Do you drive your 1-series/3-series for fun?
Discussion
As the title suggests, I'm interested to know if you ever just go out for a drive for the sake of driving?
For example, I used to have a E92 320d M Sport saloon and I never did this, even though I loved the car. It just felt wrong. Maybe it was the 4 doors, maybe it was the diesel engine - who knows.
I now have a Cayman and I do it every weekend for an hour or two.
The reason I ask is I test drove a 135i DCT convertible last weekend and I loved the noise with the top down. I'm sold on the engine and it's a strong contender for my next car (either in 135i or 335i coupe form) when the time comes to change. But I'm wondering if the fact that it's "less special" (i.e. more of them around) will make going on weekend hoons weird again.
I'd particularly like to hear from all of you 1 or 3 series coupe/convertible owners if possible, but all views are welcome
Cheers
For example, I used to have a E92 320d M Sport saloon and I never did this, even though I loved the car. It just felt wrong. Maybe it was the 4 doors, maybe it was the diesel engine - who knows.
I now have a Cayman and I do it every weekend for an hour or two.
The reason I ask is I test drove a 135i DCT convertible last weekend and I loved the noise with the top down. I'm sold on the engine and it's a strong contender for my next car (either in 135i or 335i coupe form) when the time comes to change. But I'm wondering if the fact that it's "less special" (i.e. more of them around) will make going on weekend hoons weird again.
I'd particularly like to hear from all of you 1 or 3 series coupe/convertible owners if possible, but all views are welcome
Cheers
I sometimes take my 130i out for a drive around Brecon etc just for fun. I think its the combination of a nice straight six to listen to and enough power to work the chassis quite hard with DSC turned off.
As good as they are nowadays, I can't really imagine doing it a a diesel mind you.
As good as they are nowadays, I can't really imagine doing it a a diesel mind you.
Mine's an older car than those you are referring to (e46 325i), but I drive mine for fun. Not often, as I've little time these days, but whenever I do drive it I look for reasons to take the long way. There's also a slight lack of interesting roads nearby (East Cambridgeshire) compared to where I used to live, which is a pain, but I make do.
I enjoy the sound (would be nice if it were a bit louder), the feeling as you turn in, and accelerate out. I'm also constantly amazed at how quickly it can go around a corner with a set of decent tyres.
This is all perhaps because I'm pretty inexperienced with cars: this is my first.
I enjoy the sound (would be nice if it were a bit louder), the feeling as you turn in, and accelerate out. I'm also constantly amazed at how quickly it can go around a corner with a set of decent tyres.
This is all perhaps because I'm pretty inexperienced with cars: this is my first.
kotafey said:
Aizvara - I'm in Cambridge myself. There are some nice B roads in Essex towards Stansted and also around Saffron Walden. Not as good as somewhere like the lake district of course, but still worth a look.
Thanks for the info; I don't get over that way very much but will bear it in mind. I'm up in a village not far from Ely, working in Cambridge. The B roads here (as you are no doubt aware) are all straight for miles with 90 bends. I still enjoy them, though.The 335i is an amazing piece of kit, and the engine is the star...I've never driven a 320d but cannot imagine I would want to ever drive one of those for fun. I regularly take "short" trips to supermarket 20 miles away from house because the 335i is so good to drive. Infact I would say my 335i is more "fun" to drive than my old 350Z, and not far off my old Integra Type R. I did a mini-review of my 335i for the E-90 forum so have just copied it over shortened version...in short "yes" I love driving my 335i for fun...alot
A mini-review.
Engine: The first thing to say is just how amazing the power unit is. At 306BHP the engine isn't short on power, but can return 30mpg+ when driven sensibly. I've driven and owned a long line of NA cars, and previously been dubious of turboed cars due to the fear of turbo lag. But the 335i really has no or very minimal turbo lag, certainly anything above 2k rpm and she just pulls all the way to the 7k red line like a NA unit. There is talk that BMW actually underrated the engine in the official specs, I don't find that hard to believe since the 335i seems to pull much better than the 350Z (rated at 278 Bhp) ever did at speeds of 60mph+.
Drivetrain: My 335i is the first auto car I’ve driven. In daily use there’s nothing to fault, just stick into D and away you go. If you really want to make progress just stick into DS mode or use the full manual mode with the paddles. The auto box shifts flawlessly, and even blips the throttle on down shifts.
Handling: I’ve never driven any BMWs before the 335i and use to make fun of the 'we bring joy' BMW adverts, but I have to admit the steering feel and general handling of the car is fantastic. Though turn in is not quite pinpoint it's certainty much better than alot of other cars I've driven. My car has the M sport suspension and run-flat tyres, personally I find the ride fine, but that may be because I'm use to driving cars with hard suspension set ups and more than willing to trade comfort for better handling. My only gripe with handling was the lack of a true mechanical LSD.
Value for money: I paid £20k for mine from a main dealer, and she is just over 3 years old. I plan to spend £5k on performance mods at the end of which I think I'll have a car which is close to M3 pace but much more subtle, and with lower running costs. Obviously I would love an M3/M5 but that's going to have to wait another 5 years when the mortgage is smaller!!
Overall: I been lucky enough to own some fabulously cars in the last 7 years, but without a doubt the 335i is the best to date. I still find it hard to believe BMW has produced a 4-door saloon that handles better, and is faster than many dedicated sports cars. 2 months on and still find my self laughing out loud every time I find a empty stretch of road and put my foot down.
One happy 335i owner :cool!:
My last 2 previous wheels:
A mini-review.
Engine: The first thing to say is just how amazing the power unit is. At 306BHP the engine isn't short on power, but can return 30mpg+ when driven sensibly. I've driven and owned a long line of NA cars, and previously been dubious of turboed cars due to the fear of turbo lag. But the 335i really has no or very minimal turbo lag, certainly anything above 2k rpm and she just pulls all the way to the 7k red line like a NA unit. There is talk that BMW actually underrated the engine in the official specs, I don't find that hard to believe since the 335i seems to pull much better than the 350Z (rated at 278 Bhp) ever did at speeds of 60mph+.
Drivetrain: My 335i is the first auto car I’ve driven. In daily use there’s nothing to fault, just stick into D and away you go. If you really want to make progress just stick into DS mode or use the full manual mode with the paddles. The auto box shifts flawlessly, and even blips the throttle on down shifts.
Handling: I’ve never driven any BMWs before the 335i and use to make fun of the 'we bring joy' BMW adverts, but I have to admit the steering feel and general handling of the car is fantastic. Though turn in is not quite pinpoint it's certainty much better than alot of other cars I've driven. My car has the M sport suspension and run-flat tyres, personally I find the ride fine, but that may be because I'm use to driving cars with hard suspension set ups and more than willing to trade comfort for better handling. My only gripe with handling was the lack of a true mechanical LSD.
Value for money: I paid £20k for mine from a main dealer, and she is just over 3 years old. I plan to spend £5k on performance mods at the end of which I think I'll have a car which is close to M3 pace but much more subtle, and with lower running costs. Obviously I would love an M3/M5 but that's going to have to wait another 5 years when the mortgage is smaller!!
Overall: I been lucky enough to own some fabulously cars in the last 7 years, but without a doubt the 335i is the best to date. I still find it hard to believe BMW has produced a 4-door saloon that handles better, and is faster than many dedicated sports cars. 2 months on and still find my self laughing out loud every time I find a empty stretch of road and put my foot down.
One happy 335i owner :cool!:
My last 2 previous wheels:
gangzoom - the 350z is quite similar to my Cayman, so that's a useful perspective.
Did you consider a coupe or was it always going to be a saloon? There's not much in it in terms of weight from what I can see (in fact it looks like the coupe is 5kg heavier, which I find surprising).
Lovely pics too
Did you consider a coupe or was it always going to be a saloon? There's not much in it in terms of weight from what I can see (in fact it looks like the coupe is 5kg heavier, which I find surprising).
Lovely pics too
Did with my M3 and certainly with the CSL, and I did with the 335i a fair bit, but never did with the 535d or any of my other cars, the 123d was pretty fun but didn't go out just for the sake of it.
With the M3 I would go out at midnight, in the cold in December and drive up to the coast, nice empty roads and loads of fun, couple of hours of pure driving pleasure.
With the M3 I would go out at midnight, in the cold in December and drive up to the coast, nice empty roads and loads of fun, couple of hours of pure driving pleasure.
kotafey said:
The reason I ask is I test drove a 135i DCT convertible last weekend and I loved the noise with the top down. I'm sold on the engine and it's a strong contender for my next car (either in 135i or 335i coupe form) when the time comes to change. But I'm wondering if the fact that it's "less special" (i.e. more of them around) will make going on weekend hoons weird again.
Certainley there's not less of them around if talking about the 135i. Probably not much more than 100 or so 135i Coupe with DCT in the UK.I've had mine 3 months now..... great car
(well apart from the useless run flat tyres, but they will get binned before too long)
kotafey said:
gangzoom - the 350z is quite similar to my Cayman, so that's a useful perspective.
Did you consider a coupe or was it always going to be a saloon? There's not much in it in terms of weight from what I can see (in fact it looks like the coupe is 5kg heavier, which I find surprising).
Lovely pics too
Did try the coupe but found the climbing into the back seats far too much of a hassle. I really do love the fact my 335i looks like a 320d (I've debadged mine) but when I want to she's got enough pace to surprise just about anyting else on the road. I really wouldn't worry about the fact there's loads of 3 series around put you off buying one, though the new 335d is suppose to have a 313bhp engine that also does 50mlg....but that's another debate all together!!Did you consider a coupe or was it always going to be a saloon? There's not much in it in terms of weight from what I can see (in fact it looks like the coupe is 5kg heavier, which I find surprising).
Lovely pics too
definitely..but only generaly on sunny days with the roof down..just head out into the sticks and enjoy the whole experience..the straight six, the precise handling and the quality feel of the car..all set against a quintessential english countryside backdrop..can usually spend a couple of hours happily zipping around Surrey
the perfect antidote to the hectic London working week..
the perfect antidote to the hectic London working week..
roofer said:
Used to with the 130, the 335d and 330d are just tools to do a job, just do it slightly quicker than some tools.
+1Would take the long way home in my M3 CS but my 123d is just a tool to do a job; a reasonably brisk tool that also handles fairly well but I don't look for excuses to go out and drive it!
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