Small / economy car deathwatch: we've passed "peak econobox" again

[redpoint5]

Subaru is notorious for bad head gaskets every 100k miles. My 2.2L never had an issue up until it was rear ended at 220k miles.

[JSH]

Our 2 Japanese cars were both 2nd generation Prii - a 2005 and a 2009. I had the 05 until it was 12 years old and the 2009 until it was 10. Both had the 3-way coolant valve for the thermos stick open but that was the only repair. Everything else was maintenance by the book.

My parents have only owned one Japanese car - a 2010 Prius. It has required no repairs in 10 years / 190K miles.

[Xist]

Yeah, you can replace the AC condenser without removing the dash. I am unimpressed.

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

Originally Posted by redpoint5

Subaru is notorious for bad head gaskets every 100k miles.

My father had a 2010 Impreza. I don't remember its mileage when he got rid of it, but the technical support and the lack of ground clearance were his only complaints.

[redpoint5]

Originally Posted by cRiPpLe_rOoStEr

My father had a 2010 Impreza. I don't remember its mileage when he got rid of it, but the technical support and the lack of ground clearance were his only complaints.

I remember lusting after the WRX after reading about it in prison. After test driving one I was satisfied owning a 1996 Legacy. That’s the car I dream about most, but I’ll probably never own another Subaru.

[Piotrsko]

Originally Posted by Xist

Yeah, you can replace the AC condenser without removing the dash. I am unimpressed.

Wait a minute, the condenser should be right behind the grille. Of course you don't need to pull the dash.

[JSH]

Originally Posted by redpoint5

I remember lusting after the WRX after reading about it in prison. After test driving one I was satisfied owning a 1996 Legacy. That’s the car I dream about most, but I’ll probably never own another Subaru.

I remember drooling over my co-worker's 2002 WRX wagon. A 230 hp Turbo AWD vehicle was hot stuff back then.

[Xist]

Originally Posted by Piotrsko

Wait a minute, the condenser should be right behind the grille. Of course you don't need to pull the dash.

Then I am less impressed!

The evaporator is behind the dash?

[Fat Charlie]

I spent most of a year looking forward to buying a WRX when I got home from my "2 weeks a year" that was 2004. But late in the year they put a 250hp 2.5 turbo in the Legacy. Considering that I had zero kids when I bought the car and my second kid was 4 when I ditched it 8 years later, I'm really glad I got the Legacy instead. It was a much better family car.

[Bicycle Bob]

Did you ask the whole family? I heard about a couple of kids who always opted for riding in the back of an MG TC until they absolutely could not fit.