Why is the 130i M sport a better car than the R32?

[abarber]

It's RWD and < 225g/km. Bit of an ugly bugger though.

[roofer]

M5Dave said:

roofer said:

The 130 is down to sensible prices now. They are also quicker cross country than an E39 M5. Put a diff in the 1, and its a pretty complete car. The Golfs 4wd system is flawed (imo) and anything that puts drive through the steering axle is flawed anyway.

What is your definition of cross country?

With drivers of equal ability at the wheel, I find it hard to believe that a 130i would be quicker than a fit and healthy E39 M5 under any circumstances.

My definition would be a road with varying amounts of corners.

And the driver of equal ability in both circumstances was me. The only difference to the 130 was a change to real tyres.

[M5Dave]

Admittedly I have never driven or even been in a 130i, however I have driven the latest 330i(non M sport) and to be honest it just wasn't in the same ball park performance wise as the M5, particularly above 80mph.

The handling was ok in the dry, but I didn't find it confidence inspiring at all in the wet (although the car was on run flats which may make a difference)whereas the M5 is rock solid wet or dry.

[Spokey]

M5Dave said:

roofer said:

The 130 is down to sensible prices now. They are also quicker cross country than an E39 M5. Put a diff in the 1, and its a pretty complete car. The Golfs 4wd system is flawed (imo) and anything that puts drive through the steering axle is flawed anyway.

What is your definition of cross country?

With drivers of equal ability at the wheel, I find it hard to believe that a 130i would be quicker than a fit and healthy E39 M5 under any circumstances.

Well, my 130i certainly pissed all over my E34 M5 at the Nordschleife.

[M5Dave]

Spokey said:

M5Dave said:

roofer said:

The 130 is down to sensible prices now. They are also quicker cross country than an E39 M5. Put a diff in the 1, and its a pretty complete car. The Golfs 4wd system is flawed (imo) and anything that puts drive through the steering axle is flawed anyway.

What is your definition of cross country?

With drivers of equal ability at the wheel, I find it hard to believe that a 130i would be quicker than a fit and healthy E39 M5 under any circumstances.

Well, my 130i certainly pissed all over my E34 M5 at the Nordschleife.

E39 is a different kettle of fish to the E34. I'm not taking anything away from the E34 M5 which is without doubt a great car, but the E39 (dons flame suit) is a more modern, faster and generally more capable car.

[Spokey]

M5Dave said:

Spokey said:

M5Dave said:

roofer said:

The 130 is down to sensible prices now. They are also quicker cross country than an E39 M5. Put a diff in the 1, and its a pretty complete car. The Golfs 4wd system is flawed (imo) and anything that puts drive through the steering axle is flawed anyway.

What is your definition of cross country?

With drivers of equal ability at the wheel, I find it hard to believe that a 130i would be quicker than a fit and healthy E39 M5 under any circumstances.

Well, my 130i certainly pissed all over my E34 M5 at the Nordschleife.

E39 is a different kettle of fish to the E34. I'm not taking anything away from the E34 M5 which is without doubt a great car, but the E39 (dons flame suit) is a more modern, faster and generally more capable car.

I'm not arguing, but the E34 was lighter, had more power and also had the Nurburgring suspension option. The 130i was completely stock, down to the nasty NCT5 runflat tyres.

Edited by Spokey on Saturday 30th August 15:53

[CarbonM5]

Id go with the R32.
Its a more cohesive package and I wouldnt worry about missing RWD either-for what its worth i reckon a boggo focus or Golf is much more entertaining than the 1series which has tons of grip and no feedback,duff rear suspension-Pointless.

Go with the R32.

[roofer]

CarbonM5 said:

the 1series which has tons of grip and no feedback,duff rear suspension-Pointless.

[Spam]

2 sMoKiN bArReLs said:

Chadwiko said:

knobend thing meaning?

...most BMW drivers get bad press..mostly because a significant majority are knobends..

No not true anymore lol...Didn't JC say all the dhead BMW drivers have now gone and bought Audi's!

[Flat6]

Vee said:

I would keep some money in the bank and get a GTi DSG.

But for an equivalent age GTi DSG you'll pay the same as a 130i

[baz1985]

If your main priority is pure driving dynamics.....then the E87 130i M Sport is the superior drive...it has an inherently better chassis balance, better steering (although I've not driven a facelift electric one), it is more agile too. Get rid of the run-5h!ts and its even better.

IMO in terms of outright driving characteristics- the R32 has superior brakes, damping, and traction. If your driving typically entails a wet A57 Snake Pass....the R32 is the car to have.

[Flat6]

Agreed, in terms of raw pace in the wet, but the 130i will leave you with a much bigger smile

Interesting though, according to this http://www.fastestlaps.com/index.php?page_id=compa... most of the track lap times are very similar..

[Chadwiko]

Thanks for all your posts fella's, some very infomative, some v amusing.... the lap times one seems to seal it for me as the 130i being the car to choose, and with it having rwd, lower emmissions(the tax for cars like R32's in the coming years are gonna be awful) better mpg, classier cabin...etc..

[VerySideways]

CarbonM5 said:

...for what its worth i reckon a boggo focus or Golf is much more entertaining than the 1series which has tons of grip and no feedback,duff rear suspension-Pointless.

What a load of bks. You clearly haven't driven both.

To the OP - go out and drive both and you will know which you prefer, i'm afraid that's the only way.
The Golf is a better family car, the 130i is much more fun, in the dry there's nothing between them but in the wet i suspect the Golf would be quicker cross country.

IMHO, etc.

[Chadwiko]

Ive got an ST now...performance ok, handling v good...not a great cabin, and its a ford... its not just about the drive... prestige and image are also important considerations.

[VerySideways]

Ah, you see, if i worried about image i wouldn't be driving a BMW!

[Roger645]

I drove a R32 last week and was surprised how dull the power delivery was. Really linear and felt much slower than the speedo showed. The 130 feels quicker and the sound of the 130 engine I think is nicer.

Got a call from the dealer this weekend offering 4k of a new one. Probably as they are now discontinued VW are trying to offload the stock.

[Chadwiko]

Not only discontinued, the manual ones are 255 emmissions, and gonna cost around £700 a year for
road tax.... the 130i efficient dynamics circa 195 emmissions, and around £300 a year car tax.. the beamer it is!

[dibbly_dobbler]

Chadwiko said:

Not only discontinued, the manual ones are 255 emmissions, and gonna cost around £700 a year for
road tax.... the 130i efficient dynamics circa 195 emmissions, and around £300 a year car tax.. the beamer it is!

Good call - you wont regret it ! I am one of these sad types who is always lusting after a new motor and I still cant think of anything to replace my 130 with except another one !

[D1MAC]

Chadwiko said:

Ive got an ST now...performance ok, handling v good...not a great cabin, and its a ford... its not just about the drive... prestige and image are also important considerations.

If I were you, I'd look in the mirror and worry about how shallow I was if I thought that prestige & image were 'important considerations'.

Not too wrong with the ST, apart from the handling, which is a bit soft and a bit 'tall'. But of course it doesn't have the badge

I've actually got a similar choice at the moment, but expanded between the 130/R32/S3 or maybe Z4 Coupe/350z (or even keep the ST) but I sure as hell won't be buying for badge and if you have anything about you, you won't either


BTW - I'd probably go for the 130. Smaller and admittedly might not be the greatest looker but if used it's a decent amount cheaper (certainly used), rwd, better engine and isn't the tea leaf choice that the R32 seems to be (as, I suppose, it is a good bank job car, as well as other reasons).

Edited by D1MAC on Sunday 31st August 22:02