Looking into a new car for detailing

A

anson89

New member
I currently have a 2004 Highlander right now for daily commute, carrying my drums and detailing supplies.



I'm looking into a 2007 Subaru WRX Wagon as I'm dying to drive a manual car, this is probably the best choice because of its size etc etc. What are your thoughts on this car? I love the Highlander to death, but I just have to give up something and the Highlander has more cargo space as well. Seems like the WRX Wagon is a little small and I can't fit much in there.



A friend of mine recommended me Thule cargo boxes for the WRX Wagon. By the looks of it, it's pretty flat, not sure if I can fit anything in there.



So should I keep the Highlander or get the WRX Wagon + Thule box? Opinions needed!



Thanks
 
anson89- I'd be all about cargo capacity and practicality, so I'd pick the Highlander over the WRX.



I don't know from mobile detailing, but I'm approaching this the way I do my dog-haulers. My (1st generation) WRX wagon was a fun little ride, but my dogs and I outgrew it really fast.



And I wouldn't be caught dead with a Thule box/etc. on a WRX; that's just me, but IMO it'd be like having a U-Haul trailer hooked up to a sportscar. Also, there's a security aspect to this..those cargo boxes often say "steal my contents" to bad folks and even if there's nothing in there to take they'll still be messing with your vehicle.



I actually think the Highlander is a great vehicle for your application. If you want something different I'd think more along its lines. What about a 4-Runner?
 
Anson89:

Do you have full-time 4WD on the Highlander?? Do you NEED 4WD??



If you could get by without 4WD, maybe a (less-expensive) van may fit your needs, with the benefit of better gas mileage.

All-in-all, the Highlander IS a great everyday vehicle.



I have a Subaru Outback Wagon that get so-so gas mileage, but up here in the Frozen Tundra of Lambeau Field, I benefit from having full-time 4WD in the winter-early spring months. Could I get by without it? Yes, I did for years when we changed over to snow tires on rear-wheel drive cars. But once you hav 4WD, even front-wheel drive car, as good as they are in snow, do not have the traction (and feeing of safety) over 4WD.



Which is why about half the vehicles in the ditch in Wisconsin are SUVs and trucks with 4WD; they simply drive too fast for conditions. Because they are usually heavier vehicles, it takes a long distance for them to stop or brake on slippery roads, even with anti-lock brakes. With all the technology on cars today to make them safe (Anti-lock brakes, traction control, air bags, HID lighting, performance All-Season tires, to name a few) the feeling of safety from these devices over-rides driver common sense of driving for the conditions present at the time. This is on reason highway speeds in Wisconsin average about 72 MPH on 4-lane highways and interstate roads. NOT a good speed to be going when it starts to rain or snow. But I digress...........
 
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