BMW 135i coupe a good idea ?

I drove THIS and THIS simply to try and engines out, ignoring everything else about the cars really (including spec).

I just found them too refined, I think 50% of this was down to them both being auto (only the second time I'd driven autos after the Mustang and the first time ever with paddles), 25% of it being because I never pushed the car enough (due to not wanting to do anything silly) and 25% because I just didn't like how refined it felt.

I'm going to try a 130i and hopefully that will be more for me, I just never felt like I was going fast in either the 330i or 335i and that made it a tad boring for me. Really hard to explain, I just came away feeling like they were not the engines for me sadly as on paper they both tick every box.

The interior, exterior, gadgets and dealership I cannot fault though. The sales women was very good and has lined up a test drive of a 130i and Z4 to see if a less refined car is indeed what I want. No questions about my age, how I could insure them of making me wait round for an hour while they get part exchange values on my car before us going out for the drive and didn't feel pushy at all.
 
They are refined - but this is a lot of the reason why I like them so much. I guess you have different tastes to me :)

How did you rate the performance between the two?
 
I actually felt the 335i was much more powerful, I'm going to put a fair wack of this down to me being useless with the paddles though and constantly being in the wrong gear, so the extra low down power helped.

I think a manual 335i would be ideal, but I don't think I'll find one. The lady said in 2 years she had never had one second hand, and had only sold 1 new one.

I suppose I'm hoping the 130i gives me enough poke and is fun enough to drive, if not I've no idea where to go.

You are right though when you say the 335i doesn't feel turbocharged at all. I also thought the 330i sounded very dull and the 335i sounded much better when making progress.
 
Bit of a change in budget, the 130i? They are loads cheaper because they got binned, IIRC, in 07.

Surely 135i is a better match?
 
It is, the 130i I'm driving is AUC, early 2006 iirc and about £10k, the cheapest 135i's are £20k+ and I'm not sure if they are worth double the price.

I think It'll be either 130i or something else, but I will try a 135i providing I can find one.

I find myself looking at things like 350Z's, Z4's and smaller cars with big engines in the hope I find something with the right balance of power and rawness.
 
Going to book a test drive over the weekend, went to look at one today in Swindon on the way home from a meeting but left my wallet in the office so couldn't drive it DOH. Anyone else got any car ideas for around 18k, going to try and get a few test drives in this weekend.

Porsche Boxster S / BMW Z4M ?

Sam
 
Finding a manual 335i is a nightmare, then add in the budget (£20k) and it's going to be near impossible.

335i manual under £20k with leather and Sat Nav (for the iDrive) came up with single digits in the BMW AUC search last week for me.
 
The only issues I hold against the 135i is that it seems a bit small - both physically and in it's diminutive interior specifications.

I would always opt for a 3-series for the added space and luxury/comfort it provides. Of course you'll struggle to find a 335i for realistic prices, so a compromise must be reached.

The 135i vs. 325i debate is still raging in my head. I cannot fully rule out a 135i, but that performance is nothing to be laughed at in a fairly practical car.
 
[TW]Fox;18793861 said:
Hmmm, a 4 year old Honda Civic or a 3 year old 306bhp BMW for similar money.

GOSH WHAT A DIFFICULT DECISION.
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Individual drivers car that will be a solid investment or dull ten-a-penny moneypit.

Seems a no brainer to me? ;)
 
GT3 said:
Surely a step-up in running costs? Similar to M3 running costs which you previously said you wanted to avoid?

I would drop my 18k on one of these :cool: Rock solid residuals (see DC5 prices for proof), rare, cheap to run and a proper drivers car. Probably not what you are after though :p

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2592353.htm
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Thing is if i don’t end up using it as my daily runner then I don’t mind an M car ... I can get a nice 07 Z4M Coupe but my only issue is it will need a BMW warranty and what are these, £1000 + a year ? I’ve wanted an E46 M3 for ages now but there just getting too old and if I was to buy one it would have to be a CSL and this is outside of my maximum budget by 3 - 5 k

I wouldent buy a honda, i dislike the Type R and S2000 ive driven ...

Tim said:
nom!

I’m fairly sure Sam doesn't want another fwd, though.
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This is true and if i can avoid it a 4 wheel drive, i need something RWD to put into a hedge :p I’ve considered Evos and another scooby but ive been there and done that and who wants to spend 16k on a chavvy evo ;)

F355 said:
Hi Sam,

It's going to be older for the same price but I would go for a 335i M Sport Coupe. Something along the lines of this, but manual (from quick check on PH):

http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/2621411.htm

:cool:
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Willing to consider but again out of my price range and there’s more chance of me ****ing in the queens handbag than there is me owning an AUTO (unless its SMG)

Porsche Boxsters are out as lets be honest there for girls, id love to own a Porsche and if i could stretch to 25k a Caymen would be on the top of my list but i don’t so there’s no point kidding myself.

My maximum budget is 20k but ideally i want to spend 18 .... Hmmmm browsing pistonheads is getting boring :(
 
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