Bimmer's (potential) Garage Shake-up Mega-Thread

[Eye of the Tiger]

I'm surprised nobody has mentioned a CRD Jeep Liberty. Wait, what is the original objective here?

[BimmerM3]

I'm surprised nobody has mentioned a CRD Jeep Liberty. Wait, what is the original objective here?

No one should ever buy a Jeep that's not a Wrangler, classic Cherokee, or pre-1993. And even then, you probably shouldn't get one.

[2o6]

Seems the body is just a tiny bit taller?

The body stampings between the car are 100% the same. The interior is the same. The everything is the same, except some tacked on plastic cladding.

[BimmerM3]

Only mechanical differences are 6-speed MT in the Crosstrek instead of 5-speed, and apparently a beefier rear diff which is why the Crosstrek is rated to tow a little bit and the Impreza isn't.

I think the roof rails are standard on the Crosstrek, but optional on the Impreza, so maybe that's why Will thinks it looks taller (other than the added ground clearance, which makes up the bulk of the difference).

[Xer0]

It also has cooler looking rims, imo.  And awesome colors.

[AutobahnSHO]

The body stampings between the car are 100% the same. The interior is the same. The everything is the same, except some tacked on plastic cladding.

Weird I totally thought they added a couple inches of height for more interior space.

No wonder people are buying them up- same car as Impreza that's been out forever but "off-roadier" (cooler, manlier, whatever). I iz disappointed.

[BimmerM3]

Weird I totally thought they added a couple inches of height for more interior space.

No wonder people are buying them up- same car as Impreza that's been out forever but "off-roadier" (cooler, manlier, whatever). I iz disappointed.

It's basically just what the Outback Sport used to be, but probably easier to market with it's own name.

[Laconian]

Outback Sport: it's an Impreza wagon with a hood scoop to nowhere.

[Eye of the Tiger]

The latest Motor Trend issue compared the Kona, Kicks, and Ecosport. Kona wins by a mile. Buy a Kona. It's better than a Crosstrek.

[2o6]

The Kona is ok, I drove one a few weeks ago. One with all the goodies is kind of expensive.

[AutobahnSHO]

Outback Sport: it's an Impreza wagon with a hood scoop to nowhere.

Ours doesn't have a hoodscoop. Wife bought it on impulse though. She said she wanted manual but salesguy totally steered her into this slushiemobile. Maybe they'd had a hard time unloading it?...

[BimmerM3]

Ours doesn't have a hoodscoop. Wife bought it on impulse though. She said she wanted manual but salesguy totally steered her into this slushiemobile. Maybe they'd had a hard time unloading it?...

AT probably cost more money. Sales guy wanted to make more money.

I mostly ask sales people questions I already know the answer to. Lets me know the degree to which they are full of shit.

[BimmerM3]

Outback Sport: it's an Impreza wagon with a hood scoop to nowhere.

To be fair, my ice cream scoop doesn't go anywhere either.

[AutobahnSHO]

AT probably cost more money. Sales guy wanted to make more money.

Good point- it also has extra subwoofer (not terrible but OEM would be way more bang for buck), rear spoiler, fancy seat stitching, rubber mat in cargo area, and a few other kibbles which push price up.

[BimmerM3]

Well, yes, I was exaggerating, but for an enthusiast, I find it (and most all Subarus) maddening for their chronic, intentional lack of power.

I'm sorta in this market, and choices are slim. The Jetta wagon Alltrack thingy gets good reviews, is turbo, and has M/T option. VW reliability risk though. A slightly used A4 Allroad is in the ballpark too (but again, ze German reliability risk).

Yeah, it's definitely not ideal. If I get anything new this year, practicality, affordability, and capability take priority over any sort of sportiness, though I might just wait longer until I can afford something at least a little better (3.6 Outback or Rav-4 Adventure probably).

[BimmerM3]

Holy hell, I thought you guys were exaggerating at least a little bit talking about how slow the Crosstrek is. I haven't driven it on steep roads or at altitude yet, but it was pretty bad just on a stretch of flat highway. I drove both a CVT and a 6-speed and they really didn't feel much different. If I actually got one, I might go for the CVT just to get EyeSight.

So the Crosstrek isn't completely out of the question, but right now I think I'm gonna keep Explorer and see how my job situations shakes out over the next few months. Maybe I'll consider replacing the S2000 with a WRX. It'd at least get a lot more winter use.

[Eye of the Tiger]

When you're used to Exploder TORQ, a Crosstrek CVT is going to be like mole asses. I can help with that. You can borrow the Ranger for 1 month, unlimited mileage, for the low low price of $2999.95.

[BimmerM3]

When you're used to Exploder TORQ, a Crosstrek CVT is going to be like mole asses. I can help with that. You can borrow the Ranger for 1 month, unlimited mileage, for the low low price of $2999.95.

I've driven enough crappy rentals that I thought I knew what slow was. Nope.

[12,000 RPM]

I had a Chevy Venture van for my first job in NYC. Man that thing was perfect for the city. Copious torq

[AutobahnSHO]

Lol. My wife drove Impreza almost exclusively for 8 years. When we got Odyssey (2015) she was "WOW SO MUCH POWER" and still talks about it lol.

[MrH]

I've driven enough crappy rentals that I thought I knew what slow was. Nope.

You get acclimated to your daily driver's power really quick too.  Everything felt fast when I was driving the 4Runner.  Now everything feels so slow.

[giant_mtb]

Everything that isn't a pickup or an older BOF SUV feels like racecar compared to Taco.

[Eye of the Tiger]

Everything that isn't a pickup or an older BOF SUV feels like racecar compared to Taco.

True. Even Dakota feels like race truck compared to Ranger/GMC. Rack n pinion sterring.

[BimmerM3]

Everything that isn't a pickup or an older BOF SUV feels like racecar compared to Taco.

Not a Crosstrek. At least not in a straight line.

[CaminoRacer]

I used to think my 4 cylinder Mazda6 was decently zippy. After driving the El Camino daily for a couple of years, anything with less than ~250 hp feels dog slow. Especially on the freeway.

[FoMoJo]

I used to think my 4 cylinder Mazda6 was decently zippy. After driving the El Camino daily for a couple of years, anything with less than ~250 hp feels dog slow. Especially on the freeway.

Torque is king.  I remember medium/big blocks of the '60s cruising up and down hills never slowing an iota without having to nudge the gas pedal or shifting down.  These little putt-putt motors have the transmission tripping through gears even on the smallest incline.  Of course, back then, we were getting about 12 mpg.

[BimmerM3]

I drive an S2000. I don't mind high revs. The Crosstrek is slow even at higher revs.

[MrH]

Just go test drive an Accord 2.0t.

[BimmerM3]

Just go test drive an Accord 2.0t.

No?

I'd get a Clarity before an Accord.

[CaminoRacer]

Torque is king.  I remember medium/big blocks of the '60s cruising up and down hills never slowing an iota without having to nudge the gas pedal or shifting down.  These little putt-putt motors have the transmission tripping through gears even on the smallest incline.  Of course, back then, we were getting about 12 mpg.

Especially when you don't have overdrive, so you're cruising at 3000-3300 rpm on the highway making GOBS of torque.