Not many $3,000 Subaru competitors out there :(

Unless I’m missing something (I’d love that to be true)  not many cheap, reliable manual AWD cars to choose from.

Seems like the Suzuki and maybe the CR-V but I’m not looking for a small SUV. Lancer is just fwd until you go Evo.

ARRRRRRGGGGHHHH

This is a good question to take to the http://www.fueleconomy.gov website and their Power Search function.  

Pre-Evo Lancer there was Mitsu Eclipes and DSM twins.

Mitsu Expo/Eagle Summit wagon twins

Would these be considered reliable?  

Geo Tracker? No idea if manual was an option or if they were remotely reliable, but my aunt had one and I always wondered if they were worth a damn.

JohnInKansas said:

Geo Tracker? No idea if manual was an option or if they were remotely reliable, but my aunt had one and I always wondered if they were worth a damn.

Owned one. Liked it. Just want a little more modern and full-time awd.

Mazdaspeed 6?

reliability is good or terrible depending who you ask. My speed3 has been pretty good

In reply to spandak :

I actually looked at these but nothing in that price range.

Roll the dice on an AWD Audi in that price list.  What can go wrong!?

WonkoTheSane said:

Roll the dice on an AWD Audi in that price list.  What can go wrong!?

You have no idea how many times I’ve looked into the feasibility of a B6 A4 1.8t 

jaguar x type.

dean1484 said:

jaguar x type.

Would HAVE to be a manual. Is there such a thing as a manual X-Type? I wont buy another automatic daily driver unless it was a P71 but thats far away from my Subaru competition goals.

Indeed there are manual x-types. They are uncommon but not unheard of. 

V50.

Would you consider a Jeep Patriot.  Others have commented that it is a good alternative to a Forester.  

In a previous thread you stated you wanted a simple vehicle.  These Jeeps were offered stripped with crank windows.  The 2.4L engine is a staple of Chrysler offered in many vehicles.  As an added bonus, these Jeeps are very popular (with auto trans) and it will be very likely that your local JY has one in stock for a long time.  

With a manual trans, these will be hard to sell.  That should result in the ability to get one at a low price.  

Here is someones old video walk-thru: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RIsmD_mk_LQ 

Side note:  Not all Patriots are 4x4, many are just fwd and a lot of base models will be just fwd.  The easiest indicator that I can see is that the 4x4 models have a 4x4 badge on the rear liftgate.  

OP did seem to be looking for a car, not an SUV 

My $2750 WRX was pretty great for a beater.

Suzuki Aerio/sx4.

I forget if you could get the matrix/vibe twins in the 1st Gen guise in the stick/awd combo. While having a high roof form factor, they were still sub 3k lbs iirc.

In reply to fatallightning :

1G Matrix AWD models got a detuned 1ZZ-FE and the 4AT exclusively. Not very fun.

Resistance is futile, you will be assimilated. Cheap subys rock.  5 speed or auto if you swing that way.  

93gsxturbo said:

My $2750 WRX was pretty great for a beater.

Do tell...

I’ve watched dozens of videos on used WRX’s but they all seem to be, to me, nightmares. Most needing new engines. Some multiple. Can’t have that. But I’m open to the idea for SURE because that’s what I’d really like to be driving. Just not something that actually needs one or more engine overhauls.

porschenut said:

Resistance is futile, you will be assimilated. Cheap subys rock.  5 speed or auto if you swing that way.  

Definitely 5 spd. Please, go on...

Crv and elements cam be had in manual AWD flavor 

ebonyandivory said:

93gsxturbo said:

My $2750 WRX was pretty great for a beater.

Do tell...

I’ve watched dozens of videos on used WRX’s but they all seem to be, to me, nightmares. Most needing new engines. Some multiple. Can’t have that. But I’m open to the idea for SURE because that’s what I’d really like to be driving. Just not something that actually needs one or more engine overhauls.

You have my attention as well.  Please do tell more...

Streetwiseguy said:

V50.

I have looked for these a number of times, specifically a V50 T5 AWD. They are as rare as hen's teeth and I have never found one for under $3K. But I will keep looking because I really want one!!!

I paid $750 for my 02 WRX about 8 years ago. It was my DD for 3 years and then I sold it. I got $3k when I sold it!!!

I let it go for 2 reasons 1) It had rust issues as it had been my buddy's winter car and I sold it before the rust got really bad and 2) Fuel mileage - the combo of poor mileage and the cost of premium was not a good combo.

Overall, the issue with issues with WRX's fall into a few categories:

1) The 02-05 cars had the 2.0L EJ205 and it's a pretty decent engine, however they are cheap enough to be this generations DSM cars. They mod them without tuning or ignore the well known issues (up-pipe cats like to break up, etc.) until BOOM! High mileage ones have been known to spin bearings. The EJ205 is a decent engine and a JDM EJ207 is a pretty much a drop in replacement, other than wiring the AVCS (variable cam stuff). Keep in mind these cars are all pretty much 15+ years old now. You have to find one that has not been beat to E36 M3. 

2) 06-up cars - the 2.5L versions suffer from poor factory tunes and for some reason like to lose the cyl 4 ringlands. This affects the STi's even more, probably due to the higher power from the factory. Get a COBB and run an OTS tune or have them tuned. They run stupid lean on the factory tune due to emissions/fuel mileage issues. Some people have speculated that either the intake or exhaust runs (or both) result in cyl 4 being more lean than the others, but I haven't seen proof of this. These are also cheap enough that the cheap power crowd can afford them but don't tune them. It's not surprising that the EJ255, EJ257 are having issues in some ways, they are a really old engine design, but Subaru has kept it going in the STi's in North America for some reason.

3) All of the cars have issues with oil pickups - they don't do well on track due to oil starvation in long Left(?) handers, as the oil moves away from the pickup and the factory pickup likes to crack near the base. Killer B has a solution for these and probably others.

4) Rust - in the rust belt they ALL do!

5) Newer WRX's with FA20T - I haven't heard much yet on these. But these are 2015 and up. Not in my price range.

Chassis wise Subaru's are tough. I have run a number of mine around on rally roads as part of my volunteer work and have never broken anything. I also ran rally-X in some (I have owned 8 Subaru's - I still have an 07 Impreza Wagon 2.5i)

Take care of them, undercoat them and they will take care of you. I don't understand the hate for these cars, almost every car out there has some sort of weak point. People ignore the weak points of many other platforms. Find one that has been well cared for and they can be very enjoyable. A WRX with snows in the winter is pure magic.