X-drive in the M135i?

[EricE]

Really, are there any "sensible" 4WD cars on sale that don’t suffer from terrible understeer when pushed to the limit? I relocated to the Austrian Alps for work reasons and now need to figure out what car to buy.
The M135i (WHICH MAY OR MAY NOT BE A REAL M CAR, I DO NOT CARE) ticks all boxes, but I’m undecided on RWD vs. AWD.

I know that the RWD version will always win from a pure "driver’s car" aspect, but there are some steep inclines around here where even FWD cars with winter tires struggle.

Is X-drive as bad (terrible) as the Haldex in the VAG products which completely ruins the handling of the cars or is it closer to Porsche with a nice rear-based bias?

[Dr Interceptor]

Try the new Mk7 Golf R before completely slagging off the VAG 4wd system - out next month at a dealership near you.

[Jasper3.0]

In a word.... No.

X-drive doesn't ruin the handling, we have it on our 330d. You can still slide it if you wish!

[aeropilot]

EricE said:

Is X-drive as bad (terrible) as the Haldex in the VAG products which completely ruins the handling of the cars or is it closer to Porsche with a nice rear-based bias?

Definately more Porsche than VAG, as the x-Drive in the M135 is very much rwd biased, with a, IIRC, 30:70 front to rear split.

There are some good video clips on Youtube of the x-Drive M135 in action which are worth searching for.

[EricE]

Dr Interceptor said:

Try the new Mk7 Golf R before completely slagging off the VAG 4wd system - out next month at a dealership near you.

Yes, the Golf R and Polo R are both on my radar, but I looked up a few videos on the regular Golf 7 4motion with the Haldex 5 system and it still seems to be heavily front biased like all VAG MQB cars. See https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detai...

aeropilot said:

Definately more Porsche than VAG, as the x-Drive in the M135 is very much rwd biased, with a, IIRC, 30:70 front to rear split.

There are some good video clips on Youtube of the x-Drive M135 in action which are worth searching for.

That sounds great. I found this video and it doesn’t seem nearly as much understeer tendency as the S3, although clearly there is some understeer:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Lm074yYiRs

Normally I’d get the sDrive but xDrive makes a lot of sense here since the roads are wet or snow covered 1/3 of the year.

[vsabljic]

EricE said:

although clearly there is some understeer:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Lm074yYiRs

Normally I’d get the sDrive but xDrive makes a lot of sense here since the roads are wet or snow covered 1/3 of the year.

In a RWD M135 you would get similar amounts of understeer

[David87]

I know this isn't very PH, but I wish they'd bring the xDrive car to the UK. It seems like a fantastic all-round package.