Wednesday 4th September 2013

BMW M135i vs Porsche Cayman

Round two in our M135i comparisons and a tougher opponent in the shape of the Cayman 2.7

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Now then, here's a tough one for the M135i. The Porsche Cayman really does seem to have it all like the sporty and intelligent kid at school with the gorgeous girlfriend. It's fast (enough), stylish, wonderful to drive, efficient, practical (for a two-seat car) and even quite good value if you go easy on the options.

Yet again, BMW trumps its rival on stats

In a role reversal from the GT86 comparison, this time it's the Porsche's higher price tag that will have to be justified. Can the mid-engined dynamics, finely-honed powertrain and styling of the Cayman overcome the M135i's numerous talents?

At the wheel
The M135i feels like an X6 after the Porsche. You sit low and snug in the Cayman, cocooned in a real mini-supercar driving environment. The steering wheel is also a revelation; after the chubby thing that greets you in the BMW, to hold a plain and unadorned wheel of normal thickness is great.

The interior's design is a vast step-up from the first Cayman, the rising centre console emphasising the driver-centric layout. But be warned; go light on the options and a plethora of blank switches will greet you, a la Citroen Saxo.

Porsche interior is sparse but stylish

Feelgood factors
The sensation of piloting a junior supercar is heightened when the Cayman is started; there's a flat-six gargle emanating from behind you and a Carrera GT-style gearstick just a few centimetres from the wheel.

But for a real feelgood factor, wait until a perfect heel'n'toe downshift is executed. The pedal weights are spot-on, the gearshift is quick, the noise is magnificent even with the standard exhaust and you'll be longing for more opportunities to slow down. The BMW is hardly disappointing as noise goes, but the Cayman has it licked here.

Bragging rights
Aside from the prestige, the Cayman is similar to the GT86 in that it isn't defined by its numbers. For those after cheap muscle, the 370Z is over £10K less.

'Want one' factor owned by the Cayman

The Cayman does boast some decent stats though, albeit fractionally behind the parsimonious BMW. We averaged 35mpg on a motorway drive, partly due to some lengthy gear ratios (the motorway speed limit is achievable in second!). Though this does dent acceleration, it does give you more time to enjoy the noise...

Finally, shallow observation though it is, a Porsche key is a more desirable one to hold than a BMW one, isn't it?

Meanwhile, in the real world...
Drive a gear lower than normally (or probably two compared with the BMW) and the Cayman is mesmerising.

Yes, the steering wants for some feedback, but the turn-in is stunning and the responses are a world away from the BMW. Both can do the everyday grind well, but it'll be the Porsche that has you out at 5am on a Bank Holiday (well, who wouldn't?) to just drive somewhere. It's an absorbing car that doesn't require any compromise.

Even lightly specced, this Cayman was £45K

Do they compare on price?
With some significant spec differences, yes. Or precisely, by choosing a dealer demonstrator-spec BMW and a pauper-spec Porsche. Then they start becoming equally priced. Sort of.

Do they REALLY compare on price?
With realistic specifications, no. Our test Cayman was without PDK, adaptive dampers or a sports exhaust yet still cost £45K, compared to the £37,000 of the M135i. It's a near-£40K car as standard, and is therefore always going to struggle for parity. We wouldn't want for many options on the Porsche (a manual on 18s with the standard exhaust is just fine, though Bluetooth would be handy) though whether we could leave an OPC with just that is another question... Still that's over £6,000 more than our ideally-specced BMW and we wouldn't fancy selling it again!

Conclusion

Cayman notches up a win for the rivals

Purely from a driving perspective, the Porsche engages to a level the BMW can't with minimal real-world compromise. But then day-in, day-out is where the BMW excels; that torque advantage can't be ignored, stuff can be chucked on the back seat and it can be discreet when a Cayman never can.

But then you'll hop back into the Cayman and none of that will matter. It makes the driver work a bit harder but for greater rewards. The price difference shouldn't be ignored, but the Cayman is a car worth waiting (and saving) for. For those who can make do without the rear seats, the Cayman has to be the victor here

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Further reading...
BMW M135i vs ... the world!
BMW M135i vs Toyota GT86
BMW M135i vs Renaultsport Megane 265
BMW M135i vs Audi S3
BMW M135i vs used Porsche 911 Carrera

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PORSCHE CAYMAN 2.7
Engine: 2,706cc flat-6,
Transmission: 6-speed manual, rear-wheel drive (7-speed dual-clutch PDK auto optional)
Power: 275@7,400rpm
Torque (lb ft): 214@4,500-6,500rpm
0-62mph: 5.7 sec (PDK 5.6 sec)
Top speed: 165mph
Weight: 1,310kg
MPG: 34.4mpg (36.7 PDK)(NEDC combined)
CO2: 192g/km
Price: £39,694 (before options), £44,991 (as tested inc. 19" Boxster Alloy Wheels £971.00 Porsche Communication Management (PCM) 3.0 including navigation mode £2,141.00 ParkAssist - front and rear £599.00 Telephone module for PCM £526.00 Bi-xenon headlamps with dynamic lighting function £1,060.00)

BMW M135i
Engine: 2,979cc six-cylinder, turbocharged
Transmission: 6-speed manual, rear-wheel drive (8-speed auto optional)
Power (hp): 320@5,800rpm
Torque (lb ft): 332@1,300-4,500rpm
0-62mph: 5.1 sec (auto 4.9 sec)
Top speed: 155mph
Weight: 1,500kg
MPG: 35.3 (37.7 auto) (NEDC combined)
CO2: 188g/km (175g/km auto)
Price: £30,525 (before options) £37,680 (as tested inc. £515 for Adaptive M Sport suspension, aluminium trim, complimentary BMW Business Loudspeaker system, £295 for DAB, £360 for Driver Comfort Package comprising cruise and parking sensors, £90 for 'extended storage', £250 for dimming/folding mirrors, full black panel display, high-gloss black finish, £95 for 'internet', £200 for driver/passenger lumbar support, £1,995 for BMW Professional Multimedia, £515 for metallic paint, £235 for front/rear Park Distance Control, £265 for seat heating, £1,600 for Sport auto transmission, £290 for Sun Protection Package, £450 for Visibility Package inc. adaptive xenon lights)

[Wolands Advocate]

Can I have one of each? Please?

[Wolands Advocate]

Schnellmann said:

+1

One of the most pointless comparisons ever.

How many people really start the day thinking they need a four seater hatchback and end up with a two-seater coupé?

And why quote £37k for the BMW? Nonsense (unless the BMW dealer sees you coming). With discounts it shouldn't be more than around £34k even if you tick most of the options. I don't know what discounts you can get from Porsche though.

I always understood "discount" was a dirty word in Porsche's lexicon.

[Wolands Advocate]

acme said:

As Dan mentioned & as we've all observed this car does cause some controversy!

Most seemingly accept it's 'cough cough' not the best looking car around, but am I the only one who prefers it as a 5 door? Not seen my preferred EB in a 5 door but boy did a 3 door I had a good look round look ugly - sadly, as on paper this is my preferred option. I think a 5 door in mineral grey with red leather looks best in pictures - though all academic 'til depreciation's kicked in!

Nope, the 5dr is better-looking. And more practical. In fact I don't really get 3dr hatchbacks - I mean "sexy good looks" are surely not the highest criterion on a hatchback purchaser's list.

The 3dr version only scores for its frameless doors. Frameless doors are always cool. And handy in tight parking spaces/garages...

[Wolands Advocate]

Yes, the coral leather helps the interior feel classier - I have it on mine. However, one of the things that irritated me with the M135i was the limited choice of colours inside and out.

Firstly, the F20 1-series can in general be had with a much wider range of paints colours - why restrict it to just six (white, orange, bright blue, black, grey, silver) for the M135i? I'd have liked a Midnight Blue one myself. Or, frankly, even a red one.

Secondly, what's with offering only boring black, bright red and granny beige as leather colours? I very much liked the Terra leather I had on my 135i coupe and would have gone for that again had it been available.

[Wolands Advocate]

What is it with BMW hatred? I've always quite liked them because they are generally good to drive, well-made and provide a decent ownership experience. But that's possibly because I concentrate on the car itself, not what it might cause some over-opinionated pillock with a shoulder/chip imbalance to think about me, my status or my endowment.

[Wolands Advocate]

I think it was Vivienne Westwood (no doubt rarely quoted on these pages) who once said "it's better to have bad taste than no taste at all". By which I think she meant it's better to have some flair and risk shocking people than to be a forgettable wallflower.

The M135i nails this one - it might shock some but it's not forgettable or bland. The latest S3 isn't ugly but it's just oh so Boden catalogue. Which is a pity. I thought Audi nailed it looks-wise with the original S3 (so much so I bought one), but it's gone steadily downhill into bland obscurity after that.

[Wolands Advocate]

cmbayes said:

Top marks on the article, to drum us this must interest its clearly a worthwhile one.

In response to the critics of the comparison these are the two cars I'm genuinely considering for replacing my e46 m3.

I've discounted the BRZ / GT86, impressed as I was by a test drive but the lack of overtaking pace and the tacky "ripspeed" interior were the deciding factors.

The only slight variation to the cars tested is I'm more tempted by a used Cayman S up to a budget of £30-32k hopefully a gen2 2009-10 with low mileage (message me if you're selling one!)

Currently trying to test drive a manual M135i but demo manuals are like hen's teeth. (anyone got experience of one?)

I have a manual. It's the same 6spd dry-sump affair as the 1M and is very nice to use.