Can cars get any wider?

[jimPH]

Since we bought the M-lite, I've really been enjoying it's smaller dimensions, mostly it's width, because even that isn't a small car being over 4m long.

I remember following a friend down some back lanes in his hot hatch, me in a wide body Porsche and he was having a lot more fun than I was, I just couldn't keep up, the car felt so wide it was unnerving.

So the idea of an M2 really appeals, until I saw one. I was shocked just how wide they were, turns out they run the M4 axles and they are even longer than the Porsche.

Maybe the driving position and overall height makes the car feel smaller?

How wide can we go from here? Have we reached the maximum width or roads can take? Even cars that are considered "compact" are much wider than yesterday's sports offerings. Suffice to say, the M2 just lost its appeal.

Since our second daughter has arrived, the wife wants a bigger car to replace the M-Lite!

[jimPH]

Crumpet said:

I have to say that I don’t find driving a 2.0m+ Discovery to be any more restrictive or compromised than driving a 1.75m wide hatchback. On normal A and B roads there’s simply no issue and on country lanes I’d have to slow down and pull towards the verge whatever I’m driving.

If a car feels too wide for the road when you’re pressing on I’d suggest the road really isn’t suitable for spirited driving in the first place. When you were following your friend in your Porsche I expect he just had bigger balls and/or was more reckless.

Edited by Crumpet on Monday 15th January 09:35

The point is, that Porsche isn't wide by today's standards, in fact a car with less power that is considered to be compact by today's standards, is actually even bigger. The Porsche felt wide enough.

I think a lot of it has to do with vehicle height. A lot of wide cars can be handled easier when you can see more, the driving position in a Porsche is quite low, so may feel wider. I haven't driven an M2.

[jimPH]

ikarl said:

jimPH said:

Since we bought the M-lite,

what the fk is an "M-lite"?

M135i in this case, though refers to any of the non M cars from BMW, M235i, M140i, M240i.

[jimPH]

DoubleD said:

jimPH said:

ikarl said:

jimPH said:

Since we bought the M-lite,

what the fk is an "M-lite"?

M135i in this case, though refers to any of the non M cars from BMW, M235i, M140i, M240i.

So why not just say "since we bought the 1 series"

M-Lite is fewer letters. Besides it's highly relevant to my cool story bro. The enjoyment of driving that particular model is why I considered it's sporty brethren, the M2. However I was disappointed that the M2 isn't quite as compact as the M-lite, infact it's closer in width to an M4 seeing as it uses the same axles. I'm not sure many people are aware, I certainly wasn't and I've been disappointed to find out. The M2 is anything but compact despite often described as such, certainly nothing like the influencer in question, our M-lite. In fact, I believe it is actually wider and longer than the Porsche, a car I have always considered to be wide.

Edited by jimPH on Tuesday 16th January 19:31

[jimPH]

DoubleD said:

jimPH said:

M-Lite is fewer letters.

Edited by jimPH on Tuesday 16th January 19:28

And M135 is even less

M-lite is in my dictionary

[jimPH]

Fox- said:

ikarl said:

what the fk is an "M-lite"?

It's what some people seem to call the 135i M Sport since it got renamed 'M135i'. I think it makes them think it's a proper M car.

Quite the contrary, it's fairly well used term and no one is under any illusion that's it's anything like an M car. It's a great car though, I bought it for my wife and I've quite enjoyed driving it.