Title: The Used Car Market
Tags: used cars suv trucks subaru impreza
Blog Entry: The last few months have been a trial for me. I bought a 2000 Nissan Xterra with a 5-speed manual about a year ago as my first non-beater car. It was exactly what I was looking for. An SUV so that I could slog through traditional New England winters and drive across Nauset Beach on Cape Cod. Plus, the 5-speed made it much peppier and I had always desired to drive a manual transmission. It seemed like the perfect match. But being the car fanatic I am, I eventually wanted something different, something sportier, something that I could flog on the local back roads but wouldn't steal my wallet because of gas consumption. So, in March, I began the process of selling the Xterra and began looking for a new car. Becuase of my financial situation, I was restricted to late 90's/early 2000's cars and I toyed with the thought of a Honda Prelude or an Acura Integra GS-R but eventually focused my search on the Nissan Maxima. It was fast, luxurious and the V6 got decent gas mileage. I was nearly set to buy a Maxima until I stumbled upon a 1999 Subaru Impreza 2.5RS. I decided to go for a drive and was immediately captivated by the quick-revving engine, playful chassis and aggressive styling. In less than a week, the car became mine. The relatively large 2.5L engine means it's got lots of midrange torque and is a joy to drive around on and off-ramps despite the soft tires. A friend of mine owned an Integra GS-R for awhile and poured his heart and soul into the car. He put a supercharger, intercooler, exhaust, headers, intake, springs and shocks, short shift kit and more before it was stolen about a year ago. His enjoyment putting that car together has inspired me and within the next year, I am planning on starting a project of my own. I don't have plans of forced induction as the cost is too high and it would diminish the immediate throttle response the stock engine has. I am planning on a cat-back exhaust system, a new set of lightweight pullies, a cold-air intake and possibly more as time goes on. I can't wait to get that project started. As for the Xterra, that was an even bigger project. Because of the recent downturn in the economy and the spike in gas prices, SUV have become the black sheep of used-car lots and interested buyers. I posted it on Autotrader, Craigslist and XterraTrader.com yet I received very few phone calls from interested buyers. Finally, after having it on the market for over 2.5 months, a buyer came around looking for an SUV for his high-school age son and his eyes were filled with the same desire I had for my Impreza. I'm sure he will be ecstatic with his new ride as I am with mine. Moral of the story, just give it time, you will eventually find the car that fits you perfectly and someone will eventually find your car is perfect for them.
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