tough choice: '02 Subaru Outback vs '00 BMW 323i

[CatcherInTheRye]

Hi folks,

I know that I am posting this question on a Subaru newsgroup but hope to get some unbiased answers.

I am in the market for a used car and have narrowed down to two cars:
1) 2002 Outback H6 3.0 VDC Sedan
$19,500
37K miles
Default warranty
Options include: roof rack, premium wheels/sound

2) 2000 BMW 323i
$20,500
61000 miles
100K miles/6 years extended warranty
Options include sport/premium packages, etc

Both cars have been taken good care of and the prices are reasonable. I live in Sunnyvale, CA and do not really require the AWD functionality but would be good to have it incase I plan to go for skiing to Tahoe. I am looking for a sporty car and if it has features as in a luxury car, that's good for me! I am sort of worried about maintenance cost on BMWs but other than that its a wonderful car. I also read great reviews of Outback H6 model and this car has power.

I need to decide on a car in a couple of days. Please help me make a selection.

thanks!
RA

 

[Alan (archive)]

You are comparing apples and oranges. Depends what you like. Subaru has excellent reliability, but I would not refer to the H6 as having "power", unless it has a manual transmission. The automatics are set to intentionally change to higher gears early to save on fuel (at the cost of power). I suspect the BMW has a better ride. But, you are looking at AWD in a Subaru, which helps on wet and other slippery roads, too.

 

[Rick Courtright]

CatcherInTheRye wrote:

For "performance" type driving, the BMW is probably the better choice. For reliability and operating cost (and snow in Tahoe!), probably the Subie. BMW owners I know tell me 80k-100k miles is about what you can expect from them before they start to get expensive from a maintenance standpoint. Subie parts are high, BMW parts are sky high!

Good luck,

Rick

 

[Rockin Ronnie]

Hi folks,

I know that I am posting this question on a Subaru newsgroup but hope to get some unbiased answers.

I am in the market for a used car and have narrowed down to two cars:
1) 2002 Outback H6 3.0 VDC Sedan
$19,500
37K miles
Default warranty
Options include: roof rack, premium wheels/sound

2) 2000 BMW 323i
$20,500
61000 miles
100K miles/6 years extended warranty
Options include sport/premium packages, etc

Both cars have been taken good care of and the prices are reasonable. I live in Sunnyvale, CA and do not really require the AWD functionality but would be good to have it incase I plan to go for skiing to Tahoe. I am looking for a sporty car and if it has features as in a luxury car, that's good for me! I am sort of worried about maintenance cost on BMWs but other than that its a wonderful car. I also read great reviews of Outback H6 model and this car has power.

I need to decide on a car in a couple of days. Please help me make a selection.

thanks!
RA

Agreed apples and oranges. Have you looked at insurance and safety. Subies have done well in crash tests and I am willing to bet the Subie's insurance costs will be a tad lower.

I agree on the reliability point. Our 2000 OBW H4 has been going strong for over 4 years with nary a problem and Subies are known for longevity.

Ron

 

[BlueSTi]

Hi folks,

I know that I am posting this question on a Subaru newsgroup but hope to get some unbiased answers.

I am in the market for a used car and have narrowed down to two cars:
1) 2002 Outback H6 3.0 VDC Sedan
$19,500
37K miles
Default warranty
Options include: roof rack, premium wheels/sound

2) 2000 BMW 323i
$20,500
61000 miles
100K miles/6 years extended warranty
Options include sport/premium packages, etc

Have you considered the WRX? I'm sure you could find a used one in the price range you are looking for. And probably with a lot lower miles.

BlueSTi
"Scary-Fast"

 

[Matt hotmail]

I've driven the WRX 2004, BMW 2004 and I have a Subaru 2002 H6. For comfort and performance (85%-75%) BMW, (70%-90%) WRX and (90%-60%) Subaru H6. I guess I'm just getting old and can't take the bumps. I loved all three cars, but the Subaru won. Plus on the occasional snow in Virginia the Subaru drives like a BMW on dry ground...O.K. not quite but it is on the road and not sidewalk.

 

[JaySee]

Hi folks,

I know that I am posting this question on a Subaru newsgroup but hope to get some unbiased answers.

I am in the market for a used car and have narrowed down to two cars:
1) 2002 Outback H6 3.0 VDC Sedan
$19,500
37K miles
Default warranty
Options include: roof rack, premium wheels/sound

2) 2000 BMW 323i
$20,500
61000 miles
100K miles/6 years extended warranty
Options include sport/premium packages, etc

Both cars have been taken good care of and the prices are reasonable. I live in Sunnyvale, CA and do not really require the AWD functionality but would be good to have it incase I plan to go for skiing to Tahoe. I am looking for a sporty car and if it has features as in a luxury car, that's good for me! I am sort of worried about maintenance cost on BMWs but other than that its a wonderful car. I also read great reviews of Outback H6 model and this car has power.

I need to decide on a car in a couple of days. Please help me make a selection.

thanks!
RA

Test drive both for one and see if that will decide for you.

The Subaru is the practical, the BMW is the luxury. The Subaru can do more and is bigger. The BMW will have the sportier ride and more flashy to other people.

One problem is the Sube is just out of it's 3/36,000 bumper to bumper warranty. If you're buying it from a dealer, maybe get an extended on it.

If you want sporty and luxury, probably the BMW.

 

[Jeremiah]

The Outback hands down. Insurance on a BMW will always be more since the number of choppers wanting to lift your car, and morons who want to key it in lots are much higher. The H6 won't be as economical in Cali at the pump but the BMW is an I6 so fuel economy will be much closer than if it were an H4 OBW.

Also, the 3-series you're looking at is the lowest possible BMW produced in that year.

If you're going to buy a BMW, make it count, buy an M3.

 

[Tha Ghee]

You are comparing apples and oranges. Depends what you like. Subaru has excellent reliability, but I would not refer to the H6 as having "power", unless it has a manual transmission. The automatics are set to intentionally change to higher gears early to save on fuel (at the cost of power). I suspect the BMW has a better ride. But, you are looking at AWD in a Subaru, which helps on wet and other slippery roads, too.

since when is Subies reliability excellent??

 

[Rick Courtright]

since when is Subies reliability excellent??

Mid-80s at least?

Rick

 

[BlueSTi]

since when is Subies reliability excellent??

We have had great luck with our old Subaru. It lasted over 200,000 miles on a mail route! We just performed the minimal maintance.

I'd be happy to see 150,000 miles on my STi.

BlueSTi
"Scary-Fast"

 

[Alan (archive)]

Note that I did not write the message quoted. The quote is a response to what I wrote.

 

[Tha Ghee]

Mid-80s at least?

Rick

I would think not, in the last 20 years.