future dilemma?

[rsoles27]

so come tax time I'm debating on getting a new car (subaru wrx) or using that tax and a little bit of a loan and do a big build for my 944S. I'm thinking a six speed 968 tanny and a lsd, new torque tube, new block board over to a 2.7 dohc and new header, and chip. what do you guys think?

[Gawernator]

How much cash? I'm not sure how you could get a new WRX for the price of those components, but why do you want a rice rocket when you could drive a nice Porsche

[ckelly78z]

Go for the reliability of the WRX, and build your 944 slowly as you can afford to.

[rsoles27]

i can have both if i choose the subie. and I'm looking at 8k-12k to put down into either a new to me wrx or that into my 9 for track and dd.

[BReif61]

I would not recommend getting a loan to pay for modifications to a car; it's not a good idea.

With what it sounds like you want to do, why not consider selling your S and buying an S2?

[Gawernator]

You could just get a nice 968

[rsoles27]

sentimental attachment to mine.

[rick13]

Turbo or even better...Turbo S

[BReif61]

Originally Posted by rsoles27

sentimental attachment to mine.

That's well and good, and we can all relate, but I don't think that taking out a (high interest) personal loan to do $9k worth of work to an S will be worth it. Even with what you described, you'll probably still be below the performance threshold of an S2 and definitely below a Turbo, which could be had for the same money.

Let's say you decide to take your $9k and buy a Turbo. That should be quite a nice, sorted car right out of the box. Then once you fall in love with it, you can sell your S, and take that money and modify the Turbo.

[ckelly78z]

^^^^^^ +1. A $9000 turbo will be a car that doesn't need anything, just drive it with the performance already there that you were going to try and achieve with the build.

[v2rocket_aka944]

Impreza is a nice car. Very fun to drive and very comfy over long distance.

I wouldn't take on a car payment though, unless you're buying a used one outright with cash.

If I had another $10k to drop on my 944 right now it'd be factory perfect...and faster.

[Jfrahm]

Wow a car payment and a loan to mod another car? Fast track to credit counselling.
Look at the long term cost of what you are doing, sounds like a massive anchor of debt. How depressing.

2013 WRX, 5 year cost of ownership: $42,041
2013 Subaru Impreza WRX Cost of Ownership

$25 bucks a day weather you drive it or it sits in the garage. Ouch.

[rsoles27]

i was looking at an 05 wrx wagon 141xxx 8k. already drove it I like it a lot, but talked to subaru dealers afterwards and they said that its about due for head gaskets and timing belt.

[jeffrsmith]

Pardon my ignorance, but head gaskets are routine maintenance on a Subie?

How expensive is a head gasket job on one of those? Would it be an easy DIY?

I have always liked the looks of the WRX but have not done any research.

[BReif61]

Originally Posted by jeffrsmith

Pardon my ignorance, but head gaskets are routine maintenance on a Subie?

How expensive is a head gasket job on one of those? Would it be an easy DIY?

I have always liked the looks of the WRX but have not done any research.

They aren't exactly routine maintenance, but they do fail often. Think along the lines of M96's and their IMS bearing, but not as catastrophic.

[Porsche-O-Phile]

Originally Posted by rsoles27

sentimental attachment to mine.

I can understand and appreciate this, but what happens when Suzy Soccermom slams her 6,000 pound SUV into the back of it while she's busy sending an important text message to her hair stylist?

Don't take a loan to pay for car upgrades and treat every car as something that can be gone on an instant. We all love our cars but the reality is the rest of the world doesn't care... Be careful what you get attached to and how much.

[rsoles27]

dealer said about 1400 for head gaskets and timing belt change. 2500 for new rollers. have to pull engine so I dont want to diy. and for the suv thing your right, but like i said around tax time so, i"m saving till then and will have around 5k then.

[jeffrsmith]

Originally Posted by rsoles27

have to pull engine so I dont want to diy.

You need to find a new mechanic, $1100 bump for replacing the rollers is absolutely ridiculous, changing the rollers should not add much more than an hour to the labor if they are done at the same time as the TB. You do not have to pull the engine to do head gasket and timing belt change, makes life easier but it is not necessary. This pricing sounds like someone who does not really want the job.

[rsoles27]

yeah.

[BikePilot]

I'd also advise against going into debt for either. I think the best approach would be the maintain your current car exceptionally well, but not go too crazy with the mods. The mods really won't do that much for it and will be expensive. A really clean, near-stock NA 944 is a blast to drive. Then when you've got a wad of cash big enough go spend it on something faster if that's what most interests you