I was in the same boat as you. Recently got my '15 BRZ and I'm so happy with it. Paid a little more than I wanted to but it's perfect for me. It depends on where you're at. I found some manual BRZs with decent mileage for about 15k that I'm sure one could talk down about a grand. My advice is don't buy the first one you fall in love with (made that mistake in the past), buy lowest mileage with newest production year and 1-2 owners if possible, and if buying private, always get a PPI. Also, don't get suckered in by dealers. Pay attention and don't be stupid lol
Happy shopping man let us know how it goes!