Hot New BMW M135i

[Will]

I do wonder how much better the RS3 would get if it was tweaked a little...I'm presuming the AWD system is Haldex? Could an aftermarket Haldex controller adjust the power split sufficient to help it handle a little better? I know Haldex mods are popular on other Audis.

It does seem a silly thing to even entertain though, a brand new £40k hatchback needing money spending on it to get it to handle.

I'd have liked them to have compared those cars to the Focus RS500 as well, I know in interior terms, equipment or modernity of features its not comparable to either German car, but in terms of price an RS500 would still set you back nearly as much, and the RS500 has 350bhp as well so in power terms its close to both German machines. I think it'd be an interest comparison nonetheless - AWD, RWD and FWD super hot hatches. The Focus RS is often slated as a fan boys car, everyone says its too much money for what it is, and how much better it'd be if it was AWD, but then look at the Audi...based on a very old platform, doesn't appear to handle well, and expensive compared to its competition - you'd need to be just as much of a fanboy to buy one over the BMW!

 

[ChrisD.]

The more I think the more I want. May go and drive one with a view of changing the Evo I haven't bought yet for one in 8 months time or so.

 

[Hutchy]

I wonder what they will be like at retaining their value? Could be a good second hand purchase in 2 years time!

 

[Housey]

Yeah but I've driven the RS4 and your car and I can say your car has better feel to it than the newer RS5 and TT RS, so yours not doing so well on track shows they must be very poor as Id suspect the newer stuff is worse from how they feel on the road to drive.

Oh the RS4 was cracking mate, the steering is MILES better than most Audi's but it understeers like a beyatch when pushed hard.

 

[Barks]

I wonder what they will be like at retaining their value? Could be a good second hand purchase in 2 years time!

I'm no expert but I think these will hold their value very well.

It's ridiculously cheap for what it is to start off with and there aren't really any obvious downsides. It does 0-62 in 4.9 seconds, low tax band and manages 38mpg.

It should command a premium over other hot hatches in the used market.

 

[Eliot]

This in a nice new saloon version would be good

Yeah, I think its so so likely to be my next car its not even funny.
I still very badly want a 1m though.....

 

[panthro]

I'm no expert but I think these will hold their value very well.

.

They won't; its a mass produced BMW.

 

[Barks]

They won't; its a mass produced BMW.

What and the Mini isn't a mass produced BMW?

 

[panthro]

What and the Mini isn't a mass produced BMW?

No its a Mini. Thats like saying a Jaguar XF is a Tata.

 

[Barks]

Quote my post in 3 years time. People thinking you'll be able to pick up one of these for £10-£15k then are deluded.

 

[[TW]Fox]

Quote my post in 3 years time. People thinking you'll be able to pick up one of these for £10-£15k then are deluded.

Not being able to buy a £30k+ car for £10k in 3 years time doesnt mean it holds its value, it just means it doesn't depreciate like a Kia.

 

[Basher]

Quote my post in 3 years time. People thinking you'll be able to pick up one of these for £10-£15k then are deluded.

I think you'll get one for about £17k - £20k ish in 3 years.

I was surprised how cheap my Z4 was; in 3 years in lost £22k in value.

 

[Barks]

Not being able to buy a £30k+ car for £10k in 3 years time doesnt mean it holds its value...

For the first time we're starting to see seriously fast petrol cars that are also highly economical. Surely there's going to be a high demand for such cars. I don't think you can say the effect of this on the used car market is negligible. The price of a used car and this whether it holds its value is dictated by supply and demand conditions in the market.

I think you'll get one for about £17k - £20k ish in 3 years.

My thoughts exactly. I think you're probably spot on with that estimate.

 

[Basher]

For the first time we're starting to see seriously fast petrol cars that are also highly economical. Surely there's going to be a high demand for such cars. I don't think you can say the effect of this on the used car market is negligible. The price of a used car and this whether it holds its value is dictated by supply and demand conditions in the market.



My thoughts exactly. I think you're probably spot on with that estimate.

I'm assuming you're not just going off the manufacturer MPG's to determine that it's highly economical?

 

[Dangerous Dave]

Quote my post in 3 years time. People thinking you'll be able to pick up one of these for £10-£15k then are deluded.

It depends how many people buy them, 5 5 door models were up for sale second hand with around 1k on them on BMW's website. They didn't all have prices but the last one to sell went for 33k and it had 6k worth of extras, that seems a fair drop straight away.

 

[[TW]Fox]

For the first time we're starting to see seriously fast petrol cars that are also highly economical.

No, we are starting to see seriously fast petrol cars with comical European NEDC figures which are reasonably economical in the real world.

Depreciating from £33k to £17k in 3 years is not 'holding its value'.

 

[Barks]

I'm assuming you're not just going off the manufacturer MPG's to determine that it's highly economical?

BMW claim 38mpg. Harris said he was able to hit that figure in the 'M135i -vs- Audi RS3' video released yesterday.

Sure you're never going to get 38mpg unless you drive like a grandma but that's not the point, the fact is it can achieve that figure. It's almost unbelievable.

It depends how many people buy them, 5 5 door models were up for sale second hand with around 1k on them on BMW's website. They didn't all have prices but the last one to sell went for 33k and it had 6k worth of extras, that seems a fair drop straight away.

Sure but that's the initial and inevitable drop in value from 'driving away from the forecourt.' That doesn't tell us about how the price will change over the next 3 years.

No, we are starting to see seriously fast petrol cars with comical European NEDC figures which are reasonably economical in the real world.

Depreciating from £33k to £17k in 3 years is not 'holding its value'.

The comical figures from BMW seem to be from their diesel engines as opposed to their petrol ones.

 

[Dangerous Dave]

Sure but that's the initial and inevitable drop in value from 'driving away from the forecourt.' That doesn't tell us about how the price will change over the next 3 years

True but if you wanted a second hand RS3 this soon after release you had to pay more than buying a new one.

 

[Barks]

True but if you wanted a second hand RS3 this soon after release you had to pay more than buying a new one.

As you did with the iPhone 5

Probably because demand outstripped supply. I thought they only did a limited amount of RS3s where as anyone can go and spec-up and put in an order for an M135i.

Truth is I don't know much about the RS3. It doesn't really interest me and even if I could afford one I personally think they look quite bland for an RS.

 

[Gaygle]

For the first time we're starting to see seriously fast petrol cars that are also highly economical. Surely there's going to be a high demand for such cars.

Unfortunately, non performance cars are too becoming even more economical, which means the gap isn't shrinking as fast as you think, which means people will still generally stick to the more economical, slower cars.