Buying new daily - seeking opinions!

Since y'all are just a bunch of internet strangers, looking for honest feedback!  Hoping to buy a new (to me) daily within the next few days. Right now I'm considering two options:

2017 Subaru WRX 6mt - CPO w 30k mi. and leather interior. CPO nets a factory backed 7yr/100k powertrain warranty.

2015 BMW 335i Sportline automatic - 46k mi and dealer includes a third party "lifetime" powertrain warranty.

I've driven and enjoyed both (obviously since they're on the short list). I'm relatively familiar with the maintenance routines of older BMWs, research shows the F10s are actually rather reliable but I'm still terrified of operating costs.  The more robust warranty, cheaper parts and special financing thru my bank on the Subaru pulls me in, but the wife thinks the BMW is "more me" (plus she'd be more than willing to take it off my hands if I don't like it).  Purchase price is essentially the same between the two...  If it sways opinions at all, we may be moving from TX back to MI towards the summer, so another benefit of the Subaru would be the AWD in my opinion...

Edit: target budget of $25k if other suggestions..

Personally, don't like either option. 

My BRZ felt very cheaply made. And I'm aggravated that my current '13 135i is now leaking oil from the valve cover and Oil Filter Housing Gasket, the car has less than 32k miles. 

I owned that exact Subaru, it was a hoot. You won't regret it! I don't know what LT reliability is like on the FA20 engine, but I suspect that most of these cars get beaten to heck and back. Hopefully the head gaskets go within your warranty.

z31maniac said:

Personally, don't like either option. 

My BRZ felt very cheaply made. And I'm aggravated that my current '13 135i is now leaking oil from the valve cover and Oil Filter Housing Gasket, the car has less than 32k miles. 

I've been shopping 16-17 5.0s as well but the selection is a bit more limited without expanding my budget a bit. Also less practical (especially if considering moving back North) but my wife isn't as concerned about the practicality of a coupe...

I've found most WRX are stupid priced used to where you might as well buy new. I wouldn't touch a newer BMW at all because they are just over complicated junk so I'm Z31 as neither. 

I'd be very curious as to just how much is covered by that lifetime powertrain warranty, but I also wouldn't buy a BMW with an auto box under any circumstances. The last Subaru I drove felt more like a very powerful tractor than a car. I guess you can put me in the "none of the above" category.

2016 WRX 6MT Limited owner here. It replaced my 2010 mazdaspeed3. I should have bought a BMw M3 sedan. Tired of 2nd Tier low Japanese quality products from Mazda and subaru. 

I would buy the bmw 

your wife knows you better than us 

Neither of those is made by Toyota, Lotus or Harley Davidson, so I can't really comment on them from personal experience.  However, stirictly on the warranty, I understand that both have common warrant claims, such as head gaskets and transmission on the Subie and everything on the BMW, short of pistons.  (I knew a guy... After a CEL fix at the BMW dealer that cost him like 3 large for a bad gas cap, he traded it in on an Avalon.)  An aftermarket warranty on the power train is virtually worthless in my book.  So, of those two, I would lean Subie.

None of the above. Long term newer german car ownership I do not have the income for. Subaru .... no. Just flat no. They lost me with (along with a lot of long term subie fans) with the headgaskets and then ringland issues. When I watched one blow while driving to the gas station with 12k miles and then subaru declined the repair because the owner "abused it" yeah. They can suck it. 

bmw88rider said:

I've found most WRX are stupid priced used to where you might as well buy new.

I've noticed this as well so I've expanded to new ones, though not many 2018s nearby with all the incentives stacked on them.

Man. On one hand I'm glad I asked you all because my experience is so limited. On the other hand, now I have no idea what to buy, haha.

Within that price point, Chevy SS 

Just bring a bunch of rust free metal back to MI with you, then decide what you want after that.

captdownshift said:

Within that price point, Chevy SS 

I'm with this guy.

captdownshift said:

Within that price point, Chevy SS 

Guess I should have included that... Being used, I'm trying not to exceed $25k. Sadly I haven't seen any SSes near that.

In reply to LSxDreamer :

You're welcome.

How about a used ISF. Plenty of them I see in 28-30K range, with silly low miles. Japanese reliability, excellent Yamaha V8. It is a quality/grown up WRX that is bulletproof till 250K miles.

What about a Stinger?  even used you'll get 5/60 b2b warranty and most of these are under 10k miles. Up the boost on the 2.0L and have fun. 

bobzilla said:

In reply to LSxDreamer :

You're welcome.

Lots of red flags on that Carfax...

mr2s2000elise said:

How about a used ISF. Plenty of them I see in 28-30K range, with silly low miles. Japanese reliability, excellent Yamaha V8. It is a quality/grown up WRX that is bulletproof till 250K miles.

Haven't seen any F's near my budget lately. There's an IS350 nearby that's in budget with 49k miles but I haven't driven one of them yet...

LSxDreamer said:

 

2015 BMW 335i Sportline automatic - 46k mi and dealer includes a third party "lifetime" powertrain warranty.

 

Be sure to have some understanding on that LIFETIME warranty.  There is a dealership chain around here that hawks a program called Warranty Forever.  Some real shady sh!t.  Not a warranty but rather a service agreement where to keep the "Forever" going you have to have every service the manufacturer calls for completed at the selling dealership within 1000 miles of the recommended interval. 

So, as the simplest example all oil changes must be done at the selling dealer and the rate for the oil change is not negotiable (ie; it ain't cheap.)  The whole program is fraught with deception where they try to get you to miss a service and void the "foreverness."  Lets say your manufacturer recommends 10k oil changes and you like 6k changes.  

First change at 6k then second change at 12k.  You just voided your "forever-ness" because you missed the 10k change and waited until 12k...really.  

Discussed here on GRM before

LSxDreamer said:

 

Guess I should have included that... Being used, I'm trying not to exceed $25k. Sadly I haven't seen any SSes near that.

Is 25k  a hard budget, or can 28k/30K doable?

mr2s2000elise said:

Is 25k  a hard budget, or can 28k/30K doable?

I'm pretty notoriously cheap, so rather firm.

Then about a new Honda Accord 1.5T 6MT, lowered with sticky rubber

For $25k I wouldn't be looking at either of the cars you mentioned. Waiting for the right SS seems like a good plan. The IS-F is nice in many ways, but it's so small inside and big outside... not my thing. 

Maintenance on the WRX scares me, but I really like the idea of a nice, stock, Evo IX. I also think if you get the right one you can put 50k miles on it and sell it for near what you paid.

The 335i is quick, especially when modified, but I don't think I could be happy paying for one knowing I could have a NICE E90 M3 or E60 M5 for exactly the same money. Both cars obviously aren't very fuel efficient, but gas is nearly free right now. Enjoy these types of cars while you have the chance.