What would you do ?
Discussion
Right - I've had my BMW 130i M-Sport for the last 5 and half years - it's been fantastic - best car I've ever owned. Only trouble is I'm getting itchy feet for something new (to me) and different. I've looked around at alternatives and I honestly can't think of anything that offers similar power, rear wheel drive, practicality, and relatively affordable running costs (mpg, insurance and servicing). There's the 135i/335i of course, but these tend to be circa £20k for a good one and budget would be £15k tops.
The E46 M3 is very tempting but the running costs are in another league.
I don't need 4 seats, though they do occasionally come in very handy.
So, I'm tempted either to:
1) Keep the 130i, but add a Quaife Differential + BMW Performance Exhaust to give it a refresh and make it feel like a new car (cost = £2000)
2) Change it for something like a 2010 Mazda Mx5 Sport tech (cost to change = £5.5k)
What would you guys do?
The E46 M3 is very tempting but the running costs are in another league.
I don't need 4 seats, though they do occasionally come in very handy.
So, I'm tempted either to:
1) Keep the 130i, but add a Quaife Differential + BMW Performance Exhaust to give it a refresh and make it feel like a new car (cost = £2000)
2) Change it for something like a 2010 Mazda Mx5 Sport tech (cost to change = £5.5k)
What would you guys do?
Yep I like your thoughts, I tried a Z4 3.0 Coupe - didn't like it. Felt disconnected from the car, sat way over the back axle, with light steering that seemed devoid of feel to me. I also thought build quality and the plastics used in the cabin was pretty nasty - so that one's out I'm afraid
Jw Vw said:
As said in your opening post an M3 is in another league in terms of running costs. I would just keep the 130I OP.
Yep, think that's what I'll do - one more thought I had was a 350Z - but they are supposed to be much more thirsty on fuel, don't sound as smooth at high revs, transmit a lot of road roar to the cabin, and have a pretty low-rent interior..... Thought you guys may be interested in hearing my latest thoughts - test drove an 08 313Bhp 350Z at the weekend and it was mostly great! The first impression when you sit in the car is that it feels quite wide and everything is very driver focused. The secondary guages are all angled towards the driver, and the way the whole main instrument pod moves up and down with the height adjustable wheel is a nice touch. Some of the interior is really showing its age now (- I mean who needs a tape player!), but overall, although the quality of the plastics isn't that great, it felt solidly put together.
Twist the key and you're treated to a lovely warbly flare of revs from the V6 before it settles to a steady idle. The clutch is quite stiffly sprung, but I'd say it's not that different to the 130i. The gearshift though is a little agricultural and doesn't ping between ratios as slickly as the 130i. It's not an easy car to drive smoothly straight from the off and it takes a little bit of sympathy to move away smoothly and slot the next gear.
Steering felt pin sharp and not as heavy as the 130i at low speeds. It felt easier and more direct than the 130i and weighted up beatifully as speed increased. There's virtually no dead zone around the straight ahead.
Give it some throttle and the car gathers pace like an express train. The engine isn't as honey smooth as the 130i's and sounds gritty, but provides linear power throughout the rev-range. All the while, the exhaust continues to emit a lovely warble and it feels like a mini-exotic. If you really give it the beans it definitely feels faster than the 130i and seems to pull more strongly from low revs. It definitely "feels" that little bit more special than the 130i. It feels like a proper sportscar.
The brakes also felt great (at least for the road) and were powerful and feelsome.
The major downsides were 1. ROADNOISE!!! on rough surfaces the noise level in the cabin was bordering on Lotus Elise levels of rawness 2. The stereo - most of the sound seemed to come from behind me rather than the "surround sound" of my current BMW Professional Hi-fi.
Other than that - I was seriously impressed. It doesn't feel like a "step down" from the 130i - more a move to something rawer and sportier. I'd liken it to a Japanese TVR. It's rough around the edges (but that's part of its charm), and can give you a real thrill, but is reliable and relatively cheap to run. It's a real contender - I've just got to think a little more about whether or not I'd get tired quickly of the road noise on my regular 40 miles per day commute to work up the M4......
Twist the key and you're treated to a lovely warbly flare of revs from the V6 before it settles to a steady idle. The clutch is quite stiffly sprung, but I'd say it's not that different to the 130i. The gearshift though is a little agricultural and doesn't ping between ratios as slickly as the 130i. It's not an easy car to drive smoothly straight from the off and it takes a little bit of sympathy to move away smoothly and slot the next gear.
Steering felt pin sharp and not as heavy as the 130i at low speeds. It felt easier and more direct than the 130i and weighted up beatifully as speed increased. There's virtually no dead zone around the straight ahead.
Give it some throttle and the car gathers pace like an express train. The engine isn't as honey smooth as the 130i's and sounds gritty, but provides linear power throughout the rev-range. All the while, the exhaust continues to emit a lovely warble and it feels like a mini-exotic. If you really give it the beans it definitely feels faster than the 130i and seems to pull more strongly from low revs. It definitely "feels" that little bit more special than the 130i. It feels like a proper sportscar.
The brakes also felt great (at least for the road) and were powerful and feelsome.
The major downsides were 1. ROADNOISE!!! on rough surfaces the noise level in the cabin was bordering on Lotus Elise levels of rawness 2. The stereo - most of the sound seemed to come from behind me rather than the "surround sound" of my current BMW Professional Hi-fi.
Other than that - I was seriously impressed. It doesn't feel like a "step down" from the 130i - more a move to something rawer and sportier. I'd liken it to a Japanese TVR. It's rough around the edges (but that's part of its charm), and can give you a real thrill, but is reliable and relatively cheap to run. It's a real contender - I've just got to think a little more about whether or not I'd get tired quickly of the road noise on my regular 40 miles per day commute to work up the M4......
and I wouldn't describe it as a proper sports car.Gassing Station | BMW General | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff