Drove a 118i today
Discussion
Loan car while the 528i's at the dealer for MOT and I2 (dealer shall remain nameless unless they do good with the spannerworks - but they've been very co-operative thus far).
It's a LOT better to drive than to look at. Gearbox is a bit notchy but it's very responsive; it's like driving a slightly large Golf. The interior is very nice. I don't like the soft indicator stalk, but I do like the steering and the clutch.
The ride was surprisingly firm, and I don't think I'd want to go back to that after wafting around in the 5 for nearly 5 months.
Edit: Just driven into work in it with my regular passengers. Not impressed. The space in the back is so small that the front passenger has to pull their seat so far forward that their headroom is curtailed.
Not a car for a family, unless they're all stumpy.
It's a LOT better to drive than to look at. Gearbox is a bit notchy but it's very responsive; it's like driving a slightly large Golf. The interior is very nice. I don't like the soft indicator stalk, but I do like the steering and the clutch.
The ride was surprisingly firm, and I don't think I'd want to go back to that after wafting around in the 5 for nearly 5 months.
Edit: Just driven into work in it with my regular passengers. Not impressed. The space in the back is so small that the front passenger has to pull their seat so far forward that their headroom is curtailed.
Not a car for a family, unless they're all stumpy.
Edited by CommanderJameson on Wednesday 22 November 07:56
CommanderJameson said:
Loan car while the 528i's at the dealer for MOT and I2 (dealer shall remain nameless unless they do good with the spannerworks - but they've been very co-operative thus far).
It's a LOT better to drive than to look at. Gearbox is a bit notchy but it's very responsive; it's like driving a slightly large Golf. The interior is very nice. I don't like the soft indicator stalk, but I do like the steering and the clutch.
The ride was surprisingly firm, and I don't think I'd want to go back to that after wafting around in the 5 for nearly 5 months.
It's a LOT better to drive than to look at. Gearbox is a bit notchy but it's very responsive; it's like driving a slightly large Golf. The interior is very nice. I don't like the soft indicator stalk, but I do like the steering and the clutch.
The ride was surprisingly firm, and I don't think I'd want to go back to that after wafting around in the 5 for nearly 5 months.
Yep - also had one for the last week as a courtesy car, it was on run flats which made for a very firm ride and darty handling.
I concur about the gearbox and clutch, but the overall build felt flimsy and I would hate to think how rattly they would be in 3 or 4 years.
Also who would spend £20k + on something so slow and anodyne is beyond me.
My brother had a 116i a little while back when his usual steed was in the garage, and he echoed the sentiments expressed on this thread.
Nice car, good handling, decent ride but a bit tight for room in the back. Unfortunately, if you consider it as a £20k car rather than simply a Golf rival it feels a little cheap. A 120i for £15k on the used market is pretty decent value though.
Nice car, good handling, decent ride but a bit tight for room in the back. Unfortunately, if you consider it as a £20k car rather than simply a Golf rival it feels a little cheap. A 120i for £15k on the used market is pretty decent value though.
I drove a 120d m-sport a couple of weeks ago. Pretty quick in a straight line, but the suspension has very little give in it - it's that it's uncomfortably hard, more that it doesn't seem very well damped. At NSL on a slightly bumpy dual carriageway, the rear was hopping up and down somewhat disconcertingly! Interior was fairly drab aswell, no better than a MK1 Focus. However, it is very chuckable, and quite fun to sling around!
The runflats are indeed evil, and probably contribute to a dynamic setup that's only 80% of what it could be. On the way home tonight I got a sense that the car was unnecessarily stiff but not in a good way; I am very much looking forward to collecting my sorted 528i (on conventional rubber).
Well, after 2 days with the 118 I'm glad to be back in a proper car (albeit one that's just cost me an arm and a leg). The gate on the 118 is so close that it's effortlessly easy to change from 5th to 1st when you wanted 3rd, and with similar comedy from 6th to 4th.
6th to 3rd by mistake also happened once or twice.
Rearward visibility is crap, the centre console is ruined by two cup holders, and the engine is a bit gutless.
Still steers beautifully, though.
Not a car I'd ever own.
6th to 3rd by mistake also happened once or twice.
Rearward visibility is crap, the centre console is ruined by two cup holders, and the engine is a bit gutless.
Still steers beautifully, though.
Not a car I'd ever own.
Edited by CommanderJameson on Thursday 23 November 17:15
Well I love my 118i Sport.
I have owned a few great handling cars eg 205xs/gti, Elise S1 and the 118i is right up there. OK the ride on runflats can be a little wobbly on uneven roads but they're perfect on motorways.
With a 4 month old in the back I am so glad I've got the extra security of the run-flats. Also the hatchback is way more practical than a 3 series for all the baby gear.
PS I'm 6'3" and although there isn't acres of room there is enough for an average sized adult behind the drivers seat.
I have owned a few great handling cars eg 205xs/gti, Elise S1 and the 118i is right up there. OK the ride on runflats can be a little wobbly on uneven roads but they're perfect on motorways.
With a 4 month old in the back I am so glad I've got the extra security of the run-flats. Also the hatchback is way more practical than a 3 series for all the baby gear.
PS I'm 6'3" and although there isn't acres of room there is enough for an average sized adult behind the drivers seat.
Edited by pattyg on Thursday 23 November 20:54
I've driven a fair few E87s as courtesy cars. They're great fun. The weight difference is at the rear i.e. the E87 is lighter at the back than an E90. The E90 is more balanced dynamically and much better built I think, but the E87 is fun a la E30 except LSD. Spec is terrible on the E87 too. Xenons are essential as the standard lights are useless
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