The Best ///M/Barge/General Rant/Look at this/O/T(Vol XVIII)

[anonymous-user]

As much as I love 355's and that one in particular, when I drove one on track many a moon ago it surprisingly didn't really feel that quick.

Granted it was likely because it was on track but, still....

[Diesel Meister]

Oh boy that Ferrari is a bit of me right there. Grey or metallic blue seem to do it for me and I'm not really a prancing dobbin kind of guy usually (at least not after about 1975).

But by fup that B12 5.7 should be blushing for what it is also capable of stirring! Absolutely arresting, officer. I especially like the rear 3/4 shot with the decals, subtle box-arch and the correct sized wheel with ample dish. Rightness.

This thread is unhealthy. I'm supposed to be looking for somewhere to live (i.e. with a bathroom and kitchen inside of it) rather than somewhere to live on-and-in-between epic road trips (with a stick shift in)

[graham22]

W00DY said:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1997-FERRARI-355-BERLIN...

Double thud.




*Googles how to get £150k in 9 days*

I like the way such detailed pictures manage not to show the awful looking steering wheel.


But lovely all the same - these were the car to have in my early Performance Car reading days, think I may have the 1st road test edition.

[ferrisbueller]

s m said:

Agreed - a 1 coop ins next on my list of BMs. Feels a lot more together than an E46 Coupe. I prefer the steering on the E46 to the 125 but would like to try a 135i coupe to see what the steering is like on that.
Probably get used to it I guess though

WTF were they thinking when they signed that monstrosity off?

[4941cc]

ferrisbueller said:

WTF were they thinking when they signed that monstrosity off?

"This'll sell like hotcakes on PCP", mainly.

They weren't wrong.

[ferrisbueller]

4941cc said:

ferrisbueller said:

WTF were they thinking when they signed that monstrosity off?

"This'll sell like hotcakes on PCP", mainly.

They weren't wrong.

Possibly, and you'd now better than I. Don't see many around though. Maybe they're only used at night.

[phil_cardiff]

It's rare that the coupe looks worse than the hatchback but kudos to BMW there.

[Crook]

phil_cardiff said:

It's rare that the coupe looks worse than the hatchback but kudos to BMW there.

[4941cc]

phil_cardiff said:

It's rare that the coupe looks worse than the hatchback but kudos to BMW there.

It's the only 1er that I really like! would love a fettled 135i in Sedona Red

[LaurasOtherHalf]

phil_cardiff said:

p1stonhead said:

ferrisbueller said:

W00DY said:

They nailed the 355.

that is just ridiculously stunning.

Been a while since I felt an 'ache' for a car but that has brought it out. Perfection.

Lovely cars and a great evolution of the previous designs (mores 308 generation than 348) but that front grill always spoils it for me. It just looks stuck on and not part of the initial design a bit like when they grafted on the oval grill to all late 90s Fords.

[bodhi]

ferrisbueller said:

WTF were they thinking when they signed that monstrosity off?

I have no idea but I'm glad they did. I know beauty is in the eye of the beholder and all that, but I really like the styling, on the M-Sports and 1M anyway. Usual BMW SE styling caveats apply. Wouldn't say it was pretty, but certainly imposing for a little car.

[p1stonhead]

ferrisbueller said:

s m said:

Agreed - a 1 coop ins next on my list of BMs. Feels a lot more together than an E46 Coupe. I prefer the steering on the E46 to the 125 but would like to try a 135i coupe to see what the steering is like on that.
Probably get used to it I guess though

WTF were they thinking when they signed that monstrosity off?

Funny, with flared arches and CSL wheels it becomes bloody fantastic looking IMO

[Sheets Tabuer]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

Look great in grey, mine looked lovely, was never sure about the front view though.

[Luke.]

Sheets Tabuer said:

anonymous said:

[redacted]

Look great in grey, mine looked lovely, was never sure about the front view though.

I love the convertibles.

[Sheets Tabuer]

bodhi said:

It's so good in fact, I haven't the foggiest what I'm going to replace it with.

Do what I did and get a newer version

[graham22]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

It's all the swage lines, creases & joins going off in all different directions that put me off, the concave boot panel on the hatch looks pointless too, just turning reflections upside down!

Shame as a 130i ticks all the boxes for me but the styling is just too fussy.

The newer one above is less so but the extra lines/shapes are still there.

[p1stonhead]

graham22 said:

anonymous said:

[redacted]

It's all the swage lines, creases & joins going off in all different directions that put me off, the concave boot panel on the hatch looks pointless too, just turning reflections upside down!

Shame as a 130i ticks all the boxes for me but the styling is just too fussy.

The newer one above is less so but the extra lines/shapes are still there.

Shame there was no 130i coupe IMO. A great 3l straight six NA small coupe with 305bhp. Would be great (albeit I have driven a 135i and I assume thats pretty good anyway)

[CB 987]

13aines said:

Thanks for your opinions. I have done some more reading and looked at a lot of adverts, and I think a 330i m-sport E9X is what i'm after. They are really doing it for me at the moment!

Is SMG still a minefield with the E9X, like some suggest it was with E46s? Perhaps the SMG would be a good middle ground if I could find one... or maybe at a push the auto with steering wheel paddles.

Good choice, I’ve run a manual E91 330i (N52) for the last couple of years and it’s been a great all round car. However, manual tourings seem to be quite rare and sought after.

Mine is now running Michelin PS4’s on 18’s all round, as I don’t think they ride that well on run flats. Mine also has a Birds B3 suspension kit, which transforms the ride and handling.

I’ve previously run two manual E46 330i’s, a saloon and a touring. I actually prefer the looks of the E46 touring, but the E91 is definitely a superior all round car.

I’m honestly not sure what I’ll replace mine with.

[BoRED S2upid]

p1stonhead said:

Shame there was no 130i coupe IMO. A great 3l straight six NA small coupe with 305bhp. Would be great (albeit I have driven a 135i and I assume thats pretty good anyway)

I’d be very surprised if nobody has shoehorned the 3litre engine into the coupe.

[Dandanfings]

p1stonhead said:

Shame there was no 130i coupe IMO. A great 3l straight six NA small coupe with 305bhp. Would be great (albeit I have driven a 135i and I assume thats pretty good anyway)

So true, I didn't know there wasn't one and spent ages looking for a 130i coupe!
But a face-lift 135i with the DCT is a wonderful car and have held their values well, I actually think its a better buy than the M135i hatch that replaced it!