Buying a used Fr-s, 86, or BRZ

[Sam86]

If you plan on modifying the car (mostly appearance wise) then go for the pre 2017+ facelift as there are lots of options to choose from compared the newer look.

As for your price range, I purchased a 2016, pre facelift 86 with only 17k miles for 18.5k used- and that was from a Toyota dealer so naturally a little more expensive. So for your budget you should be able to get something decent. I'd aim for a 2015-2016 model with under 25k miles for your 17k budget.

I'd expect the price may also drop in the next year with the 2021 Toyota 86 release

[Kaotic Lazagna]

Originally Posted by soundman98

shop around anyways. and when i say to shop around, i don't mean filling out the credit application--just simply pull up the websites of every bank you can think of, and find the APR. the lower the better... in my experience, banks or credit unions don't just magically ask for less money just because you used another person that they're paying to find the car. no one works for free.

everyone always pushes for using credit unions. i'm a member of one. but they're not always able to come close to the apr's i've located elsewhere shopping around.

And to add to this, ask if any extra payments will go towards principle first before interest. Unfortunately, I made the assumption that any lender will do this, but the credit union I ended up going with when I financed my FR-S didn't. In fact, no matter how early you pay off the loan with them, they make you pay the FULL interest amount, which is ridiculous!

[iag48st]

Buy CPO. Bought my third 86 (brz this time) cpo with 61k miles with 7/100k cpo warranty for $15k. Still stock and everyday I hope the engine blows so they can put a lower mileage one lol.

[why?]

This is simple to me. If you want to mod it buy the least expensive FRS you can that has no rust of damage. You can check out the issues the early cars had in the maintenance section. Don't buy a car that fits into the recall because state law in Cali will force you to destroy your car.



If you want to keep it stock buy the best newest car you can find.

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by why?

This is simple to me. If you want to mod it buy the least expensive FRS you can that has no rust of damage. You can check out the issues the early cars had in the maintenance section. Don't buy a car that fits into the recall because state law in Cali will force you to destroy your car.



If you want to keep it stock buy the best newest car you can find.

It really is as simple as this.

[Dave-ROR]

Originally Posted by Tcoat

It really is as simple as this.

Sorta.. I try to buy the nicest one I can find in my budget regardless of my intentions. Just because I want to mod something doesn't mean I want to start off with a high mileage well worn POS.

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by Dave-ROR

Sorta.. I try to buy the nicest one I can find in my budget regardless of my intentions. Just because I want to mod something doesn't mean I want to start off with a high mileage well worn POS.

The nicest for the budget may very well be a worn out piece of shit though.
All depends on your budget.

[daniloneil8]

Originally Posted by why?

This is simple to me. If you want to mod it buy the least expensive FRS you can that has no rust of damage.

This is bad advice. Just because you plan to mod, it does not mean to buy a neglected or abused car that has been maintained poorly.

[Yoshoobaroo]

Originally Posted by iag48st

Buy CPO. Bought my third 86 (brz this time) cpo with 61k miles with 7/100k cpo warranty for $15k. Still stock and everyday I hope the engine blows so they can put a lower mileage one lol.

How does CPO work for Subaru? Can I go to cpo.subaru.com and ask my dealer in FL get me a CPO car I found in LA?

[Ernest72]

Without doing a PPI, you can’t tell how bad an engine or transmission might be. A little rust is easily fixed compared to engine or tranny issues. Suspension, brakes are also easily upgraded and places most people want to mod. Interior or cosmetic things are also personal and places to not worry about cause they are easily modded.

I think of it like buying an old Porsche 911. Find a car where engine and tranny are good and reliable. The rest of the car can be fixed relatively cheap compared to engine/tranny issues.

Obviously, you don’t want a rust bucket, but some of these other areas are easy fun fixes. I mean why pay for perfect new stock brakes if you plan on getting a BBK.

It might be worth to do some planning on what you want to do before you buy a specific car.

For example, if you want to do a swap or a built engine, you might be better off buying a car with a blown engine in reasonable shape then a perfectly new engine.

[bcj]

Originally Posted by daniloneil8

Don't be overthinking this to the point of paralysis.
...

$15k BRZ. You will get much of your money back if you sell it after a year.
Very low risk decision.

Unless you spin it into a few hedges. Then it'll depreciate a little more.

[Dave-ROR]

Originally Posted by Tcoat

The nicest for the budget may very well be a worn out piece of shit though.
All depends on your budget.

That just means one makes poor financial decisions.

Or should buy a nice rebuilt example, of which we have some! haha

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by Dave-ROR

That just means one makes poor financial decisions.

Or should buy a nice rebuilt example, of which we have some! haha

Meh. Buying a salvage title is probably the worst choice of all.

[Dave-ROR]

Originally Posted by Ernest72

Without doing a PPI, you can’t tell how bad an engine or transmission might be. A little rust is easily fixed compared to engine or tranny issues. Suspension, brakes are also easily upgraded and places most people want to mod. Interior or cosmetic things are also personal and places to not worry about cause they are easily modded.

I think of it like buying an old Porsche 911. Find a car where engine and tranny are good and reliable. The rest of the car can be fixed relatively cheap compared to engine/tranny issues.

Obviously, you don’t want a rust bucket, but some of these other areas are easy fun fixes. I mean why pay for perfect new stock brakes if you plan on getting a BBK.

It might be worth to do some planning on what you want to do before you buy a specific car.

For example, if you want to do a swap or a built engine, you might be better off buying a car with a blown engine in reasonable shape then a perfectly new engine.

Man I'd MUCH rather replace an engine or trans than deal with a rusty car.

Then again we can pull two motors out of these and install the good one back in the good car in less than 4 hours soooo..