[E92.Dom]

Thinking about trading in my 2012 bmw 335i coupe rwd for a 2015+ subaru wrx sti keep in mind I am 18 years old, let's keep cost of the car and insurance out of the picture as I have a stable job, and luxury isn't a factor. What does everyone think? Anyone ever do this trade? Regrets?

[John 070]

I wouldn't do it.

[e90yyc]

I’m familiar with both vehicles but have never made this particular swap; so, if you’re looking only for firsthand experience, then by all means stop reading here.

I think they’re two very different cars. Both capable, fast, and fun to drive. One 4-cyl and one 6-cyl. All these things you already know though...

You said you don’t care about luxury, but what about ride quality? General fit and finish? The 335 is miles ahead here. Every STI I’ve driven feels kind of the like the designers just said f*ck putting in a suspension, let’s just weld the axle hubs directly to the frame. That’s just me though. I’ve known many people who love their (Subaru) STI’s.

Is AWD important to you? If so, then that makes the choice much clearer, unless finding an xDrive 335 is an option.

What else is important to you?

TL;DR: Keep 335

[E92.Dom]

I'm looking for a fun, manual (my 335 is auto, one of the reasons getting rid of it) enthusiast car that looks good performs good and can mod the hell out of

[e90yyc]

Originally Posted by E92.Dom

...my 335 is auto

Burn the 335!

Honestly though they’re so different that it’s a question only you can answer. I think most here would find another 335 that is manual, or that has whatever features or qualities their current car is missing.

[Run Silent]

I think it's ultimately what you really want or what you are trying to accomplish. I recently sold my E93 and bought an F56 Mini Cooper S and promptly installed a tune on it. The BMW just wasn't "fun". It was luxurious for sure, but it was also nearly 4,000 pounds and just didn't have the fun factor I was looking for. I am very happy with my switch. That F56S putting out 240hp and weighing 2600lbs is a freaking riot.

You really need to go and take a WRX out for an extended test drive. Doesn't need to be excessive, but it needs to be an hour or so. Drive on some back roads, drive on the highway, go grab some lunch in it.

See if it fits your lifestyle better or not. That's really the only way to truly know.

[E92.Dom]

I am definitely looking for more of that raw fun feeling, to me, maybe being a young kid the refinement of the bmw isn't for me

[rick100]

Originally Posted by Run Silent

I think it's ultimately what you really want or what you are trying to accomplish. I recently sold my E93 and bought an F56 Mini Cooper S and promptly installed a tune on it. The BMW just wasn't "fun". It was luxurious for sure, but it was also nearly 4,000 pounds and just didn't have the fun factor I was looking for. I am very happy with my switch. That F56S putting out 240hp and weighing 2600lbs is a freaking riot.

You really need to go and take a WRX out for an extended test drive. Doesn't need to be excessive, but it needs to be an hour or so. Drive on some back roads, drive on the highway, go grab some lunch in it.

See if it fits your lifestyle better or not. That's really the only way to truly know.

Yeaa like the dealer is going to hand out the keys to a 18 year old for an hour test drive on a subaru sti lol

Reality is he may get a quick test drive with a sales guy beside him telling him to slow down

[Run Silent]

Originally Posted by rick100

Yeaa like the dealer is going to hand out the keys to a 18 year old for an hour test drive on a subaru sti lol

Reality is he may get a quick test drive with a sales guy beside him telling him to slow down

Then he should go to another dealership. Now - if he shows up driving a 2001 Hyundai Accent with bald tires, can't string a sentence together, and hasn't had a bath in a week - that's a different story. This kid, however, appears to be well spoken and is driving a very nice, newish BMW. He should be okay. If the dealer still has concerns, he can always bring one of his parents with him and they can go out to lunch together - just the two of them. Most dealerships wouldn't have an issue with that.

[porsche959]

an automatic 335 is forgettable.

a 6sp STI is a fun rice bucket.

get a 6sp m3.

[hassmaschine]

Trade in value is going to suck. I'll bet they offer you less than $8k.

And I'm sorry, but the WRX is a POS. it's fast on paper and it's new, but they're really cheap, tin can cars. Not that an auto 335i is that exciting.

BTW, when the WRX first came out here, the dealer let me and my buddy take it for a day. We were like, 19-20. But that's pretty much the target market for that car, so go figure. We didn't do anything too horrible to the car (though we definitely, uh, tested it out).

[e90yyc]

Originally Posted by rick100

Yeaa like the dealer is going to hand out the keys to a 18 year old for an hour test drive on a subaru sti lol

Reality is he may get a quick test drive with a sales guy beside him telling him to slow down

I’m with Run Silent on this one. Having sold cars (BMW) before, I can tell you: my job was to sell cars, not to ice people out because of their age. Everything was circumstance-dependent. In this case (OP shows up in 335), he should be fine.

[John 070]

That is an important piece of info...the 335i is an auto....in that case maybe, but it wouldn't have to be a STi. Could be anything, a 328i wagon manual, etc. would be a nice car to get

[E92.Dom]

Of course I am expecting some bias answers, on a bmw forum, am also asking on Subaru forums and general automotive forums, just trying to see different point of views. Just saying I am used to rattles, noises things like that. My car is by no means in "like new condition" makes a lot of strange, alarming noises even and this car has given me nothing but problems even with a super clean meticulously maintained CARFAX, this and the Subaru have always been my two dream cars but I think it's time to move on. Owned this car since I was 16 and it's has issues at least every other month even at only 50k miles. I'm looking for a new experience.'l

[F30lolz]

OP, test drive an STI, go over the numbers (ie trade in value/down/monthly payment, insurance) and if you fall in love with the STI, pull the trigger. You’ll be the one driving the car, not us. Yes, everyone here will be biased including me. Heck, I dumped my DD civic and got back into a f30 320i, the slowest BMW ever made. Makes the Isetta a rocket.

However, before you do this transaction, go to your local stealership as they will have ‘attractive CPO offers’.

[type-dRew]

Originally Posted by E92.Dom

Thinking about trading in my 2012 bmw 335i coupe rwd for a 2015+ subaru wrx sti keep in mind I am 18 years old, let's keep cost of the car and insurance out of the picture as I have a stable job, and luxury isn't a factor. What does everyone think? Anyone ever do this trade? Regrets?

A lot more fun to be had with a lot less money with the BMW.

Just depends on what you want. You will not touch n54 on dollar for speed. And motors in STIs are basically just a fuse. Plan on replacing it when it blows, stock, modded, whatever.

If you like the car more, go for it, just know its not without its share of issues.

If you want the manual awd, sell yours a find an xdrive manual 335. Best of both worlds and will be much faster for less.

[MEN54]

Originally Posted by E92.Dom

I am definitely looking for more of that raw fun feeling, to me, maybe being a young kid the refinement of the bmw isn't for me

Z4M

[John 070]

Originally Posted by rick100

Yeaa like the dealer is going to hand out the keys to a 18 year old for an hour test drive on a subaru sti lol

Reality is he may get a quick test drive with a sales guy beside him telling him to slow down

When I was that age I hung with richy riches at college. We test drove every porsche over the course of a few weeks, as the kid I was with was actually buying. Somehow we ended up at Ferrari Spring Valley, NY. When we asked for a salesperson, one came out, saw us, and walked away.

In my adult life? I have never, ever, experienced that, except at Jaguar Range Rover! And as I've told the story before here, I "did" get my free Odyssey White Ice putter, thank you very much!

[dakine_surf]

I've had a couple STI's and WRX's over the years. Couple Evo's as well. Super fun to tinker with, and they can be made to go way faster than most are actually capable of driving.

The quality is really crappy though. They just feel cheap... and that gets old and tiresome after the "fuck me that's fast" wears off.

The paint is thin, the seats are just ok, the materials inside are shit... the road noise is on another level horrendous... the aftermarket is decent, and parts are a little bit cheaper... and I mean really only a little. Systems are a bit simpler, so that is nice.

I'm really with Run Silent on this one though. It really depends on what you want to get out of it. A STI might be the ticket, but the only way to know is to live with one for a little. I have a few cars these days, too many actually, and while none are Ferrari 360's most of them are nicer/faster than my mini. Yet I still find myself reaching for the keys to the mini the most. Nothing puts a smile on my face the way that car does, it makes all the right noises, burbles and pops but not in an annoying way and make even a quick pop over to the grocery store fun and engaging. It's now 13 years old and is tight as the day I picked it up in Germany.

[Schmitz]

Originally Posted by F30lolz

OP, test drive an STI, go over the numbers (ie trade in value/down/monthly payment, insurance) and if you fall in love with the STI, pull the trigger. You'll be the one driving the car, not us. Yes, everyone here will be biased including me. Heck, I dumped my DD civic and got back into a f30 320i, the slowest BMW ever made. Makes the Isetta a rocket.

However, before you do this transaction, go to your local stealership as they will have 'attractive CPO offers'.

The 320i - only bmw since 2006 that the numbers actually make sense... I dig them.

[CTinline-six]

Originally Posted by type-dRew

You will not touch n54 on dollar for speed. And motors in STIs are basically just a fuse. Plan on replacing it when it blows, stock, modded, whatever.

This.

[TheMidnightNarwhal]

All I can say is a WRX interior is so cheap I wouldn't like that.

Like not even from a luxury standpoint, it's just cheap ya know.