Need some help determining my garage quiver

[HybridSquirrel]

I am in a bit of a transitional period right now with my cars and could use some input on what we should do. Currently have 4 cars and they all serve a purpose, but we're finding our needs changing. We only have car payments on 1 car, and trying to avoid paying more than $250 a month even though we can afford it.

• 2006 STI: Sunday drive/winter drive/track/Garage queen. Barely gets driven anymore honestly even though I love it. Sees about 5-6 track days a year, and a handful or AutoX events. Currently at 88k hardish miles but always taken care of.
• 90 Miata: Normal DD and all around fun car. I like being able to hammer this thing well within speed limits on roads. Also doing track duty on this since the parts are dirt cheap.
• 06 Civic: Spare DD/road trip car. 120k miles and 35mpg. It's our only car with great gas mileage so we use it a fair amount for going up into the mountains/road tripping.
• 10 Forester XT: Wives main DD and our general purpose vehicle. Only thing we have that can fit shit in it. lately been using it more for camping and road trips but honestly the ride and noise is worse than the Civic. Wive loves the added speed and being up a bit off the road (9 months left of payments)

Scenario 1:

• STI -> C5Z or C6: Could sell and get a pretty penny for the STI still since LOL Subaru markups in CO.
• Forester -> Newer forester XT. Basically swapping payments on a newer vehicle. Been eyeing a certified used one.
• Miata -> Beater truck in the 5-6k range that can tow the vette to the track. Could get a decent early 00s Silverado for that range.
• Civic -> Keep

I keep my track tow/sunday driver, but get a truck to add some utility to my line up and make track days easier. I get an old man sports car instead of rally boy wonder.

Scenario 2:

• STI -> Truck: Add utility and a tow vehicle. No payments. Still great resale value.
• Forester -> Newer Lexus IS or Acura RDX: Wife gets a milf mobile. Good reliability and resale.
• Miata -> Keep
• Civic -> Keep

With this scenario, I dump the STI and replace it with a truck. Wife gets an upgrade and we keep the two beaters as a 'just in case' scenario.

Scenario 3:

• STI -> Sell and pocket cash. Invest in Bitcoin and buy 2020 Vette.
• Forester -> Pay off and drive it into the ground
• Miata -> Sell and buy more bitcoin.
• Civic -> drive into the ground and impress everyone with my frugality. set it on fire when it finally dies.

I call this the frugality scenario. Who needs 4 cars anyway? It's kinda ridiculous. Not to mention frees up ~120 on insurance a month


So what does everyone else think? Reliability and resale value are important to me. I want my wife to have a good, reasonable fast and safe vehicle to drive around. We have no kids so I don't REALLY care about kid seats yet. I know we'd like to keep the civic if possible because it's been so damn reliable for us, and honestly handles great with a proper set of summer tires on it. We had a truck for a few years but got rid of it for the Forester since we didn't need it. Now we kinda need it as we have a house and I often find myself strapping shit to the roof of the Subaru.

 

[jlee]

Skip bitcoin and buy a C8.

 

[Viper GTS]

Four cars is kind of my natural state I think so you'll get no judgment from me for 4+ in a two person household.

For my household the layout is:

Fair weather toy: Formerly Viper, will be a C8
Rainy/stupid hot weather toy: Focus RS
Absorb all the garbage miles + haul shit: Lexus GX 470, will likely be a Rivian (though may turn into addition instead of replacement)
Wife's daily: CX-5, may get turned into a Model 3

I'm currently down one vehicle while waiting for the C8, beyond this will be more fair weather toys + maybe some more modern daily drivers with lane keeping/self driving/etc.

The big hole I see in your current lineup is the lack of a big vehicle.

My votes:

• Sell the STI. C8 is coming and it is epic.
• Keep the Miata if you're into the maxing out a slow car thing. Hard to beat a miata if you enjoy that.
• Sell the Civic. Gas mileage is over-rated. Calculate how much gas money you are actually saving annually vs the insurance cost you are bearing to keep it around. Even assuming zero maintenance cost I bet it's negative, you're just spending money on insurance instead of gas. If you daily drove it maybe the math would be different but if it just sits around for road trips that's a terrible road trip vehicle.
• Keep the Forester for a few more years. Then turn it into a newer one.
• Buy a truck or large body on frame SUV. Something older but exceedingly reliable. This is now your general purpose and utility vehicle. Also good for long trips because it's comfortable and quiet (you ended up in a GX, you just didn't know it yet).
• Don't be a fucking bagholder

Viper GTS

 

[HybridSquirrel]

Honestly JLee is the one who turned me on to the GX platform. They're just so outrageous out here. I know they go forever, but i'm not spending 18k on a 14 year old Toyota with 250k on it. Plus they don't tow super well, like i'd probably be able to get the Miata to the track but it would struggle to get up the hills with it. (trailer I borrow weighs about 2800 pounds dry)

I did look at older Suburbans in the 05-08 year range with the 6.0, can be had for around 6-7K and tows about 8k pounds.

I think it is time to graduate from the STI regardless though, she was my first car I purchased that I couldn't really afford at the time but i've had it for going on 10 years now. But I make more money and tastes change. We've had the civic since new so it'll be hard to get rid of her but I agree it's also time for that to go.

 

[Viper GTS]

He got me into one as well. Ask him nicely he'll probably find one for you.

I spent under $13k for a 2005 non-nav Sport (aka unicorn) with 93,000 miles on it.

Viper GTS

 

[HybridSquirrel]

How are those early 00s GMC Yukons? Looking at one with 170k, well taken care of. One owner with maintenance receipts.

 

[jlee]

https://www.amtexauto.com/inventory...FzXJ5Osbg3ysHi9znXJT4sXZzwJA-irt8xO_NJ-I8qbNA

Non nav (easy path to double DIN Android Auto / etc), Sport package (black wood interior and guaranteed KDSS). That is the unicorn / perfect GX470 and they very rarely pop up for sale.

Next problem?

 

[HybridSquirrel]

Do you just like....have a GX radar installed or something?

 

[jlee]

Do you just like....have a GX radar installed or something?

I am very good.

 

[JCH13]

Buy a truck or large body on frame SUV. Something older but exceedingly reliable. This is now your general purpose and utility vehicle. Also good for long trips because it's comfortable and quiet (you ended up in a GX, you just didn't know it yet).

jlee got me too. It's been a great vehicle. I got a 2006 Sport for <$10k and put all the miles on it.

Shut up and buy that unicorn before I do.

 

[zinfamous]

I prefer option 3, but I'd say sell the STI (money or upgrade), sell the civic (money), and swap the wife's utility/dd car into something newer.

 

[ponyo]

Personally, I wouldn't do a thing. You seem to drive all your cars. Why change perfectly good cars unless you're bored? I've 4 cars too and thought about adding Tesla Model 3P but can't justify getting rid of any of my old cars. And I don't have the garage space to add 5th car.

 

[BurnItDwn]

In the words of Tyler Hoover: Hoopty Fleet

Go forth and acquire!

 

[HybridSquirrel]

Personally, I wouldn't do a thing. You seem to drive all your cars. Why change perfectly good cars unless you're bored? I've 4 cars too and thought about adding Tesla Model 3P but can't justify getting rid of any of my old cars. And I don't have the garage space to add 5th car.

bored of it mostly. The STI is great, fast, but a C5Z or C6 would be faster. It has its downsides on the track and I rarely take it anymore. In summer there's honestly no point in the AWD, and our winters here are so mild i've been getting away in a FWD car and all seasons. I've had it for almost 10 years and just figured I was due for a change up. A C8 vette would be sick, but i'll give it 1-2 years and pick up a used one. I figured i'd still try to cash in on that Subaru tax here while it lasted.

I do ultimately want something that could tow a car, even seldomly to the track. I figured getting my wife a big SUV on a truck frame would cover that aspect. Wife doesn't care either way, but getting her a nicer car would be nice.

I also flat out refuse to support Tesla. I slaved 5 years of my life away at that place and get called a barnacle by the CEO, fuck that. lol

 

[jlee]

I'll sell you a spectacularly clean C5Z if you're willing to wait a while

 

[HybridSquirrel]

Higher mileage but a good price? https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/352069472388985/

Also I am so sad Craigslist is charging for car ads now, but at least FB marketplace is pretty decent.

There's a fairly clean C5Z i've been eyeing here but I haven't made any moves yet. Going to try and sell my Civic to my brother.

 

[jlee]

Price is solid, and it's non-nav so you can easily upgrade that. If there's no rust I wouldn't be too concerned about mileage - I have 210k on mine.

 

[ponyo]

bored of it mostly. The STI is great, fast, but a C5Z or C6 would be faster. It has its downsides on the track and I rarely take it anymore. In summer there's honestly no point in the AWD, and our winters here are so mild i've been getting away in a FWD car and all seasons. I've had it for almost 10 years and just figured I was due for a change up. A C8 vette would be sick, but i'll give it 1-2 years and pick up a used one. I figured i'd still try to cash in on that Subaru tax here while it lasted.

I do ultimately want something that could tow a car, even seldomly to the track. I figured getting my wife a big SUV on a truck frame would cover that aspect. Wife doesn't care either way, but getting her a nicer car would be nice.

I also flat out refuse to support Tesla. I slaved 5 years of my life away at that place and get called a barnacle by the CEO, fuck that. lol

Can't go wrong with C5Z or C6. I love my C6 even though I hardly drive the thing. I bought my C6 new 12 years ago ,and I just broke 10,000 miles this year. I tell myself I'm going to drive it but somehow I never do and it just sits in my garage.

So you worked as consultant for Tesla? Musk is right. Most consultants are barnacle.

If you're looking at big SUV, I also highly recommend Lexus GX or LX. I love my LX470 to death. It's a beast. The only gas cars I would entertain buying in the future are GX and LX. They get horrible gas mileage but are tanks. GX and LX will pretty much last forever barring rust.

 

[HybridSquirrel]

Can't go wrong with C5Z or C6. I love my C6 even though I hardly drive the thing. I bought my C6 new 12 years ago ,and I just broke 10,000 miles this year. I tell myself I'm going to drive it but somehow I never do and it just sits in my garage.

So you worked as consultant for Tesla? Musk is right. Most consultants are barnacle.

If you're looking at big SUV, I also highly recommend Lexus GX or LX. I love my LX470 to death. It's a beast. The only gas cars I would entertain buying in the future are GX and LX. They get horrible gas mileage but are tanks. GX and LX will pretty much last forever barring rust.

I was in sales and my team had the highest satisfaction scores and post sales reviews and most revenue per market cap. Yet me and my whole team were replaced because we were vested. Replaced with Green sales guys making wayyyy less. New guys made 15/hr. Poor souls. Tesla praying on brand loyalty to underpay workers.



I've heard the C6 is a step up in terms of driveability and creature comforts but the C5 is more raw. Probably looking at that GX tomorrow though. I also seriously considered a used 911 but worry about the IMS failures. Though a boxster would be a nice upgrade for the Miata.

 

[jlee]

I was in sales and my team had the highest satisfaction scores and post sales reviews and most revenue per market cap. Yet me and my whole team were replaced because we were vested. Replaced with Green sales guys making wayyyy less. New guys made 15/hr. Poor souls. Tesla praying on brand loyalty to underpay workers.



I've heard the C6 is a step up in terms of driveability and creature comforts but the C5 is more raw. Probably looking at that GX tomorrow though. I also seriously considered a used 911 but worry about the IMS failures. Though a boxster would be a nice upgrade for the Miata.

I did a fair amount of test driving before I bought my C5Z. Here were my preferences:

C7 Z51 > C5 Z06 > C6 Z06 > C6 (2008+)

The C7 was the best car I have ever driven, and if the C8 improves on that it's going to be absolutely enthralling to drive. The C5Z felt the most raw and race-car-y -- I was more entertained driving it around than I was a C6Z. The C6Z is a better car (though the LS7 does have its issues) and the LS3 C6's are better too, but for sheer entertainment value the C5 Z06 had me at ~half the cost of a C7 Z51.

 

[HybridSquirrel]

Guy sold the GX as I was driving down to pick it up. Kind of a dick move.

I'd love a C7 just can't swing one yet. Prices haven't dipped much since the C8 announcement yet.

 

[HybridSquirrel]

Doing more research, a GX can tow 6500 pounds. The Miata on the trailer is 4800 with gear. That is definitely the answer to all my problems....

 

[Comdrpopnfresh]

I am in a bit of a transitional period right now with my cars and could use some input on what we should do. Currently have 4 cars and they all serve a purpose, but we're finding our needs changing. We only have car payments on 1 car, and trying to avoid paying more than $250 a month even though we can afford it.

• 2006 STI: Sunday drive/winter drive/track/Garage queen. Barely gets driven anymore honestly even though I love it. Sees about 5-6 track days a year, and a handful or AutoX events. Currently at 88k hardish miles but always taken care of.
• 90 Miata: Normal DD and all around fun car. I like being able to hammer this thing well within speed limits on roads. Also doing track duty on this since the parts are dirt cheap.
• 06 Civic: Spare DD/road trip car. 120k miles and 35mpg. It's our only car with great gas mileage so we use it a fair amount for going up into the mountains/road tripping.
• 10 Forester XT: Wives main DD and our general purpose vehicle. Only thing we have that can fit shit in it. lately been using it more for camping and road trips but honestly the ride and noise is worse than the Civic. Wive loves the added speed and being up a bit off the road (9 months left of payments)

Scenario 1:

• STI -> C5Z or C6: Could sell and get a pretty penny for the STI still since LOL Subaru markups in CO.
• Forester -> Newer forester XT. Basically swapping payments on a newer vehicle. Been eyeing a certified used one.
• Miata -> Beater truck in the 5-6k range that can tow the vette to the track. Could get a decent early 00s Silverado for that range.
• Civic -> Keep

I keep my track tow/sunday driver, but get a truck to add some utility to my line up and make track days easier. I get an old man sports car instead of rally boy wonder.

Scenario 2:

• STI -> Truck: Add utility and a tow vehicle. No payments. Still great resale value.
• Forester -> Newer Lexus IS or Acura RDX: Wife gets a milf mobile. Good reliability and resale.
• Miata -> Keep
• Civic -> Keep

With this scenario, I dump the STI and replace it with a truck. Wife gets an upgrade and we keep the two beaters as a 'just in case' scenario.

Scenario 3:

• STI -> Sell and pocket cash. Invest in Bitcoin and buy 2020 Vette.
• Forester -> Pay off and drive it into the ground
• Miata -> Sell and buy more bitcoin.
• Civic -> drive into the ground and impress everyone with my frugality. set it on fire when it finally dies.

I call this the frugality scenario. Who needs 4 cars anyway? It's kinda ridiculous. Not to mention frees up ~120 on insurance a month


So what does everyone else think? Reliability and resale value are important to me. I want my wife to have a good, reasonable fast and safe vehicle to drive around. We have no kids so I don't REALLY care about kid seats yet. I know we'd like to keep the civic if possible because it's been so damn reliable for us, and honestly handles great with a proper set of summer tires on it. We had a truck for a few years but got rid of it for the Forester since we didn't need it. Now we kinda need it as we have a house and I often find myself strapping shit to the roof of the Subaru.

What are your priorities? I have a 10th gen civic and love it. That 06 civic is going to massively lose perceived value in private sales over 120k mi. A turbo civic hatch with under 50k mi can be had for < $15k. Unless you are a die-hard Miata type, it seems superfluous in your current line-up if the Civic were your DD along with the Forester. You don't use the STI much, but.... STI. It should retain or gain value if you keep it under 120k mi without heavy mods (or can reverse to near stock). Bitcoin is fickle, don't treat it like gold w/r investing. Decide on whether you will keep the STI first, that my 2 cents. Test drive a few of the different Civics. Maybe a Type R can replace the Miata and 06 Civic (it's a hatch you can def track) and you could get a cheap F150 or S10 for payload and big stuff. I am not familiar with Subaru in general, but am not a fan of boxer/flat-4 in a non performance car because of costs and wear inherent in the design.

 

[HybridSquirrel]

I like the Miata because Miata. Cheap and slow but gets sideways easily. I am not really interested in hot FWD cars. I had a 07 GTI for about a year and honestly it was the most meh car I've driven. I test drove several hot compacts like the Focus, speed3, Si and even a 500 abarth. They're all the same to me. Slightly sooped up commuters that would be great as single car solution. It just doesn't fit my needs at the moment.

Plus the daily has to be auto as my wife can't do stick.

Also I'm kidding about the cryto but have considered downsizing one or two and saving the rest which is clearly the more fiscally sound advice.