[lazyleo]

I've had my F30 328 for 3 years now, and am considering a move to something else. I really like the car, but I am looking to switch to a manual transmission for a change.

I'm mainly looking at a WRX right now, but also considering the new civic type-r. The 240 and 440 are also on my list.

So... dissuade me from getting the WRX .

[MJBO]

F30 328i is pretty dull, so any of the cars you’ve listed would be more fun.

Current WRX is a hoot, and the STi is terrific fun though not quite as good as a daily over the regular WRX.

Manual M240i is great fun, spent some time driving one a few weeks back. Needs an exhaust to sound exciting though.

[david in germany]

WRX and a 328 are in totally different classes. Drive all the options before you decide what to get but remember those little things that might disturb a little you on a test drive will be those things that drive you completely bonkers on a daily basis.
Make a list of necessities and then see which car has all of them if they don't have them, move on.

[3rdcoast228i]

Drive them all and decide what you like. Only you can make that determination.

[aaaaah]

Fuel economy?

Seriously though, it was a big turn off when I was eyeing off a WRX instead of the 235. The manual WRX is a 21c/27h EPA rating and the STI is 17c/21h.

I'd buy a Golf R in a heartbeat over both of them. You get the the same as the others but with VW build feel, better economy and super tuneable.

[10"]

WRX will be a fun change to make. The 328 is not a very exciting ride so will definitely be a good move for you especially with a manual!!

I wouldn't bother with the M240 it's soft and dull, IMO...if you can afford it an M2 would be a good option for you! Used M2s are now in the low to mid 40s as prices are falling fast. Have no idea why anyone bothers with the unremarkable 240

[NYBulldog]

Get the WRX

[tracer bullet]

Go drive them, get the one that speaks to you. That is all there is to it.

[B58 parts]

The 240 with mods would be better. The b58 with a six speed (CDV delete) is really smooth, every drive.

The driveline and especially the chassis of the WRX is quite nice, but that's about where it ends. [I had the 30 year old 2.5 which I think the sti _still has, not sure how the newer 2.0 is]. I am happy to have moved on from mine, but it was a fun car for a while. If you get a lot of snow they are a blast.

[Germanauto]

I'm in the 240 camp. It'll be more fun than your current car and you'll still have all the perks of having a BMW (styling, nicer interior, etc.)

But the WRX is a good car too.

Really anything would be more fun than an F30 328.

[stooker]

I think you'll enjoy the WRX. Did it lose the exhaust rumble? I thought I read somewhere that they went with straight headers. A shame IMO, I really felt the rumble was so characteristic of the WRX and enjoy the instant recognition when I hear one.

[Mingwan]

Get an Evo 9

[lazyleo]

Originally Posted by david in germany

WRX and a 328 are in totally different classes. Drive all the options before you decide what to get but remember those little things that might disturb a little you on a test drive will be those things that drive you completely bonkers on a daily basis.
Make a list of necessities and then see which car has all of them if they don't have them, move on.

Yeah, that's a good point. I've grown used to the nice conveniences in the 3 series like comfort access, heated steering, decent infotainment. Will have to pay closer attention to these areas. Going to test drive the WRX today, we'll see how it goes!

[lazyleo]

Originally Posted by aaaaah

Fuel economy?

Seriously though, it was a big turn off when I was eyeing off a WRX instead of the 235. The manual WRX is a 21c/27h EPA rating and the STI is 17c/21h.

I'd buy a Golf R in a heartbeat over both of them. You get the the same as the others but with VW build feel, better economy and super tuneable.

Yeah, the STI is actually pretty fuel hungry. But, the WRX (not sti) is actually comparable to the 328, so I am ok with that. Golf R is nice, but I'm just not really excited by the styling of it.

[RMNB]

Look at the M2. Best bang for the buck! Or an E46...

[Crimson92]

Same plasticy interior. So get the one that's more fun to drive. The wrx.

[RM7]

Originally Posted by 335xi Beast

Look at the M2. Best bang for the buck!

Are you freaking kidding me?

[obert]

WRX.........STI all the way for a fun car to drive

[RMNB]

Originally Posted by JamesNoBrakes

Are you freaking kidding me?

actually yes. You have an excellent shell of a car with tons of room if the engine to tune to your liking. What's not to like? Oh...you're thinking of the price. Well then there lies the problem I suppose.

In all seriousness the M2 was a blast to drive. My friend has one it felt incredible on the back roads. Sure you look a multi vehicles for much cheaper but my thoughts were on a M car. It's only money so just do it..

[david in germany]

Yeah, what is not to like about the M2? Maybe the Fake engine sound pumped into the stereo? Too small for a family but bigger than a 1 series coupe?

[Rampant]

Last year I sold an Evo IX that I'd had for 12 years. I bought a new Focus RS Mk3 in it's place. The RS was kind of a stop gap until I could afford the car I really wanted - the Afla Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio. Turns out that I didn't like the RS that much and in no way was it a replacement for the Evo.
Roll on one year and I was looking at alternatives. I still wanted the Quadrifoglio. In the mean time I test drove the latest WRX. I really, really liked it. Drove brilliantly and without the bad foibles of the Focus RS.
If I hadn't then decided to buy a BMW M3, I would certainly have considered the WRX.
I say you won't regret the WRX, but you need to test the cars for yourself. One thing, though... after your BMW (RWD), you will probably get frustrated at any FWD car that you may decide to buy. This happened to me in the past too. I replaced a RWD car (that had followed an Evo VII) with a FWD Civic Type-R. Don't get me wrong - the Type-r was a fantastic car, but ultimately it was the FWD dynamics that left me frustrated and I sold it after less than a year. For my Evo XI.

All the best

Mark H

[RM7]

Originally Posted by 335xi Beast

actually yes. You have an excellent shell of a car with tons of room if the engine to tune to your liking. What's not to like? Oh...you're thinking of the price. Well then there lies the problem I suppose.

Well, the price was the ENTIRE GIST OF YOUR POST.

Most BMWs are inherently bad values, the local dealer had an M2 marked up to about 72K, it had the M driver's package and a few other options, but it's more than 60K with fairly normal options including that package. Put the DCT on it and it's a 3 grand markup from there. A good value it is not. I've got all the nice BMW comforts in my 1LE, including heated steering wheel, ventilated seats, etc. I would only begin to look at the M2 competition package, which ups the power and handling to the point where I think it'd be on a more level playing field. I think that package does a lot to go back in the opposite direction to the cars getting "softer" as time goes on.

People always go on about "oh, you could just buy a base-340 for 50 grand", usually quoting some unrealistic price. First, no dealer buys stripped-out models, so it'd be a special-order, which they inherently do not give as good discounts on, because they know they've got you locked in. Second, no one orders stripped-out models because BMW piece-meals you for stupid stuff, like alarm systems, keyless touch-entry, backup cameras (well, finally required by law), $500 for wireless charging, seats that should come standard, and other dumb stuff. This means realistically, anything with a "40" at the end usually costs upwards of 60K, anything M2 is usually at least a few grand more, and anything that has M and "3" or "4" is around 80K or more. Again, especially when you add any kind of reasonable options that most people would "expect" on a BMW.

I'm not trying to bag on these as far as not being good cars. They are incredible cars, but over the years they've gotten much more expensive, to the point where it's much harder to justify just for the performance, vs. years ago when the performance crushed everything else.

But when thinking about best bang for the buck, it's hard to beat something like a WRX. The turbo-awd launches are insanely fun and you will be able to accelerate faster than 99% of all the cars on the road to 30 or 60mph. The great thing about that is it's "practical" power. How often are you going to be accelerating past 100mph, where some of these higher whp and higher tq cars shine? Something like the WRX gives you more fun-factor at speeds where you aren't going to taken straight to jail.

I think over the years, the WRX has slowly gotten better, unfortunately not as fast as I'd like. My old 2.0 wagon was fun, with a few mods it was even better. That 2.0 engine reved so fast to 7.3K. But Subaru has been very stubborn to bring over their JDM stuff and they have historically stuck some absolutely crappy stuff into the WRX over the years. The horrendous 2008 WRX which was actually the Impreza GT from Japan, the lack of a 6spd transmission until just a few years ago, refusing to use twin-scroll turbos and other mainstream technology that can produce full torque at low RPM, not using full-forged internals like the JDM stuff, low whp for years and years with the anemic TD04, and so on. During this time, lots of other stuff was marching on with HP increases, chassis improvements and handling improvements. The WRX chassis is inherently limited by the AWD configuration, making it nose-heavy and giving causing massive understeer followed by snap-oversteer. Again, most of these have been addressed, just not at the rate of other manufacturers that seem to want to "stay on top". The new 2.0 WRX engine is supposed to be pretty good and eliminate the gasket issues due to design. The excessive body lean and soft suspension of my 2004 has been addressed. The old STI block is still a good base too, but again, DI and other advancements really make it start to show it's age. That's one reason it's so fuel inefficient.

My favorite, apart from the 2004 STI, was the 2008 STI. I think the hatch configuration was great, utilized space very effectively and matched the personality of that generation. The sedan version of that was more of an after-thought and it never seemed to mesh well IMO. The current one is an even bigger let-down to me. The STI has seen no real improvements. It should be pushing 350hp or more. It should be incorporating better technology and creature comforts that are now "standard" on just about everything else. It should have DI and a turbo system that makes full torque at 1500rpm.

Still, they are incredibly fun to drive and that's what keeps people going back. Anyone that bought a 4EAT or CVT model needs to be smacked in the head. If you like rowing through gears, they provide a good experience. If you like hitting the gas and having a bunch of acceleration (rather than slowly building and continuing past 120mph), they are good like that.

I thought hard about another WRX or STI for my latest car. If I did this, it would also be my winter-car, but ultimately I decided it would be funner to have a beater-winter car and a more aggressive summer car