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did you post up on nasioc? I havent been on that forum in YEARS. they were (in my years), quick to respond but also quick to tell you to "GO SEARCH IT" .... smh
WarBiscuit ... if you do end up with a subaru, PM me .... I'm a Subaru Ambassad0r and can help out on new veh purchases.
as for HG's on EJ motors, it is something I've seen happen more often that not to other enthusiasts. my 05 sti was showing signs of a leaky hg prior to getting rid of it. my 04 wrx (which I still have till this day) has made it past 150k is still going strong and has no signs of hg issues *knocks on wood*
one thing is for sure, PLENTY of subies go 200k or 300k. iirc, there is a tv ad that states over 90% of subaru's ever registered.... are still on the road today
Yes I did post on NASIOC. I noticed their rules being very adamant on the point of searching forums before posting, it seemed like a little bit of a disproportionate focus. I'm looking to get a used car.
I mainly want to go with an Impreza because it is more affordable, hopefully lasts long and is reliable, AWD will be useful, the back is fairly roomy, and I like how it handles. So my goal right now is to get an Impreza hatchback, even if it's a few thousand more than a Fit. But I do want my own mechanic to check out whatever I buy prior to purchase and so far I think I will face a lot of resistance from dealers.
To the OP...what other cars are you considering? I always like discussing cars, even if not Honda's. Here would be my test drive list if I were shopping a Fit...
Civic Hatchback
Subaru Impreza
Toyota Corolla Hatchback
VW Golf
Ford Fiesta ST
We ended up with a Golf, but I don't think any of those above are bad vehicles. If shopping automatics, like we were, I'd definitely lean toward a Golf. It's the only one with a traditional automatic. To each their own, but I personally hate CVT's. If shopping manuals, I'd probably buy a Civic Hatch Sport. Lots of car for the money and great fuel economy. If you live in a snow climate, there certainly is some draw to the Impreza. For us in the South, the AWD is just a way to burn more fuel with little benefit unless it's got a ton of power.
I've mainly looked at Honda Fits and Imprezas in person, though I've researched that whole range that you listed there. I've test driven the Fit, Civic (sedan), and Impreza (hatchback & sedan). There aren't too many Civic hatchbacks in my area, at least used ones, and those are all relatively new and out of my price range.
I do live in an area where it can be counted on to snow. This past winter there were multiple storms that dumped many inches of snow, and certainly in my previous vehicle I was nervous about either getting out or getting home, and I don't want to have that feeling. Like I said other qualities I'm looking for are reliable, long lasting, safety, and decent room in the back.
The snow concern can be mitigated with dedicated snow tires. I've seen videos with FWD cars equipped with snow tires navigating inclines better than AWD cars with all season tires. Dedicated snow tires would probably be cheaper compared to an AWD system that you have to maintain and get better gas mileage since you don't have to carry the weight around.
The downside with the Fit is that it's extremely low. I think this is the lowest stock vehicle I've ever purchased. Fortunately in my area it seldom snows. The few times it has, the Fit has been able to navigate it just fine. If it ever gets too bad, I've got a 4WD 4Runner with Dueler Revos.
Just as an update, in case anyone is interested how this story ends, I did end up buying an Impreza hatchback. 2015. Pretty good deal. Not many miles. More than I would have paid for a Fit but what I get with the Impreza I think is well worth the price.
Thank you all for your valuable input, it really was great that you responded to my questions and all that.
