In the market for new car...evo X vs 135i

[Wolfe]

Besides, I haven't driven the 1 yet, so it would just degenerate into "dueling magazine articles". And that's just lame. The only person in this thread who actually has driven the 1er is niky, and I'd take his word over anything TTAC has to say any day of the week.

Actually, not true. Though it's no track time or even an in-depth ride, I did test drive a 135i at the local dealership. No 8/10ths driving, but it felt like a fresh, buttoned-up, and highly athletic version of my car. The interior was also similar in that it was snug but not cramped, and I liked the dash.

Anyway, given my limited experience I simply find it better to cite professional articles.

Did you notice that Solowiow's article basically calls you an idiot? I've seen less hastily drawn conclusions in the GT-R thread....

It might have caught my attention if it was in print. I'm completely desensitized to lame internet insults, and very well accustomed to people ragging on the 135i.

 

[niky]

Actually, I've only driven the 120i, the 118i and the 120d (terrific diesel... turn the traction control off and you can hold a burnout half a minute long) over limited roads and on the racetrack. Wonderful handling... even more kart-like (if that's possible) than a Mazda Miata.

But it really is a nervous little car... very firmly sprung (strange that despite the harshness of the runflats on the 3, it still manages to feel halfway comfortable over any surface but cobblestones)... and very tight inside, with a pretty plasticky (at least it's German plastic) cabin. I don't doubt that the 135i could feel even more skittish... but a friend who just bought one speaks very highly of it.

It's a wonderful little car, yes, if carving corners was all you cared about... but whether it's categorically better than a 3-series is mostly up to individual preference, time of day, time of month (if you're of the girlish persuasion ) and what you had to eat for lunch... As such, it's hard to dispute any argument for or against the 1-series, either pro or con, as it'll all boil down to what the buyer actually wants.

Let's chill guys... there's no right or wrong in what a person prefers... especially considering a turbo-BMW (or any sports sedan/coupe, for that matter) is often more a purchase of wants instead of needs.

 

[///M-Spec]

Actually, not true. Though it's no track time or even an in-depth ride, I did test drive a 135i at the local dealership. No 8/10ths driving, but it felt like a fresh, buttoned-up, and highly athletic version of my car. The interior was also similar in that it was snug but not cramped, and I liked the dash.

Got it. I stand corrected. Did you drive a 335i to compare it against?

Anyway, given my limited experience I simply find it better to cite professional articles.

I admire your sense of restraint. But given that you're apparently the only one of us who's actually driven either of the cars in the thread title (besides the OP obviously), I think sharing your opinion of it is not only warranted, but desired.

It might have caught my attention if it was in print. I'm completely desensitized to lame internet insults, and very well accustomed to people ragging on the 135i.

Just thought you might want to notice that, before you give TTAC the benefit of the doubt.

Actually, I've only driven the 120i, the 118i and the 120d (terrific diesel... turn the traction control off and you can hold a burnout half a minute long) over limited roads and on the racetrack. Wonderful handling... even more kart-like (if that's possible) than a Mazda Miata.

But it really is a nervous little car... very firmly sprung (strange that despite the harshness of the runflats on the 3, it still manages to feel halfway comfortable over any surface but cobblestones)... and very tight inside, with a pretty plasticky (at least it's German plastic) cabin. I don't doubt that the 135i could feel even more skittish... but a friend who just bought one speaks very highly of it.

It's a wonderful little car, yes, if carving corners was all you cared about... but whether it's categorically better than a 3-series is mostly up to individual preference, time of day, time of month (if you're of the girlish persuasion ) and what you had to eat for lunch... As such, it's hard to dispute any argument for or against the 1-series, either pro or con, as it'll all boil down to what the buyer actually wants.

Well, I was going to wait until the Susan Koman Drive later this year, but I think I'm just going to go ahead do it before then. This thread has my curiosity up. Maybe later today, if I can get some time around lunch.

Let's chill guys... there's no right or wrong in what a person prefers... especially considering a turbo-BMW (or any sports sedan/coupe, for that matter) is often more a purchase of wants instead of needs.

Not sure what vibe is coming across from my posts, but I'm not at all worked up or upset. I was a little put out when Toronado accused me of being a liar, but he's already apologized for that, so it's all good.


M

 

[Wolfe]

Got it. I stand corrected. Did you drive a 335i to compare it against?

That's just it; I haven't. I may go back and test drive one sometime, but I had no particular plans to do so.

I admire your sense of restraint. But given that you're apparently the only one of us who's actually driven either of the cars in the thread title (besides the OP obviously), I think sharing your opinion of it is not only warranted, but desired.

I appreciate the sentiment, but I figured my test drive wasn't of much importance to the OP because it's nothing he couldn't do himself, and also wasn't of much importance to our 135i vs 335i talk because I haven't driven the 335i.

If you or anyone had any questions I'd be glad to try to answer them, but I couldn't go into much more detail than what I described in my last post without stretching the extent of my experience with the car. It sounds like you want to try it yourself anyway, and I recommend it. 👍

Just thought you might want to notice that, before you give TTAC the benefit of the doubt.

Hah. The "idiot" bit is really no worse than what you hear from Clarkson, and I believe he said something similar about 1-series buyers when the car was first released in hatchback form. Of course, the 135i coupe is a bit different.

 

[niky]

@M-Spec: hahaha... sorry, knee-jerk reaction... every time I leave for a day and come back finding three pages of very long posts, I sort of figure there's some kind of burning...

Regarding the suspension, though... I'm not sure of the age of our test units (despite the fact that both drives happened this year). A friend has said that some BMW people have told him that BMW makes adjustments to the 1-series suspension every year, so by this time, it actually might ride as well as Clarkson says it does.