[rav400]

So, I drive a 2011 Subaru Impreza hatchback 5sp with 140K miles. I've had it since new. Since buying a house I've been considering buying a pickup truck for house projects and yard work. Also, a truck bed would be helpful for dirty/wet gear and bikes. I have a roof rack for the Subaru with two trays for bikes.

Lately I've been considering looking for a used Nissan Frontier crew cab (4x4, 6sp, short bed) and sealing my Subaru to my dad. Has anyone gone from a Subaru to a truck?

 

[canadmos]

Problem solved:

 

[jonKranked]

Keep the subie, buy a cheap ass beater truck.

 

[AngryMetalsmith]

I don't get the crew cab and short bed. You can't haul a whole lot of stuff in the back. It just looks like a minivan with the back top quarter missing.

I say keep the Subie if you really like it and get a beater pick-up for utility purposes, and shuttling.

 

[boostindoubles]

8ft bed and regular cab is what you need if actually doing work. Those 4dr short beds are fir the posers.

 

[SkaredShtles]

Yah. Those short beds are *useless* once you have 4 bikes on the tailgate.

 

[Pesqueeb]

Those 4dr short beds are fir the posers.

It's the "totally not a minivan" minivan.

 

[kickstand]

Jonkrankipants is right. Keep subie for commuting and road trips, but beater truck for local riding and projects.

 

[rav400]

Thanks for the replies. I'm still not sure because I would like a truck for offroading and overlanding just for fun and exploring mountain roads near my house and in West Virginia. My plan was to get a cheap truck for such and keep the Subaru, but my dad wants a small MT car now that he is retired and my wife said I would have to sell it to get a truck. So, I have been looking a trucks a little nicer (around $10K). I plan to pay for half and finance half through my credit union with a small loan and pay it off in a year.

My grand plan is to buy a fun car once my students loans are paid off (have about one more year). Something with 300-400 HP and rear wheel drive, maybe a new mustang gt or a used m3. That would be in addition to either my Subaru or truck. I'd love to have three vehicle but that would require building another garage and wifey REALLY isn't thrilled with that idea.

 

[Westy]

Truckaru

Or how about a lift kit

Or just go all out and build a Dilldozer

 

[JohnE]

I went from a Outback Wagon to a Ram 1500 recently, with almost identical motivation. I loved my Subby,and the Ram is quite a bit different. Hauling stuff is a plus, but it is quite a bit different on the highway and in town. For me the jury is still out. I think if I had been stateside and able to do so I would have kept the paid off running like a top Subby and picked up a mid 90s truck for work days...

 

[rav400]

I should've known the dildozer would show up, lol. Thanks

 

[SkaredShtles]

Replaced the head gaskets yet?

 

[rav400]

Replaced the head gaskets yet?

No, I have not. My last Subaru (a 2002 OBS) needed them replaced around 88K miles. I would hope they got the headgaskets sorted by 2011, but it is pretty much the same motor as the old OBS.

I had the timing belts replaced at 120K and the clutch at 130K. The clutch was actually fine, but the throw out bearing was toast.

 

[TN]

The thing about a pick up is, your pals without one will all want your help or to borrow it for their projects/moving.
If you are into bartering for beer this could work in your favor.

 

[SkaredShtles]

No, I have not. My last Subaru (a 2002 OBS) needed them replaced around 88K miles. I would hope they got the headgaskets sorted by 2011, but it is pretty much the same motor as the old OBS.

The rumor is that the head gasket issue went away as of the 2011 model year.

But I wouldn't hold my breath.

 

[Serial Midget]

Keep the Subaru!!! Financing a depreciating asset should never be voluntary. ¥₩¥

 

[Serial Midget]

The rumor is that the head gasket issue went away as of the 2011 model year.

But I wouldn't hold my breath.

I have a 2007; at 75 K I had the gaskets replace by the local Subaru dealer who informed me that it was routine every 100 K or so. My parents drove Subarus from the early 80s to the late 90s and they also had gasket issues and they still consider the 3 they had as the best cars they have owned. I guess people just get used to it - it's the only maintenence I've had to do in 8 years and I drive the car hard through the mountain passes on a regular basis.

 

[C.P.]

The rumor is that the head gasket issue went away as of the 2011 model year.

But I wouldn't hold my breath.

Yeah. dont hold your breath. 'Buddy who owns a machine shop and does work for a few foreign auto dealers in the area says he's already decked & checked a few 2014 & 2015(!) suby heads...

 

[SkaredShtles]

I have a 2007; at 75 K I had the gaskets replace by the local Subaru dealer who informed me that it was routine every 100 K or so. My parents drove Subarus from the early 80s to the late 90s and they also had gasket issues and they still consider the 3 they had as the best cars they have owned. I guess people just get used to it - it's the only maintenence I've had to do in 8 years and I drive the car hard through the mountain passes on a regular basis.

Head gaskets are NOT "maintenance" items. That said - our '97 Outback has been a pretty good vehicle all things considered.

 

[jdcamb]

I really liked the Legacy. It was fast and handled nicely. 4 doors was nice. Seats were comfy. Kick ass sound also....

 

[kickstand]

So subie's need head gaskets, big deal, every car needs something, pick your poison.

 

[SkaredShtles]

So subie's need head gaskets, big deal, every car needs something, pick your poison.

Yeah... like Toyotas. They need oil changes. Occasionally.

 

[Westy]

Yeah... like Toyotas. They need oil changes. Occasionally.

And sometimes a Frame Replacement.

A buddy of mine got a new Tacoma. Brought it to the dealer for the first oil change. When he got home there was oil everywhere. Dealer didn't understand the "change" part, they just added 5 or 6 quarts of the fresh stuff and the engine was basically overflowing.

 

[kickstand]

Yeah... like Toyotas. They need oil changes. Occasionally.

Yeah, or they need new accelerator pedals, or like the 22re in trucks they need timing chains and guides all the time, or the frames are paper thin and they rust away and have to be replaced, or.....

The list goes on. Like my Ford fuckus that ford was just forced to buy back, worked in my favor, but was a giant headache for 3 years.

I'd have rather changed a $20 gasket.

 

[SkaredShtles]

And sometimes a Frame Replacement.

Funny you mention that - Toyota replaced some a-arms on an old (1980?) Tercel I had. To their credit, they replaced them for free (perhaps an ancient recall?). Those new a-arms were probably worth more than the rest of the rusty old $hitheap.

 

[SkaredShtles]

I'd have rather changed a $20 gasket.

I guess if you have an engine hoist you could get all Stoney on your Subaru... it ain't like changing your oil, though...

 

[kickstand]

I guess if you have an engine hoist you could get all Stoney on your Subaru... it ain't like changing your oil, though...

It's also not "that" difficult, it's time consuming. Changing hard physical parts on cars is not bad, there are directions out there for everything, just like wrenching on bikes.

Driveability, electrical issues, Ford Focus DCT transmissions, etc. That stuff is a bitch.

 

[SkaredShtles]

It's also not "that" difficult, it's time consuming. Changing hard physical parts on cars is not bad, there are directions out there for everything,

Yah. I've done that shit. I ain't doin' it no more.

 

[Serial Midget]

Yeah, or they need new accelerator pedals, or like the 22re in trucks they need timing chains and guides all the time, or the frames are paper thin and they rust away and have to be replaced, or.....

The list goes on. Like my Ford fuckus that ford was just forced to buy back, worked in my favor, but was a giant headache for 3 years.

I'd have rather changed a $20 gasket.

I would have preferred a $20 gasket as well but I am not capable of such a feat, I had to have the dealer do it.

 

[kickstand]

I would have preferred a $20 gasket as well but I am not capable of such a feat, I had to have the dealer do it.

Still better than the $5k transmission job I was facing!

 

[SkaredShtles]

Still better than the $5k transmission job I was facing!

Automatic transmissions FTMFL.

 

[Adventurous]

And sometimes a Frame Replacement.

A buddy of mine got a new Tacoma. Brought it to the dealer for the first oil change. When he got home there was oil everywhere. Dealer didn't understand the "change" part, they just added 5 or 6 quarts of the fresh stuff and the engine was basically overflowing.

On one of my Tacoma forums a guy was posting to ask about his truck running rough and having to keep on the gas at stop lights so it wouldn't stall. Turns out he had just "changed his oil" but instead drained the transmission and put in another 5.5 quarts of oil.

 

[kickstand]

Automatic transmissions FTMFL.

Especially this DCT in the focus. Couldn't talk the wife into a manual trans though. And in fairness, I don't blame her. She grew up in the city.

 

[SkaredShtles]

Especially this DCT in the focus. Couldn't talk the wife into a manual trans though. And in fairness, I don't blame her. She grew up in the city.

Pro-tip: ALWAYS blame the wife.

 

[kickstand]

Of course.

I couldn't find a manual trans tahoe though, can I blame her for that too?

 

[SkaredShtles]

Absolutely. Blame the wife for all the things.

I couldn't find a manual trans tahoe though, can I blame her for that too?

Sure.

It sucks that you pretty much can't find any manual trans cars any more.

That said - I welcome our self-driving robot overlords with open arms.

 

[kickstand]

haha, yeah I can't wait for that. Ford can;t even program a transmission to work properly, I can't wait to ride with one of their self driven cars. I can only imagine the whiplash we're all gonna feel.

 

[SkaredShtles]

haha, yeah I can't wait for that. Ford can;t even program a transmission to work properly, I can't wait to ride with one of their self driven cars. I can only imagine the whiplash we're all gonna feel.

I think that the Big 3 are going to be the Big Losers in the self-driving car game.

 

[kickstand]

I think that the Big 3 are going to be the Big Losers in the self-driving car game.

I think that General Motors will be able to hold their own, their software and calibration game is on point in comparison to Ford and Chrysler.

Toyota already tried to make self driving cars, they just didn't tell anyone :teehee:

I always thought VW/Audi was doing pretty good, til they got busted not being able to do what they were claiming.

I work for Nissan, I don't drive one. They seem to do ok with infotainment programming, but i don't know about engine cal and trans cal.

Tesla has some guys with some knowledge, but they can't get off the ground to sell cars yet.

Ford is a clear loser, their infotainment systems and trans cal is terrible, would argue their motors aren't breaking any ground either.

In the end you have to look at who's got decent software guys in place now and making reliable stuff (from that standpoint)

I could see Toyota/Lexus figuring the shit out at some point, maybe Honda/Acura, and GM.

But I dunno, that's just me being an outsider with out any knowledge of the subject just passing the time during another boring work day.