RE: BMW M135i vs Audi S3
Discussion
daveco said:
Dreadful looking cars, the pair of them.
And how does a 4 cylinder turbo get only marginally better emission values and slightly better fuel consumption than an engine 50% larger than it, in a car 50kg+ heavier?
If those MPG figures where actually achievable I wouldn't say 5MPG is slightly better. Quite a bit of difference percentage wise 40mpg vs 35mpg. Also are they also in different tax brackets?And how does a 4 cylinder turbo get only marginally better emission values and slightly better fuel consumption than an engine 50% larger than it, in a car 50kg+ heavier?
4wdrift said:
Just sold my M135i (manual).
After 6 months of ownership, I cannot say that I loved it.
Certainly enjoyed my previous car - a 130i much more than the M135i (even with the 130i's bouncy ride).
The M135i just didn't engage me! Never turned back to look at the car, nor had an exciting 'back road' drive in it.
Was very quick (esp. mid range) but lacklustre delivery.
Hated the steering - no feel, comfort setting excessively light, sport artificially heavy. Didn't have the confidence to accurately place the car quickly on narrow, twisty roads. My main criticism with the car.
Had adaptive suspension and that is an overhyped 'must have option' - comfort lacked discipline at even low speeds, excessive roll.
The standard M sport suspension would of been fine I think. Certainly would not have constant knocking sound that more and more people with adaptive suspended cars are reporting.
The thought that the car is getting face-lifted soon, better looking M235i (yes, I know it's not a hatchback) will be here soon enough, prompted a sale of a car that hasn't yet dropped precipitously in price.
Should of bought the used 997 Carrera manual that I originally planned to..
The first person not afraid to disagree with the masses regarding the beemer. After 6 months of ownership, I cannot say that I loved it.
Certainly enjoyed my previous car - a 130i much more than the M135i (even with the 130i's bouncy ride).
The M135i just didn't engage me! Never turned back to look at the car, nor had an exciting 'back road' drive in it.
Was very quick (esp. mid range) but lacklustre delivery.
Hated the steering - no feel, comfort setting excessively light, sport artificially heavy. Didn't have the confidence to accurately place the car quickly on narrow, twisty roads. My main criticism with the car.
Had adaptive suspension and that is an overhyped 'must have option' - comfort lacked discipline at even low speeds, excessive roll.
The standard M sport suspension would of been fine I think. Certainly would not have constant knocking sound that more and more people with adaptive suspended cars are reporting.
The thought that the car is getting face-lifted soon, better looking M235i (yes, I know it's not a hatchback) will be here soon enough, prompted a sale of a car that hasn't yet dropped precipitously in price.
Should of bought the used 997 Carrera manual that I originally planned to..
And he has actually owned one rather than just looking at Monkey's videos.
I salute you.
Back to the comparison - the cars are very different. Both have their appeal.
As the article says:
If you want to track the car occasionaly , buy the beemer.
If you have a family and like the idea of 4 wheel drive to give a little more traction in soggy conditions, buy the S3.
If you spec them sensibly they work out around the same price.
Because I'm someone who will never own such a car (let alone have 30k to spend on one!!) most of my motoring enjoyment comes from how a car looks and makes you feel. IMHO this is where (along with certain Porsches) this M135i is always going to come up short. A great drive, a dreadful looker and special only from the inside, out.
Tis hugely frustrating. Like a lot of Beemers; I want to like it - I really do - but I just don't. If that makes me shallow then so be it...
Tis hugely frustrating. Like a lot of Beemers; I want to like it - I really do - but I just don't. If that makes me shallow then so be it...
dukebox9reg said:
What the ell is an advanced key for 425 quid?
For the price of half a shed (source Audi's UK website):The Audi S3 comes with a choice of two keys: the remote control key (standard) or the advanced key (optional).
The remote control key – convenient and practical
Locks and unlocks the doors, windows, luggage compartment and tank filler flap at the press of a button
Locks and unlocks the boot separately
The advanced key – the key you can keep in your pocket
The optional Audi S3 advanced key allows you to keep the key in your pocket all the time. The doors unlock automatically when you approach the car and you can start the engine simply by pressing the start/stop button in the centre console.
Value???
Maldini35 said:
4wdrift said:
Just sold my M135i (manual).
After 6 months of ownership, I cannot say that I loved it.
Certainly enjoyed my previous car - a 130i much more than the M135i (even with the 130i's bouncy ride).
The M135i just didn't engage me! Never turned back to look at the car, nor had an exciting 'back road' drive in it.
Was very quick (esp. mid range) but lacklustre delivery.
Hated the steering - no feel, comfort setting excessively light, sport artificially heavy. Didn't have the confidence to accurately place the car quickly on narrow, twisty roads. My main criticism with the car.
Had adaptive suspension and that is an overhyped 'must have option' - comfort lacked discipline at even low speeds, excessive roll.
The standard M sport suspension would of been fine I think. Certainly would not have constant knocking sound that more and more people with adaptive suspended cars are reporting.
The thought that the car is getting face-lifted soon, better looking M235i (yes, I know it's not a hatchback) will be here soon enough, prompted a sale of a car that hasn't yet dropped precipitously in price.
Should of bought the used 997 Carrera manual that I originally planned to..
The first person not afraid to disagree with the masses regarding the beemer. After 6 months of ownership, I cannot say that I loved it.
Certainly enjoyed my previous car - a 130i much more than the M135i (even with the 130i's bouncy ride).
The M135i just didn't engage me! Never turned back to look at the car, nor had an exciting 'back road' drive in it.
Was very quick (esp. mid range) but lacklustre delivery.
Hated the steering - no feel, comfort setting excessively light, sport artificially heavy. Didn't have the confidence to accurately place the car quickly on narrow, twisty roads. My main criticism with the car.
Had adaptive suspension and that is an overhyped 'must have option' - comfort lacked discipline at even low speeds, excessive roll.
The standard M sport suspension would of been fine I think. Certainly would not have constant knocking sound that more and more people with adaptive suspended cars are reporting.
The thought that the car is getting face-lifted soon, better looking M235i (yes, I know it's not a hatchback) will be here soon enough, prompted a sale of a car that hasn't yet dropped precipitously in price.
Should of bought the used 997 Carrera manual that I originally planned to..
And he has actually owned one rather than just looking at Monkey's videos.
I salute you.
Back to the comparison - the cars are very different. Both have their appeal.
As the article says:
If you want to track the car occasionaly , buy the beemer.
If you have a family and like the idea of 4 wheel drive to give a little more traction in soggy conditions, buy the S3.
If you spec them sensibly they work out around the same price.
I bought my 5 door M135i auto in November 2012. It had the M Sport suspension rather than the Adaptive option. Now, I have owned a 320d Tourer M Sport previously, and I always considered that to be a bit harsh at low speeds as far as comfort is concerned. As such I was not fully convinced that M sport was the best option as far as the M135i was concerned but I talked myself into it on the 10 minute test drive - yes I know - should have asked for a 24 hour test drive.......
So, long story short on the 160 mile drive back home (what can I say, I'm loyal to a certain dealership), the journey convinced me that the set-up was a bit harsh for what is after-all, a great cruiser of a car. A further week of ownership fully convinced me that this was not going to work. A call to the dealership and 1 day later the sales guy turned up to my workplace in a 5 door auto M135i WITH Adaptive so I can test drive it (another quiet day at work). A test drive later I had decided to swap the cars over - the original car was an ex-demo, and the one with Adaptive was new from showroom. I lost a bit of money (obviously) on what I could realistically get as discount but I was not raped as much as I thought I would.
The Adaptive suspension is sweet in Comfort and Eco. From my experience, the Sport mode Adaptive suspension is subjectively a bit stiffer (or harsher-whichever way you want to look at it) than the M Sport suspension. I have never experienced any 'roll' in any dynamic settings. The only knocking sound I get from the suspension is when I'm reversing with full-lock out of my driveway. Yes the steering is a bit heavy in Sport mode, but I find it very responsive and very 'chuckable' into corners - in fact I would say it was a tad fidgety, but I think that is the harsher ride (in Sport mode) rather than steering. There is a bit of feel in there also, but again all subjective.
The car is not a looker - full stop. I don't look at it like I used to look at any one of the 3 350z's I have owned, but that is not what the car is about. For the money (discounted or otherwise), it is an awesome piece of kit - the engine is amazing. It's not about the badge either - remember I have owned 3 Datsuns':-) It's the performance which is the 'feel-good factor' for me, not the looks that only a mother could love.
Negative points - you can confuse the gear selection in eco mode when you want to change down a couple of gears to overtake using the paddles (but only in eco mode). The rear wheel braking system (in place of what should be an LSD) is a bit weird when it kicks in but it is very effective. So, spend my two penny's worth as you see fit:-)
Edited by Rudeboy350Z on Thursday 19th September 15:35
k did you make it look so sNew Scot said:
dukebox9reg said:
What the ell is an advanced key for 425 quid?
For the price of half a shed (source Audi's UK website):The Audi S3 comes with a choice of two keys: the remote control key (standard) or the advanced key (optional).
The remote control key – convenient and practical
Locks and unlocks the doors, windows, luggage compartment and tank filler flap at the press of a button
Locks and unlocks the boot separately
The advanced key – the key you can keep in your pocket
The optional Audi S3 advanced key allows you to keep the key in your pocket all the time. The doors unlock automatically when you approach the car and you can start the engine simply by pressing the start/stop button in the centre console.
Value???
BlackPorker said:
The grass is always greener on the other side. If you'd bought the 997 the engine would've blown up and you'd wished you'd bought the newer more reliable Beemer!
But at least you could sit on the grass verge and admire it, while you wait for it to be towed awayAnd nobody would think you were a junior sales rep or an estate agent
pilchardthecat said:
And nobody would think you were a junior sales rep or an estate agent
I always think that's a curious argument. It's so very British to be worrying about what other people think about your status in life based on your choice of car. I should think it would be exhausting to be that insecure! Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff