I'm not arguing that the 210 is not less than previous ones; but, it is the "epitome" of the vehicle they provide now. This one has just as much improvement over the available standard car and any S model had over their respect models.

THAT is what STI is. Enhancing their models. That "sticker" is them doing just that. Just because it's not a higher horsepower car, doesn't change their mission.

But it's nice to hear you know what STI is because you watched them on TV way back when. So did I. Shoot, I was still living in Japan when the first WRX came out. I was a bit more focused on the SVX sitting at the lot versus a car with a hood scoop, however.

A "fools errand" to defend the S210. Ha. Every single one of them will sell. And I'd wager as enthusiastically as the previous JDM models. Just wished they would be available when I'm in Japan in April. Maybe they will have the prototype sitting in their headquarters lobby/showroom.

No, they aren’t worse here. That’s more BS. You have major automotive journalists, and I don’t mean YT inthluencers, saying the exact same things.
They should be dismissed also? Because they aren’t worshipping at the Pleiades altar? Critical thinking is just that. Then you have constructive criticism which is also quite valid but you seem to dismiss that also, when many people have chimed into this thread with the same constructive criticism. When all you do is rah rah, and are never critical of a company or their products, you lose all credibility. All you do is just play defense for them, and that’s partly because you work at a stealer and do delivery stuffs. Neat.

Then you act like a complete hypocrite. “Every single one of them will sell.” Ok so when it’s Subaru, you tout they’ll sell all of them, all 500 of them
But when it’s Honda with the CTR, or Toyota with the GRC, you point the finger at them, in ridicule, because they produce them in limited quantity. So when it’s a Subaru competitor this is an issue for you. When it’s Subaru, it’s a good thing? Utter and complete nonsense. At least Honda and Toyota produce them in the thousands, as well as make them available here. Toyota has produced JDM specific higher end models of the GRY also but that’s moot. That’s not a Subaru product so it’s dismissed by you. Groundbreaking.

The point everyone is making is STi products are extremely watered down, CVT only, and sorry that’s not the same as the past. McRae, following them closely for decades is a point you failed to see as well. Many people here, a lot of our folks who have stuck around, know the company extremely well. Have bought them, followed them, and many of us even more so following WRC and their successes and products in the past. But hey you seem to think you are some Subaru/STi market maven, and everyone else is below you on your little mountain. So be it. You don’t have any credibility with me because you lack critical thinking skills and constructive criticism. And I’m not the only one who thinks that by a long shot. It’s to the point now that you have to invent some bs about Americans overseas and their arrogance. When that was discussed, and dismissed you pivot to USDM folk. I mean USDM customers have stated over and over again, change x, y, and z on this product. Subaru ignores them and their failure in sales is shown, like a mirror. You then go on to defend mode yet again. Defend, defend, defend, while the market says otherwise.

I saw this in 2012, when I sold my Subaru product, the STi. STi, Subaru, just weren’t innovating, developing, anything new. A one trick pony. Same motor from 2004 until 2021. No hatch WRX or STi starting in 2014. But hey the JDM gets 500 whole units of some CVT only deal that is akin to lipstick on a pig but Justy says STi is still what they were 20 years ago.

[neg_matnik]

Originally Posted by Russ_G93

No no, I didn't mean "Taken apart, and re-put-together" for an entirely different transmission ID number. Re-worked as in "Gear shift characteristics to match engine output." But thats good info right there.

Ah, got you; you're right, Subaru likely retuned the tranny.
Maybe Subaru should just offer a 296-hp USDM WRX GT and call it a day.

[JustyWRC]

Meh. Nevermind. It just aint worth it.

[RealDealTarheel]

What did I miss on pages 1-4, did Subaru come out and say "April Fools!!!" and we're actually getting a good STI?

[21ej]

Originally Posted by RealDealTarheel

What did I miss on pages 1-4, did Subaru come out and say "April Fools!!!" and we're actually getting a good STI?

Close enough to an april fools joke. This car is essentially a WRX Ts with an STI dress up kit, CVT and tuned to 300hp.
All seriousness, It's offered only with a (retuned) CVT, and the chassis is probably more rigid and has better aero on the body, but nothing that couldn't be installed onto your regular WRX. This car doesn't have a unique carbon roof like the S209 to help with rigidity. I don't think this car comes close to competing with S209 performance, but its not coming to the US, so none of this really matters to us.
Also the rear brakes are single piston, not even dual. Like what?

I will say, it's without a doubt the best looking VB to date. People need to stop putting VA wings on the VB and use something similar to what the S210 has. Looks so much better and actually proportionate with the car.

Fender cladding is a little different too, but I actually think they look good.

[JustyWRC]

Originally Posted by 21ej

Close enough to an april fools joke. This car is essentially a WRX Ts with an STI dress up kit, CVT and tuned to 300hp.
All seriousness, It's offered only with a (retuned) CVT, and the chassis is probably more rigid and has better aero on the body, but nothing that couldn't be installed onto your regular WRX. This car doesn't have a unique carbon roof like the S209 to help with rigidity. I don't think this car comes close to competing with S209 performance, but its not coming to the US, so none of this really matters to us.
Also the rear brakes are single piston, not even dual. Like what?

From my understanding, automatic WRX's are much more popular in Japan, so maybe CVT only isn't a big deal over there, like it is in US.

I will say, it's without a doubt the best looking VB to date. People need to stop putting VA wings on the VB and use something similar to what the S210 has. Looks so much better and actually proportionate with the car.

Fender cladding is a little different too, but I actually think they look good.

Well.......since that's the only way it's offered........

[ProZach626]

Originally Posted by Pre

Another component is younger people, not all but many, aren’t interested, period.

The kids who have the potential to be interested can't afford a new WRX. They've eliminated the demographic.

All of the new WRX owners I see are in their 30's-40's. They want something sporty, but still practical and relatively comfortable, so they're ok with a "mid" WRX. Something as hardcore as a GRC or Type-R doesn't interest people buying premium WRX's with the HK system, running them $35,000 with 10% interest. That's a tough pill to swallow for most 20'ish-year-olds. I believe Subaru's target demographic is the stable 35-year-old with a moderate interest in cars, and they don't party like they used to. Sucks for everyone else.

I settled. I traded my low mileage well cared for 18 STI Recaro package for the 23 limited I ordered, and paid way too much for. Granted, I ordered during the worst possible time. I wanted something new with a warranty, before my EJ blew up... which would have never happened considering how gentle I drove the car.

Fortune favors the bolt. I should have waited it out a year or so until the GRC's and Type R's prices came down to where they are now. It has been the least satisfactory car experience I have ever had. Luckily, I went with gray and put the car on 1" HKS lowering springs, so I actually think it looks good from 'most' angles.

But yeah... the S210 is the ultimate **** Boy.

[Pre]

Originally Posted by ProZach626

The kids who have the potential to be interested can't afford a new WRX. They've eliminated the demographic.

I can’t disagree on the price. My point was that demographic is on the phone all day, everyday, 24/7. I’ve gone into Best Buy to replace a burnt out panel and the college or high school aged kids have iPhone pro models, the top tier watch. I remember when I was that age. I wasn’t spending $1000 on a phone or $800 on a watch because I didn’t have it. Even if some monthly payment plan was offered I would have said no. Bigger and more important things to do in life, like pay for my own uni education. And these same people have to have a new phone every year. Spending money like that on internet devices, how are you going to have any money for a car payment? The smart phone has decimated many other things in life. The phone to many people is the most important consumer product to them. Sport driving via a performance car, is going away a little at a time. Sportbikes the same. This change leads to less models offered, less consumer choice, and more expense. All vehicles have substantially gone up in price. They all now need to be “connected” with hot spots, etc. Apps on the head unit. Then these crack addicts are complete dope heads (dopamine) so they really want the vehicle to drive itself so they can be in traffic looking down at my precious, finger swiping.

[Gixhost]

The cost of everything to do with car ownership has gone up dramatically. I really feel bad for people in the used car market trying to get a basic vehicle that's not a money pit for a decent price. I hate when friends and family ask is some used car a good deal because in my eyes it's usually not but that's just the market. When a few grand more will buy you a new one...I'm going new. It also depends on where you live and other things though. When you're looking at a car with 130,000 miles you're probably not looking at a problem free vehicle...never mind the asking prices for them today.

Many younger people don't want to drive, even less want to wrench on their own car. The saddest part is that the internet makes safer DIY jobs a breeze today. I don't know if this is an age related thing but many people I initially think are car enthusiasts are just the car I own is the best in the world kind of enthusiast. They may not even know much about the car they own because they are too busy salivating after the next one.

Being into tech I can't blame phones. I find my phone very handy when I want to learn about something I don't know about and am not near a computer. I also am into photography and when I don't have my DSLR handy my smartphone is. I build gaming computers and have many other hobbies other than my car...it's all in how you're using the tech...and if you're asking for directions with a smartphone in your hand you're doing it wrong.

[21ej]

[quote=JustyWRC;46988934]Well.......since that's the only way it's offered........[/quote

Ahh, In my mind I knew they were “popular” but I forgot that was the only option over there. I corrected my comment

[JustyWRC]

[quote=21ej;46988998]

Originally Posted by JustyWRC

Well.......since that's the only way it's offered........[/quote

Ahh, In my mind I knew they were “popular” but I forgot that was the only option over there. I corrected my comment

No worries.

People keep saying "you can just put all these parts on your WRX now"....

Yeah. Sure. Carbon Roof(that not all S models got), But, besides that, that's what could have been done with any of the S models. And I believe I remember people saying those exact things when they found out the price the S models sold for AND they weren't coming here. The Legacy S models were also not much more than the versions they were based on. There is just no STI today and the S model is the same treatment done to the available unit. All those parts "anyone" can put on their car. But, they are not tuned by those that developed them AND warrantied. Can someone do better? I guess, sure. But, then you just have a modded car no one will trust to buy when they go to get rid of it.

[Pre]

Originally Posted by Gixhost

Being into tech I can't blame phones. I find my phone very handy when I want to learn about something I don't know about and am not near a computer. I also am into photography and when I don't have my DSLR handy my smartphone is. I build gaming computers and have many other hobbies other than my car...it's all in how you're using the tech...and if you're asking for directions with a smartphone in your hand you're doing it wrong.

Many people (most people) are absolutely addicted to it, on it all the time. At work, at home, the grocery store, restaurant, bar, sporting event. It has to be in their hands all the time. People are cracked out on them, and dopamine is a big reason why. You ought to see my gym at night. 80-90% of people camp on stations, surfing. A gym is to work out, put in some effort, no camp on your 6” piece of glass playing finger with it. Can’t speak for other metros but we have a severe distracted driving problem with the phones now. Every drive I encounter it, many people. Driving 20 mph under the speed limit. Not paying attention to lights when they turn green. Swerving while surfing. It’s an epidemic. I’d be fine with it if movie theaters threw your @$$ out. If cops arrested you for distracted driving. If my gym threw people out. Courtesy for your fellow citizens is gone. The phone and social media just turns many into narcissists. E-life is more important to so many people than IRL and it’s having a massive effect on my hobbies. They are being decimated. Performance vehicles with 6MT’s are going the way of the dodo.

[Gixhost]

I get you. It can be a problem.

[timpala11]

Speaking of CVT-only tragedies I found out the Civic Sport Hatch no longer has a manual option in 25, CVT only. I just paid off my GR and was hoping for a "cheap & fun" lil daily. S-210 is a joke. Super glad to find out that pool tool was banned. Pool's closed degen!

[Sid03SVT]

Originally Posted by timpala11

Speaking of CVT-only tragedies I found out the Civic Sport Hatch no longer has a manual option in 25, CVT only. I just paid off my GR and was hoping for a "cheap & fun" lil daily. S-210 is a joke. Super glad to find out that pool tool was banned. Pool's closed degen!

Is the ~10mpg improvement worth the cost of another vehicle, upkeep & maintenance of sed vehicle & insurance of sed vehicle?

If you want multiple vehicles, that's one thing, but if you think having multiple vehicles will save you money, you haven't done the math correctly, I hope you wrote down all of your work, because you've gotta check that malarkey more than twice, and ask at least a third party to check it for you, maybe a few....

[Sid03SVT]

Originally Posted by Pre

I can’t disagree on the price. My point was that demographic is on the phone all day, everyday, 24/7. I’ve gone into Best Buy to replace a burnt out panel and the college or high school aged kids have iPhone pro models, the top tier watch. I remember when I was that age. I wasn’t spending $1000 on a phone or $800 on a watch because I didn’t have it. Even if some monthly payment plan was offered I would have said no. Bigger and more important things to do in life, like pay for my own uni education. And these same people have to have a new phone every year. Spending money like that on internet devices, how are you going to have any money for a car payment? The smart phone has decimated many other things in life. The phone to many people is the most important consumer product to them. Sport driving via a performance car, is going away a little at a time. Sportbikes the same. This change leads to less models offered, less consumer choice, and more expense. All vehicles have substantially gone up in price. They all now need to be “connected” with hot spots, etc. Apps on the head unit. Then these crack addicts are complete dope heads (dopamine) so they really want the vehicle to drive itself so they can be in traffic looking down at my precious, finger swiping.

I've got four nieces & four nephews, as well as two sons; what I've witnessed is that kids get into their own hobbies, but they also are influenced by those around them, not just peers, but family as well; as such, three of my nephews, two of my nieces, and my sons are all into cars/trucks/ATVs; essentially all things mechanical; there are enthusiasts in my family, so we have spawned enthusiasts.
There was a shift with me though; although I was a car guy, I was also interested in technology, initially computers, but then my general curiosity for technology & advancement took over, I'm into a lot of things that my dad will never be into; he has never used a computer, he never will, he still has a flip phone, he has text messaging disabled on it.
Smart phones are the current thing, pocket computers, I spent a lot of time & money building computers, I spent thousands on that hobby, as well as...ahem...tens of thousands on my car hobby, and I'm not talking my daily, I'm talking my hobby/toy/fun cars.
$1,000 today is like $100 when I was in my teens.

Prices are stupid out of control, but 'inflation' or more realistically, value of the dollar, have changed drastically each generation. $1,000 from the 1990's is very different than $1,000 in the 2020's, and that's ignoring the COVID, and post-covid money grab bull****.

[Pre]

Originally Posted by timpala11

Speaking of CVT-only tragedies I found out the Civic Sport Hatch no longer has a manual option in 25, CVT only. I just paid off my GR and was hoping for a "cheap & fun" lil daily. S-210 is a joke. Super glad to find out that pool tool was banned. Pool's closed degen!

I checked the regular Rolla hatch just now and no more manual transmission option from Yota, CVT only. Sad state of affairs. If it's slushbox only now for the economy JDM cars such as the Civic, Rolla, that really sucks. Affordable, economy, and 6MT, I guess are close to extinct. You can get a 6MT from Mazda on the 3 but it's $30k, which is way overpriced.

A friend who I consider family in Maui, well I worked with him a few years ago to replace his Prius C I think it was called. We got him into a Honda Fit right before they stopped making it, 1 model year before extinction, or 1 year before the last model year. Got it at the Oahu Honda stealer and had it shipped over 1 island. Better deal than buying at Honda on Maui. His son and gf are moving to Japan and he is buying one of their Fits off them to have a backup. They have 3 between them. 1 will be sold, he has his primary and soon to be backup. He's not a car guy but extremely efficient with $ and knows he should buy the backup off them. I was just explaining to him weeks ago that the base JDM economy cars are mid to upper $20k range and he was not pleased. He knows long term buying a 2nd fit is the move.

The country is your oyster right now. Honda Fit Sport with 6MT, well you can hunt with a spear nationwide. I remember when a member here jacked a CPO for something like $10-11k. It was near new. But a good car SME could track down a Civic, Rolla, etc 6MT in the used market. It'll just be a pain shipping it or fly and drive it back. Worth it though. You buy new, will cost $10k more and it'll be a f'in CVT.

[YungBoba]

Originally Posted by Sid03SVT

I've got four nieces & four nephews, as well as two sons; what I've witnessed is that kids get into their own hobbies, but they also are influenced by those around them, not just peers, but family as well; as such, three of my nephews, two of my nieces, and my sons are all into cars/trucks/ATVs; essentially all things mechanical; there are enthusiasts in my family, so we have spawned enthusiasts.
There was a shift with me though; although I was a car guy, I was also interested in technology, initially computers, but then my general curiosity for technology & advancement took over, I'm into a lot of things that my dad will never be into; he has never used a computer, he never will, he still has a flip phone, he has text messaging disabled on it.
Smart phones are the current thing, pocket computers, I spent a lot of time & money building computers, I spent thousands on that hobby, as well as...ahem...tens of thousands on my car hobby, and I'm not talking my daily, I'm talking my hobby/toy/fun cars.
$1,000 today is like $100 when I was in my teens.

Prices are stupid out of control, but 'inflation' or more realistically, value of the dollar, have changed drastically each generation. $1,000 from the 1990's is very different than $1,000 in the 2020's, and that's ignoring the COVID, and post-covid money grab bull****.

I told myself if I ever have a kid, I'd teach them to drive a manual transmission and I'm going to do my best to get them interested in cars. I always viewed knowing how to drive a manual as an important life skill, similar (but maybe not to the importance of) knowing how to swim or ride a bike. You might not need to do it every day, but when the occasion comes up, you'll be damn glad that you know how to do it.

Sadly, overall interest in cars is not high and interest in driving a manual is probably even lower because of that. Many folks, adult and kids alike, would rather have a car that drives itself as opposed to one that they drive (and have fun driving).

Originally Posted by Pre

You ought to see my gym at night. 80-90% of people camp on stations, surfing. A gym is to work out, put in some effort, no camp on your 6” piece of glass playing finger with it.

Same where I live and it's a big reason why I don't go to the gym often anymore and would rather work out at home. I only have dumbells and a bench so I can't do the full gamut of training that I'd do at at the gym, but I find that I'm way more productive and efficient because I don't have to worry about kids with broccoli haircuts loitering on the equipment scrolling their Instagram for 10 minutes in between sets. Then they leave the seat drenched in their rancid sweat without even wiping it down for the next person Absolutely zero etiquette amongst the general public these days.

[Gixhost]

If you are physically capable of driving a manual transmission. I think its a great thing to know how to do. Prior to learning how to operate a manual transmission. I always seemed to find that people I spoke to that did appeared to have a better general understanding of the mechanics of a car regardless of their background compared to someone who didn't. Even as new technology makes less of a case for the manual when it comes to fuel economy and performance. You still see the impact that the manual has left on automotive culture. Manufacturers are attempting to mimic the experience of a manual transmission in CVT and hybrid vehicles. They do it in EVs without transmissions at all. Toyotas went as far as to make a concept three pedal EV with a physical shifter that simulates stalling. Its amazing really.

[Pre]

Originally Posted by Sid03SVT

I'm into a lot of things that my dad will never be into; he has never used a computer, he never will, he still has a flip phone, he has text messaging disabled on it.

Your dad is a f’in gangster I envy that. I’m required to have the stupid ibrick for work. I hate the got D thing and routinely leave it at home as I loathe carrying it around. I have degrees in tech and work in one particular sector so phone this and that is meaningless. I work in the bs daily. I liked my old Nokia 8210 better than this bs today. It was very small, light, and did calls and sms. Today, phones have turned everyone into a holes. They drive like a holes because distracted. They act like a holes during routine sheet like being at the grocery store and some a hole has their bs on speaker, doing video calls. I don’t want to listen to your bs lady, or the bish on the other end of the line. Or you go to your Doctor and another a hole is in there watching YT with the speaker on full blast, or some other app that is loud AF. I was waiting in the reception area to do a MRI last year, for a sports injury, and I can’t leave. And this mafk is in there with his my precious on full blast. It’s literally ruined society. F’in crack heads everywhere. People act like Zombies with them. It’s crazy how addicted they all are, addicted to doing nothing on them. Just wasting their zombie lives away on nothing. They ain’t doing nothing substantial on them. Just absolute BS.

My solution to it is the cellular watch. With some APP’s in the case in my pocket it does everything I really need. Comms, home automation. I can even control my home and vehicle alarms with it or be Batman opening the garage door, or closing it from miles away. Unfortunately the cellular Mafia won’t let you just pay for a cellular watch plan stand alone. You are required to have a my precious, which sucks. If I had my way, no phone at all. Just a cellular watch, and I’d have a smaller iPad than the one I use everyday, a cellular version, stored in the vehicle if I needed to really do something. Why everyone is so infatuated with a little 6” piece of glass escapes me. To do anything noteworthy I want an actual screen, at least tablet sized. And a keyboard. In old tech textbooks this was referred to as a “terminal”
AppleTards apparently are working on a foldable ibrick. At first hearing this I assumed it would be some phablet bs. You know fold it open to make an even bigger ibrick, heavier etc. That would mean it weighs more than their fat version they have now, whatever that monstrosity is called, + or Max. I just call it Bertha. But no it’s supposed to be regular sized but fold in half and hopefully a display type screen on the outside of it. That would mean I’d rarely have to open it.

I carry around lethality things with backup and that’s more useful to me should I need it than ibrick. And I just hate what the phones have done to the vehicle market and society in general. Look at the weight of vehicles now. Because of everyone’s phone addiction we have to have connectivity bs this and that in the car. A hotspot in a car? Really? Why? Everyone has my precious on them 24/7/365, so WTF is the point? Oh and we need a bunch of complicated sensors and secondary ECU’s to run ADAS of all flavors. Billy and Cindy are looking down at my precious while they drive, something they both should be locked in jail for, akin to a DUI. So now the vehicle has to be able to do full braking on its own, thinking for itself AI style. It needs to keep itself in lane too because Billy and Cindy are looking down at my precious and the vehicle is swerving due to said fact. This in turn, pushes for more and more ADAS, more weight of the vehicle, and the worst thing, a MASSIVE increase in cost. If you need EyeSight or Autopilot, etc, methinks you’d be better served taking some driving courses or instruction and putting my precious way. Hell lock it up in the glove compartment when you pilot something, and keep your got D eyes on the road. Save the rest of us the ruination of 6MT’s and all this money because you have a crackhead phone addiction.

[timpala11]

Originally Posted by Sid03SVT

Is the ~10mpg improvement worth the cost of another vehicle, upkeep & maintenance of sed vehicle & insurance of sed vehicle?

If you want multiple vehicles, that's one thing, but if you think having multiple vehicles will save you money, you haven't done the math correctly, I hope you wrote down all of your work, because you've gotta check that malarkey more than twice, and ask at least a third party to check it for you, maybe a few....

Oh I just want multiple vehicles. The STI only has 75k on it (I'm the 2nd owner, original engine and stock) and I would like to keep it forever. Trust me I will never be "saving" money with cars, it's more like mitigation lol. I WFH a lot and my wife travels so I use her Passport when I can.

Originally Posted by Pre

I checked the regular Rolla hatch just now and no more manual transmission option from Yota, CVT only. Sad state of affairs. If it's slushbox only now for the economy JDM cars such as the Civic, Rolla, that really sucks. Affordable, economy, and 6MT, I guess are close to extinct. You can get a 6MT from Mazda on the 3 but it's $30k, which is way overpriced.

The country is your oyster right now. It'll just be a pain shipping it or fly and drive it back. Worth it though. You buy new, will cost $10k more and it'll be a f'in CVT.

I am not in a huge rush to buy so I will definitely be doing a lot of looking. Keeping myself in the economy range for now but the longer I wait I can probably get something a little nicer. I was thinking about a regular rolla hatch but really want a GRC. However my wife & I bought our first house last year so that's out of the question until we get a few things done around here.

I almost bought an SG FXT in 2023 but seller backed out. Probably a good thing as then I would end up with 2 "project" cars.

[Pre]

Originally Posted by timpala11

I am not in a huge rush to buy so I will definitely be doing a lot of looking. Keeping myself in the economy range for now but the longer I wait I can probably get something a little nicer. I was thinking about a regular rolla hatch but really want a GRC. However my wife & I bought our first house last year so that's out of the question until we get a few things done around here.

I almost bought an SG FXT in 2023 but seller backed out. Probably a good thing as then I would end up with 2 "project" cars.

I’ve always been of the opinion that daily driver = cost efficient, reliable, excellent MPG, etc. And more importantly, something that doesn’t cost too much or garner too much attention. And I mean independent of income or disposable income. 50k salary, 100k, 250k, makes no difference. I would never daily a GRC. It costs too much for that role IMO. Racking up mileage doing completely worthless driving, like to the doctor’s office or the grocery store. Just don’t need a performance car for that kind of driving. A regular Rolla hatch is much more suitable. Cheaper to buy, cheaper to maintain, cheaper to fuel, cheaper to insure, quite a long list. I just found 2 of them, in 6MT with 13-15k miles on the ODO. Both are around $23k to purchase. That’s a damn good deal and a perfect daily for most anyone. Not putting so much $ into a daily, you can redirect those funds to a 2nd vehicle or 3rd or whatever. Something fun, fast, that you can buy and own for 10+ years seeing as it won’t be a daily and getting incessant worthless miles put on it. Being parked out in the sun, etc. As more 6MT’s go away, don’t get left out. Later on stating I wish, I should have, blah. A low mileage used Honda Fit, Rolla hatch, with 6MT’s in them, well you can still grab those now or a used Civic, but they are drying up real fast and will be perma gone soon unless you are willing to buy one with 80k on the ODO, swap the motor for a new one eventually, etc. Every year options are going away, for good.

[timpala11]

Originally Posted by Pre

I’ve always been of the opinion that daily driver = cost efficient, reliable, excellent MPG, etc. And more importantly, something that doesn’t cost too much or garner too much attention. And I mean independent of income or disposable income. 50k salary, 100k, 250k, makes no difference. I would never daily a GRC. It costs too much for that role IMO. Racking up mileage doing completely worthless driving, like to the doctor’s office or the grocery store. Just don’t need a performance car for that kind of driving. A regular Rolla hatch is much more suitable. Cheaper to buy, cheaper to maintain, cheaper to fuel, cheaper to insure, quite a long list. I just found 2 of them, in 6MT with 13-15k miles on the ODO. Both are around $23k to purchase. That’s a damn good deal and a perfect daily for most anyone. Not putting so much $ into a daily, you can redirect those funds to a 2nd vehicle or 3rd or whatever. Something fun, fast, that you can buy and own for 10+ years seeing as it won’t be a daily and getting incessant worthless miles put on it. Being parked out in the sun, etc. As more 6MT’s go away, don’t get left out. Later on stating I wish, I should have, blah. A low mileage used Honda Fit, Rolla hatch, with 6MT’s in them, well you can still grab those now or a used Civic, but they are drying up real fast and will be perma gone soon unless you are willing to buy one with 80k on the ODO, swap the motor for a new one eventually, etc. Every year options are going away, for good.

I should have clarified that I don't really want a GRC as a true daily, but I would really love to get one new before they're gone (tick-tock). I don't have to drive that often (even without factoring using my wife's car) so I could get away with it like I have been with the STI. Especially when I would split time between them (pre-COVID I drove around 12k a year).


A couple times a month I have to do a 200-mile round site trip for work, which the STI is fine for, but something more modern would be nice (I do have an upgraded infotainment for NAV/etc). I get what you're saying about what a DD should be, and I am currently in a better position for one of the options you mentioned. As a new homeowner I'm not willing (or able, let's be honest) to drop GRC cash for something that I already have. It just sucks that by the time I can I might be relegated to the used market.


I am going to keep an eye on 6MTs in the coming months and at least enjoy no car payment for a little while. Maybe I will gain some car sense (I won't) but at the end of the day I don't make any major financial decisions without intense scrutiny. So as much as I want that GRC it will wait.