02 WRX or 99 323 ?

[gbf1lm]

i am 17 yrs old and i live in orange county, california.

ive had my eye on the wrx since it came out and i really like it. a month ago my dad bought an M3 and i got his 92 325i. of course i was thilled and forgot my lust for a subie.

so anyways now its been a month and few days ago i told my dad i wanted to start modding it. he told me not to spend money in a 12 year old car this was only temporary, after teh next big maintenence expense, sell teh car and he will buy me an 02 wrx. we spent like 5k in maint this year, 1k on a compreseor, 1k on a new clutch, replace torn seats, and labor and other such. he can spend upto 17k or so. i got mad at him and he told me if i want a bmw he can buy me a 99 3-series for about the same as a 02 subie. so i was happy. then i went to LA autoshow, saw rex in person, fell in love again.

so what im askin for is an un bias opinion, bmw or wrx ? seems like a no brainer right ? bmw duh ? but i dont think so . . .

 

[Tom]

It depends on what you like, luxury or speed?

The WRX's are fast but they don't stand out in a crowd. They're a dime a dozen, I personally would choose the 323.

 

[CosmosBlack]

Yeap, BMW definitely. The WRX has Ricer looks.

 

[codex57]

323s are a dime a dozen in Orange County as well. I'd get a Subie. You're 17. If you're like the typical 17 year old, you'll want the speed and modibility of the Rex.

 

[gbf1lm]

ok i dont care for any of the luxury stuff i also dont care for people to say look hes got a bimmer. im also leanign toward subie bc i think od the 323 as a downgrade form my 325.

im not going to turn ricer or anything i believe subaru is the best japanese company.
i remember reading an article about a BRITISH magazine saying the the cars to drive before u die, the onl japaense car anywhere up there as the rex at 14th.

i basically want performance but i dont want to lose the feel from drivng an awesome car (bmw)

ya and im where i live 323s are all over. 2 guys at school have 325, and 2 have 330. (e46 many more e36) 1 guy has a wrx.

 

[MrElussive]

Dude, for $17K, get a used E36 M3. Great performance, great luxury. But if it's really between the WRX and the 323, then you have to decide, which one do you want: luxury or performance (of course the 323 does offer superb handling). But if it was me, and I had $17K or whatever to play with, I would take the brand-new WRX. There is nothing like a brand-new car and the WRX has an awesome drive to it (I test-drove a 2003 model, and the new 2004 models look amazing). Although the WRX lacks in luxury, you can actually get aftermarket leather-wrapped seats (for like $700), nicer stereo system, and lots of performance tuning options to make it into a performance monster.
But in the end, I think you should definitely look for a used E36 M3.

 

[skandalous]

I'm gonna say go for the WRX. I drove one at work one time and had a blast with it. I love me some bmw's, but hot damn, have some fun in a car that you can abuse without paying an arm and a leg to reapir. You can fix a subaru a lot cheaper than a BMW, and seeing as how you're 17, you're gonna hurt a car. Hell, I've done it. Not wrecked mine, but torn some stuff up. Go wrx.

ps- Gonne be shame to see that 325i go bye bye. Great car

 

[MrElussive]

Yay, glad I'm not alone on this one...I didn't wanna seem anti-BMWor anything, the WRX just makes more sense for a youngen such as yourself.

 

[codex57]

hey, I said it first.

 

[frolf]

i even considered a WRX. I still want one, AWD is too much fun.

Current: e36 328iS

4 years from now: e30 325iS (w/ M52 swap) and an '01 WRX

10 years from now: e30 325is (w/M52 Swap) and '96 993 C4S




back to the topic, you have a tough choice, but subaru's are very well made cars, and the wrx is pretty hot.

 

[Kirby]

Personally, I don't like the WRX because it screams "I'm the factory built Ultimate Ricing Machine". BUT if I were 17 I would probably go for the WRX, as several people have said.

My 2 cents worth:
1. It's probably not going to be a long term keeper. I can't see a 7 year old WRX having any long term value; I really question how well the build/design will hold up to that high horsepower over the long term.

2. In my area, you see the number of WRXs on the road growing quickly. In a year or two, it probably will be a "ME TOO" (not unique) ride, seeing dozens on the road every day.

Still, I like MR. E's suggestion - go for the E36 M3. If insurance cost is any concern, the E36 M3 should be cheaper insurance than the WRX.

 

[gbf1lm]

Dude, for $17K, get a used E36 M3.

oh ive been thinking of that for a long time. but the problem is that a i can afford a 95 only, and thats only 3 years younger to mine currently, im going to b in college agian and have to start looking for another car. my dad dont want me to have the problems of an old car.

 

[JamieD22]

That's a tough one. They're both good cars... If you can snag a CPO Bimmer for the right price, that may be your best deal in my opinion (great warranty, sporty, solid car). As for the Scooby, it's a fun car (factory turbo, built decently) but the warranty (unless they offer a decent CPO warranty) on an '02 will soon expire - leaving you to babysit that potentially costly turbo. If you could get a good warranty on both cars, and both are the same price, it just boils down to your appetite, then our opinions don't really matter. So, what do you prefer, luxury or pep?

 

[Section_8]

Sounds like a WRX for you probably a good choice, especially once you get into repairs - just wanted to comment on this one thing you said tho.

You said the 323i would seem like a downgrade to you from your 325i. Why? It's basically the same 2.5l engine in the 323, and will obviously be in better condition and running condition ('99 vs a '92), and I'm betting a little more hp gain from other 'improvements' from '92 to '99. But new cars are great (nice to not have the maintaince always hovering over your head and bank account).

(Dunno what was going through their head to designate the 2.5 engine to the 323 and not call it 325 anymore, maybe to give it more 'distance' from the 328, and to make the 328 'seem' like it was alot more hp maybe?)

 

[mclarensmps]

i would go for the scooby myself, im a big fan of Subaru (and Petter Solberg ) and its much nicer to be in a newer car rather than an older one if you had the money. Its loads of fun too!

 

[sketch]

i asked my dad about a wrx sti and my current car when we were looking for a new car. we were split between the two but my dad wanted to get a bmw in the end. i still love my ZHP, but if i were you, id go for the WRX, manly for performance (i personally had a hard time turning down 300 horses). also, you are looking at the new WRX sti (non-circular lights)right? my only complaint is the ricey wing and the monsterous swoop on the hood. you could always test drive them both and see if your really going to miss the bimmer feel.

 

[ODDferkOUT]

I'm actually torn between the two cos I love both of them. However, I'm in favor of the WRX's driving position over the 3er. It feels more.... correct (for lack of a better word). But it all comes down to luxury comforts and amenities to raw power and grunt.

Test drive both see which one you feel more at home in....

 

[gbf1lm]

You said the 323i would seem like a downgrade to you from your 325i. Why? It's basically the same 2.5l engine in the 323, and will obviously be in better condition and running condition ('99 vs a '92),

actually 2 things.
1. its the 2.5L form an e30 325, example 91. its got 168hp not 189 like mine.
2. this may just be pysocological but its the lesser 3. there was 323/328. in mine cars day there was 328/325, i had the higher.

 

[gbf1lm]

i asked my dad about a wrx sti and my current car when we were looking for a new car. we were split between the two but my dad wanted to get a bmw in the end. i still love my ZHP, but if i were you, id go for the WRX, manly for performance (i personally had a hard time turning down 300 horses). also, you are looking at the new WRX sti (non-circular lights)right? my only complaint is the ricey wing and the monsterous swoop on the hood. you could always test drive them both and see if your really going to miss the bimmer feel.

yes i know a 330zhp and an sti is a toss up, but thats not in my price range.

also i am looking for a used 02 so that i can afford, that has the round 'frog eyes' lights. looks more muscular to me. also the sti has that monstrosity on back for a reason, 300hp in that piddly lil car it needs some downforce also its not a bimemr and therefore not 50/50, also 300hp from a 4cyl even though turbo'ed, it needs that air duct for the intercooler.

 

[sketch]

stupid me, i just saw the post again "02 wrx and 99 323". if you dont really care much for luxery and being "visable" id get the WRX. i think they're cheaper to fix as well fun to drive. if your going to mod the car, there are already many upgrades for them. as with the 323, upgrades are fewer, cost more, and have less hp gains.