At first I was aiming at getting a 95' M3. But now I'm falling more and more in love with the WRX, and my parents really like it, too, which is a big plus.

Here's why I want it: AWD would be nice for my trips to Tahoe, so I wouldn't have to take my brothers truck whenever I went. Also it's pretty damn fast out of the box, but with a couple of mods we're talkin serious power. I want a car that I can toss around and low maintenance, since I'm in high school (with an M3 I'd probably **** a brick if someone breathed on it wrong).

I'm thinking interior is not that important because I don't want to spoil myself by getting a pimp car at such a young age, because there's only a few cars that I can look up to after an M3.

But...I'd have to make payments on the car myself, as I would do if I was getting an M3. They'd come out to be around the same.

Can anyone talk me out of it? Or should I just get the WRX?

 

Just buy it

 

You're in high school? Boy, times have changed. I remember driving my mom's beat up Buick......otherwise, the bus was my main form of transportation. The idea of driving a new car (let alone a performance car like the wrx) back then was completely foreign. You kids have it way too easy nowadays.

 

My brother had an E30 M3 in highschool and he has a 2002 M3 now... and have my 2002 WRX.

Honestly the M3s are in another league. The steering, brake, and motor feel are unbeatable. The handling is one of the best you can get bar none. The E36 M3 motor is a great engine... has torque for miles.

To get all the great handling chassis and motor the M3s are alll rear wheel drive... It is not a trade off per say, in fact I think rwd cars are much more rewarding to drive hard than AWD or especially FWD... you can really steer the car with the throttle... for 6K you can get another 100 hp reliably out of the M3 with a Dinan SC or AA turbo kit and not have to really worry about the rest... The problem is that in the wrong hands you can get into much bigger problems with RWD than AWD.

Also M3 issues include... yes its a BMW so not only will it be expensive to insure and repair, but you get all that BMW owner BS along with the car.

A WRX on the other hand, will offer you a the benefits of a new car, warranty etc, and give you 7/10s of what an M3 will give you out of the box. The engine tuning will give you way more hp/$ but honestly you will have to start upgrading the brakes, tranny, suspension to keep up with the motor... on the other hand... As a high school kid... you should probably get the WRX... safer, fast enough... 4 doors... etc... the WRX is a little more Ricey... not as flashy (good and bad) etc...

FZ