KrissyHeishman
Enthusiast
Also, no one has mentioned a Ute, so I figured I might. 
KrissyHeishman
Enthusiast
Actually, on a similar note, I'm going to be looking at this 2006 Baja this weekend.. It's about $5k cheaper than I've found anywhere else and it's CarFax certified.
http://www.nescotx.com/inventory/view/2024391/2006-Subaru-Baja
Reasons why I like it:
1) It's a Subaru!!!
2) It's a Ute! I've been back and forth debating between a AWD car, crossover, suv or truck and this is a great compramise.
3) 276hp, 2.5L 4C Engine, Turbo Charged.
4) COMFORT! Leather, heated seats / quiet interior / sunroof
5) Low center of gravity & pierces thru the wind quite well.
6) Auto AND manual transmission in 2006 turbo models! Yup, it's gotta shifter - no clutch (not paddle, but part of the auto shifter).
7) The sound a Subaru engine makes... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LWIYKwXg7nQ (gotta str8 pipe on it, but that's all i believe)
8) Mileage isn't THAT great, but not terrible either - for the amount of fun you'd get out of it! 18st, 28hw I believe.
Also, price isn't that bad either.
http://www.nescotx.com/inventory/view/2024391/2006-Subaru-Baja
Reasons why I like it:
1) It's a Subaru!!!
2) It's a Ute! I've been back and forth debating between a AWD car, crossover, suv or truck and this is a great compramise.
3) 276hp, 2.5L 4C Engine, Turbo Charged.
4) COMFORT! Leather, heated seats / quiet interior / sunroof
5) Low center of gravity & pierces thru the wind quite well.
6) Auto AND manual transmission in 2006 turbo models! Yup, it's gotta shifter - no clutch (not paddle, but part of the auto shifter).
7) The sound a Subaru engine makes... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LWIYKwXg7nQ (gotta str8 pipe on it, but that's all i believe)
8) Mileage isn't THAT great, but not terrible either - for the amount of fun you'd get out of it! 18st, 28hw I believe.
Also, price isn't that bad either.
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rob.cannon
EF0
M1A2 Abrams... lol
I have a 2009 Toyota Corolla.
I have a 2009 Toyota Corolla.
Olivier Staiger
EF3
OK...I found it...the ultimate chase vehicle.
may not be the best for tornadoes, but yes, for straightline winds ;-)
and.... the passengers in front can choose a slightly different target from the passengers in the back of the "car" ;-)
Jason Foster
Actually, on a similar note, I'm going to be looking at this 2006 Baja this weekend.. It's about $5k cheaper than I've found anywhere else and it's CarFax certified.
http://www.nescotx.com/inventory/view/2024391/2006-Subaru-Baja
Reasons why I like it:
1) It's a Subaru!!!
2) It's a Ute! I've been back and forth debating between a AWD car, crossover, suv or truck and this is a great compramise.
3) 276hp, 2.5L 4C Engine, Turbo Charged.
4) COMFORT! Leather, heated seats / quiet interior / sunroof
5) Low center of gravity & pierces thru the wind quite well.
6) Auto AND manual transmission in 2006 turbo models! Yup, it's gotta shifter - no clutch (not paddle, but part of the auto shifter).
7) The sound a Subaru engine makes... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LWIYKwXg7nQ (gotta str8 pipe on it, but that's all i believe)
8) Mileage isn't THAT great, but not terrible either - for the amount of fun you'd get out of it! 18st, 28hw I believe.
Also, price isn't that bad either.
The Baja to me is a chopped Legacy for way to much more money. Just mentioned in a different thread about Subaru cars...and the danger of have a 2.5L EJ motor (tend to have head gasket failure. If the price is "too good to be true...it probably is". $5,000 less than the rest....there is something wrong with the car most likely. and HG failures and be detected but slowly manifest. 1 year and 12,000 mile warranty would be a MUST.
Also....CARFAX is the biggest joke out there. I can't tell you how many cars I've found with clean records yet had been in accidents, floods, etc. It's a good start...but not a cover all.
MPGs are NOT that good. My NA gets ~ 23mpg average. They have lots of maintenance, and are money pits. BUT...the AWD system is great. I dropped $3300 in mine (about the full cost of a high mileage replacement) because I now know the HG is is taken car of.
ADD:
WOW....just checked out the ad: That's an EFFFING RIP OFF....it may be a 2006...but it's the OLD body NOT the same as a 2004+Legacy. These are the same as the 2000-2003 Legacy. So basically you are paying $15k for what in a normal Legacy/Outback with that mileage sells for a $6000 - $7000.
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Brandon Clement
EF4
I rented a rav4 4wd for my chase vacation. Got 32 mpg highway, went through muddy ok county roads and was comfortable the entire trip.
The cargo area was big enough for a big ice chest, two suitcases with enough clothes for 7 days for two people. A load of food and drinks. Hooked a massive power investor up with 2 guage wire and never felt any battery or alternator impacts. Had a laptop, threat net, first aid kit, a couple large flashlights, two camcorders, scanner, battery chargers for everything, two pillows and plenty of room left.
The seats let all the way down, the glass is affordable and available anywhere. It is a low profile suv so crosswinds hardly impact it. There are practically no blind spots and at no time did it feel unreliable.
The only cons, lacked some power but actually surprised me considering it gets 32mpg. It is awd all the time but can operate in 4wd but only below 25mph. Wish it would work to at least 40 since I like to get it down dirt roads and dint want to have to slow down to put it in 4wd everytime.
The fuel tank only holds 14 gallons so the range is average.
May not be the best vehicle but sure is hard to beat.
The cargo area was big enough for a big ice chest, two suitcases with enough clothes for 7 days for two people. A load of food and drinks. Hooked a massive power investor up with 2 guage wire and never felt any battery or alternator impacts. Had a laptop, threat net, first aid kit, a couple large flashlights, two camcorders, scanner, battery chargers for everything, two pillows and plenty of room left.
The seats let all the way down, the glass is affordable and available anywhere. It is a low profile suv so crosswinds hardly impact it. There are practically no blind spots and at no time did it feel unreliable.
The only cons, lacked some power but actually surprised me considering it gets 32mpg. It is awd all the time but can operate in 4wd but only below 25mph. Wish it would work to at least 40 since I like to get it down dirt roads and dint want to have to slow down to put it in 4wd everytime.
The fuel tank only holds 14 gallons so the range is average.
May not be the best vehicle but sure is hard to beat.
Adam Simone
EF1
I'm also in the market for a new vehicle. It will also be my everyday vehicle not just a chase vehicle. Can't afford 2 cars. I just really started looking so my list is still rather large. Most likely it will be a 2010 vehicle and it will have AWD or 4WD. I would love to get a car that got 35 mpg but I feel like I need AWD or 4WD which puts me between 15-25 mpg.
1. Chevy Silverado
2. Chevy Tahoe
3. Ford F150
4. Dodge Ram
5. Ford Fusion AWD
6. Subaru Legacy AWD
7. Chevy Equinox AWD
8. GMC Terrain AWD
9. 2011 Kia Sorento AWD
Like I said it's still a large list. I hate just making a big purchase with out doing tons of research on every option lol. I've test drove the Silverado and F150 so far. Loved both but might make the sacrifice and get something with a little better gas mileage.
1. Chevy Silverado
2. Chevy Tahoe
3. Ford F150
4. Dodge Ram
5. Ford Fusion AWD
6. Subaru Legacy AWD
7. Chevy Equinox AWD
8. GMC Terrain AWD
9. 2011 Kia Sorento AWD
Like I said it's still a large list. I hate just making a big purchase with out doing tons of research on every option lol. I've test drove the Silverado and F150 so far. Loved both but might make the sacrifice and get something with a little better gas mileage.
Alex Fisher
EF1
Just to clarify the Subaru headgasket issue a bit. The headgasket problem was largely diminished by 2006, as it was more of a 1995-2004 issue in the EJ25D and EJ251 series engines. Thats not to say a 2006 EJ253 series engine cant have a headgasket failure, just that it is far, far less widespread than in the earlier models. Additionally, if it is the turbocharged model (EJ255), the chance of a headgasket failure is extremely minimal.
Jason Tunzer
EF1
So I just picked up a 2011 Z-71 Silverado yesterday. Got a SMOKING deal on it as they were overloaded on inventory and were starting to get in 2012 inventory. I traded in my 05 Silverado, got them to toss in a spray in bedliner and lowered my payment $100 a month. The active fuel management can switch the engine from 8 to 4 cylinder mode for better fuel economy. It's a much smoother ride and has a 6 speed trans. I took my 05 out last week to KS and was getting about 14MPG, can't wait to see what this thing does! The wife isn't too keen on me taking the truck out chasing tomm though. 
Juliann Reno
I like too chase in a older car, my 1994 caddy, it is sturdy,and has room for all my computer stuff. I also have a suv, i just am a bite more carefull I do not want to get rolled. It is also the person doing the driving and knowledge of what to look for, and no car can out out chase anything. It is the skill and the car that is what I have learned
Jason Foster
Keep in mind too....as I and other Subie owners have discovered (as I read in a different thread/site) that parts are very hard to come by in a pinch. This is true for anything foreign. If you go with something older...might be best to stick with American made...if you spend lots of time in the central states. Wichita is basically the only place in all of Kansas you can get Subaru parts same day or next day. Don't expect anything in Great Bend, Salina, Stockton, and a host of other cities. Been there...done that!
Jeff Wright
EF4
- Joined
- Apr 23, 2010
- Messages
- 406
Older Ford LTD station wagons. Full frame, lower profile than mini-vans, old fleet crown vics...plenty of room
ericjkelly
EF4
Escape Hybrid! 28-30MPG SUV 4x4
I LOVE MINE!
I LOVE MINE!
Mike Moore
EF2
Agreed! I love my Escape, although mine tis not a hybrid.
I recently had some mechanical issues and I ended up taking the minivan on short notice. I hate to say it, but I enjoyed the extra room... I could see going to a minivan full time.
Jason Foster
I chased in a 2005 Chrysler T&C Mini w/ Sto 'n Go in 2004. Damn things are stable as hell...and about as good off-road as any FWDer and even some AWDers (like the Rav4/CR-V). You can easily to it's top speed (105mph) all the way across n.Kansas w/out a problem (but no you shouldn't). The key is to fold the middle seats down into the floor. The weight put low like that makes a HUGE difference. To bad they had to drop AWD for the Sto 'n Go, that combo likely would have had 60% to 70% of chasers in one! Chrysler vans are very reliable too...look around how many are still around (even with the government cash4clunkers program).
