Mk 7 Fiesta ST to M135i
Discussion
I have an M235i and my gf has a Fiesta ST - both great cars!
I've kept my M235i for 4 years now, and it's the first time I've never had the desire to upgrade or move on to another car. I'd like an M2 Comp, but can't bring myself to pay £40k extra for a few more HP and some wider arches.
Whenever I drive the Fiesta it feels like a complete hoot compared to the 235i. Very chuckable, great direct steering feel, and while a bit slower - it's not annoyingly slow (like the 420i I had to endure recently for a couple of weeks).
I've kept my M235i for 4 years now, and it's the first time I've never had the desire to upgrade or move on to another car. I'd like an M2 Comp, but can't bring myself to pay £40k extra for a few more HP and some wider arches.
Whenever I drive the Fiesta it feels like a complete hoot compared to the 235i. Very chuckable, great direct steering feel, and while a bit slower - it's not annoyingly slow (like the 420i I had to endure recently for a couple of weeks).
The Fiesta will be more fun to drive (to me) and cheaper to run. The M135i is more grown up and better built. I think it's probably more of a mini GT car than a hot-hatch in feel and will be more comfortable and relaxing. The engine is fantastic though and I'd have to have it with the 8-speed ZF. I'm really not keen on BMW manual gearboxes but the option is still there.
It really all depends on what you want from a car.
It really all depends on what you want from a car.
mr_fibuli said:
I have an M235i and my gf has a Fiesta ST - both great cars!
I've kept my M235i for 4 years now, and it's the first time I've never had the desire to upgrade or move on to another car. I'd like an M2 Comp, but can't bring myself to pay £40k extra for a few more HP and some wider arches.
Whenever I drive the Fiesta it feels like a complete hoot compared to the 235i. Very chuckable, great direct steering feel, and while a bit slower - it's not annoyingly slow (like the 420i I had to endure recently for a couple of weeks).
There a lot more of a difference between an M235i and the M2 Comp than that.I've kept my M235i for 4 years now, and it's the first time I've never had the desire to upgrade or move on to another car. I'd like an M2 Comp, but can't bring myself to pay £40k extra for a few more HP and some wider arches.
Whenever I drive the Fiesta it feels like a complete hoot compared to the 235i. Very chuckable, great direct steering feel, and while a bit slower - it's not annoyingly slow (like the 420i I had to endure recently for a couple of weeks).
I've owned both, and had an RS Megane in between them.
The Fiesta was an absolute riot to drive, handled well, was quick enough, seat heaters were fantastic and was a great daily. I think I was managed 36mpg on mine from memory. I think it did about 48mpg on the motorway.
The BMW is essentially a 1 series with a lot of power. It doesn't handle anywhere near as well as the Fiesta did and if you start to push it down some twisty roads it doesn't feel all the great. As a quick daily it's incredible though. Comfy enough. The auto box on them is a must imo. I was doing about 22mpg on the same journeys. I did manage over 40mpg on the motorway in it though.
As a fast daily the BMW is better as it's more comfy, and quicker; if you can live with the fuel economy. To drive for fun, the Fiesta is the vastly superior car.
The Fiesta was an absolute riot to drive, handled well, was quick enough, seat heaters were fantastic and was a great daily. I think I was managed 36mpg on mine from memory. I think it did about 48mpg on the motorway.
The BMW is essentially a 1 series with a lot of power. It doesn't handle anywhere near as well as the Fiesta did and if you start to push it down some twisty roads it doesn't feel all the great. As a quick daily it's incredible though. Comfy enough. The auto box on them is a must imo. I was doing about 22mpg on the same journeys. I did manage over 40mpg on the motorway in it though.
As a fast daily the BMW is better as it's more comfy, and quicker; if you can live with the fuel economy. To drive for fun, the Fiesta is the vastly superior car.
Not a fiesta but same ballpark, I went from a Mini Cooper S to an M140i.
The Mini was more fun but grated on me day-to-day. On the commute I had to be on the ball avoiding potholes as the suspension was harder. Mine was a manual too so sitting in start stop traffic was tiring. Easier to park due to the size. I averaged 26mpg which was similar to a mate who had an MP215 fiesta. On a proper drive in the sticks though it was really good fun, much more confidence inspiring than the M140.
The M140 is a straight line weapon, they can corner rather well once you get used to their tendencies and where the grip is - but coming from an ST or similar it won't feel great in the bends. I reckon I could hustle it down a b road faster than the Mini, but it's just not as fun doing so. In anything but dry roads the traction control light is blinking away on the regular. Put it in Sport + to allow some slip in the dry and it's a good laugh, but opportunities to have fun like that are few and far between compared to ragging an ST.
Running costs aren't quite the jump you might be expecting. My Mini had a piggyback ecu running 240bhp.
It averaged 26mpg.
Pair of front Pilot SuperSports every 10k. (£250 ish)
M140 averages 22mpg.
Just replaced the front tyres with Pilot SuperSports - same price as the Mini's despite being wider.
Servicing is more expensive for the majors, but minors are near enough the same. Just get them done at a specialist and it wont be much more than your Fiesta. I paid £360 spark plug change, full oil change, filters, and full vehicle check. All BMW genuine stuff and they updated the iDrive and BMW server.
The Mini was more fun but grated on me day-to-day. On the commute I had to be on the ball avoiding potholes as the suspension was harder. Mine was a manual too so sitting in start stop traffic was tiring. Easier to park due to the size. I averaged 26mpg which was similar to a mate who had an MP215 fiesta. On a proper drive in the sticks though it was really good fun, much more confidence inspiring than the M140.
The M140 is a straight line weapon, they can corner rather well once you get used to their tendencies and where the grip is - but coming from an ST or similar it won't feel great in the bends. I reckon I could hustle it down a b road faster than the Mini, but it's just not as fun doing so. In anything but dry roads the traction control light is blinking away on the regular. Put it in Sport + to allow some slip in the dry and it's a good laugh, but opportunities to have fun like that are few and far between compared to ragging an ST.
Running costs aren't quite the jump you might be expecting. My Mini had a piggyback ecu running 240bhp.
It averaged 26mpg.
Pair of front Pilot SuperSports every 10k. (£250 ish)
M140 averages 22mpg.
Just replaced the front tyres with Pilot SuperSports - same price as the Mini's despite being wider.
Servicing is more expensive for the majors, but minors are near enough the same. Just get them done at a specialist and it wont be much more than your Fiesta. I paid £360 spark plug change, full oil change, filters, and full vehicle check. All BMW genuine stuff and they updated the iDrive and BMW server.
Different cars for different jobs in many ways I think. Bmw's have a fantastic way of feeling like very comfortable cruisers especially if they have an auto gearbox. Whereas the ST will be much more fun for much more of the time, but it wouldn't be something you'd choose to drive 200 miles in for me.
I went from a E90 330i auto to a manual Mini Cooper S and I pretty much don't miss the 330i one bit. It is only on long journeys that I would favour the 330i, but for the rest of the time I'm just driving the Mini with a big smile on my face. It is so much more fun for sure.
I went from a E90 330i auto to a manual Mini Cooper S and I pretty much don't miss the 330i one bit. It is only on long journeys that I would favour the 330i, but for the rest of the time I'm just driving the Mini with a big smile on my face. It is so much more fun for sure.
Not quite the same, but I have a MK7 ST as the daily, & E92 M3 as a semi daily. I do like the ST and it’s great fun & do sometimes get to enjoy it on my 25 mile commute, but I was thinking of selling it (not now though) as the seats are uncomfortable, the driving position far too high & the suspension stiff. The E92 is as they say all about the engine, & what an engine, but even living somewhere fairly rural I rarely get to exercise the engine, in part cos it takes a long time to warm up. For a while I’ve wondered if the M140/240 is the perfect compromise?
Are owners really getting as little as 22mpg from
the N55 is it in the 35? Is the B58 in the 40’s better? I’m getting 21 from a tank in the E92!
Are owners really getting as little as 22mpg from
the N55 is it in the 35? Is the B58 in the 40’s better? I’m getting 21 from a tank in the E92!
Edited by acme on Friday 6th December 20:50
acme said:
Not quite the same, but I have a MK7 ST as the daily, & E92 M3 as a semi daily. I do like the ST and it’s great fun & do sometimes get to enjoy it on my 25 mile commute, but I was thinking of selling it (not now though) as the seats are uncomfortable, the driving position far too high & the suspension stiff. The E92 is as they say all about the engine, & what an engine, but even living somewhere fairly rural I rarely get to exercise the engine, in part cos it takes a long time to warm up. For a while I’ve wondered if the M140/240 is the perfect compromise?
Are owners really getting as little as 22mpg from
the N55 is it in the 35? Is the B58 in the 40’s better? I’m getting 21 from a tank in the E92!
There is people averaging over 30mpg with the N55. There is very little between the N55 and B58 in terms of fuel economy. Long steady runs they both are capable of impressive figures. Are owners really getting as little as 22mpg from
the N55 is it in the 35? Is the B58 in the 40’s better? I’m getting 21 from a tank in the E92!
Edited by acme on Friday 6th December 20:50
22mpg is a lot of city driving or a really heavy foot. It's certainly not an average for a normal driver.
acme said:
For a while I’ve wondered if the M140/240 is the perfect compromise?
I've not driven them but I'd imagine them to be pretty much the ideal daily. I've lusted after a M240i for as long as I can remember. They offer very accessible performance due to the turbo torque and also offer very reasonable mpg given the performance I reckon. I'd love to tick the box one day for sure.
Gassing Station | Car Buying | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff