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

[gator of kana]

We get the "standard" 300 BHP model like everyone else, so no, we don't get the special FQ360 or whatever its called in the UK...

I wonder why Mitsubishi does that to the UK models only? Is the FQ models suppose to be exclusive for the UK?

 

[nd 4 holden spd]

Gods, I hope not... about the turo-6, I mean. I hated the idea of the M3 getting a bigger motor when I read about it... as I'd rate the banshee wail of an open-piped E46 M3 somewhere pretty high up on my top-ten list of automotive audio-orgasmic experiences, but the manic, gurgly carburated chainsawing of the new V8 is an otherworldly experience. The M5's V10 sounds pedestrian compared to it.

Put that motor into a smaller car, and I'll be happy.

It's not necessarily the performance they're thinking of, it's the whole fuel economy and CAFE standards pushing it smaller again. Just remember that the next M5 is supposed to be a turbo V8 (there could be your wild sounding vehicle), and the original M3s were 4cyls.

Edit: Re- Price
In Oz
135i- ~$75 AUD
Evo X- ~$60-70k AUD

 

[Holdenhsvgtsr]

I wonder why Mitsubishi does that to the UK models only?

Mitsubishi don't.

 

[Jay]

This should cheer you up: over here it costs 55k euros for the basic version, which is around 80k USD. 👎

About the same as Australia.

 

[homeforsummer]

Don't know about down under, but over here you hardly see them, while the HB is around plenty. I think it will become a rarity, and thus a future classic.

I've seen a few on the roads in the UK and they always catch my attention, fantastic proportions. Best looking BMW in years. Even better with all BMW's performance pack bits:

 

[GT Pro]

I'd get the 135i. What are the chances of BMW ever producing something like that again?

Has not the recent trend of bloating cars after every successive generation come to a sudden halt in the face of soaring oil prices and a collapsing economy, and has started reversing the trend to see a future full of smaller, more fuel efficient automobiles? The extreme popularity of the Fiat 500 comes to mind, so too does the growing competition of hatchbacks.

One would think that the 1-series is a precursor to what is to inevitably arise from car brands including said BMW, but maybe I missed something.

Oh, and above: Very, very nice. I never knew the ugly-duckling of the current line of BMW (bar the X6) could look so good.

 

[YSSMAN]

One would think that the 1-series is a precursor to what is to inevitably arise from car brands including said BMW, but maybe I missed something.

Its supposed to, I think. I'm under the impression that it will be the 1er that will spur many automakers to spark their own fire under the guise of "small, RWD performance vehicles." As I've stated a billion times, GM has their Alpha program in the works for Cadillac (and Pontiac?) that will be 3er (or smaller) sized, we already know that Nissan and Toyota/Subaru have a new RWD program coming on line, and it seems fairly likely that Ford will eventually have something (other than the Mustang) in the works as well. But, I could be wrong.

===

The Bimmer looks good alright, shame I haven't seen one yet.

I've seen two here in the US, both were 135i models. We don't get the hatchback here, for that matter, anything less than a 128i model. By comparison, I've only seen one more of the BMW versus the Evolution X, which I've found surprising given the relative "strength" of the older Evolution models around here in "Domestic-Friendly" Michigan.

 

[TheCracker]

I want to like the 1-series, i really do, but it's just so ugly and badly proportioned i just can't bring myself to do so. On the plus side, if you're driving one, at least you can't see the outside of it. 👍

 

[Wolfe]

...fantastic proportions. Best looking BMW in years.

...it's just so ugly and badly proportioned...

Not even the Z4 was so polarizing...but I personally don't understand how anyone could say the proportions are wrong:

 

[TheCracker]

Not even the Z4 was so polarizing...but I personally don't understand how anyone could say the proportions are wrong:

Obviously it's a matter of opinion, but the coupe is the best of the lot. From side-on or front/rear view it looks ok, from any other it just looks wrong. I can't quite put my finger on why it looks weird, i think it's probably just too narrow for it's height. They've also tried to fit a RWD car into a traditional FWD package, which with modern safety regulations and BMW packaging ideals, doesn't quite work.

 

[homeforsummer]

Now that's a proper BMW It's part of the reason I like the 1-series Coupe though - the similarity in style and concept to the E30. Which is my favourite BMW from a styling point of view.

 

[///M-Spec]

Can never go too far wrong with that shade of blue on the BMW (Imola blue is it?).

Looks like Montego Blue, the lighter of the two metallic blues available on US-spec 1ers. The other is the confusingly similarly named Monaco blue. Monaco is very dark, almost black in anything but intense sunlight.

Both are vast inferior to Interlagos Blue, which is an M only color


Personally, I think the sweet spot of the 1-series range might be the 128i.


M

 

[niky]

Nah... 123d please... Those diesels are fantastic.

The 1-series has its challenging... errh... family looks... but BMWs have never been classically pretty... the 2002 ti still looks like a chihuahua mixed with a pot-bellied pig to me... the E21 was better, but only just... the E30 got it right, but the E36 was just plain...

Besides... you're sitting inside the darn thing... who cares what it looks like?

 

[homeforsummer]

I think most people care what their cars look like (apart from maybe... Pontiac Aztek owners... somehow they must have got driving licences, despite clearly being blind), even if when you're inside you can't see! If people didn't care what their cars looked like, then there would be no market for accessories and all alloy wheels would look the same. And all cars would be painted the same colour

 

[nd 4 holden spd]

I think most people care what their cars look like (apart from maybe... Pontiac Aztek owners... somehow they must have got driving licences, despite clearly being blind), even if when you're inside you can't see! If people didn't care what their cars looked like, then there would be no market for accessories and all alloy wheels would look the same. And all cars would be painted the same colour

All cars would carry a universal aerodynamic design too. All cars would look the same, how scary.

 

[Tornado]

45 posts in and no one has pointed out how terrible and without merit the 1 series is yet?

 

[homeforsummer]

45 posts in and no one has pointed out how terrible and without merit the 1 series is yet?

Might be because many of us disagree with that statement

 

[slidesquad#1]

. but BMWs have never been classically pretty...

Ooh. I'll argue that the E38, E39 and E46 are pretty damn classically pretty. The 1 series? All over the place, I hate it. It might be E30-ish to some, but it's a wonky E30 with shrunken windows. That was left in the oven too long and melted in places.

 

[Leonidae]

All cars would carry a universal aerodynamic design too. All cars would look the same, how scary.

you mean every car in the world would be Porsches?!

 

[YSSMAN]

45 posts in and no one has pointed out how terrible and without merit the 1 series is yet?

I believe I said that I'd rather have a 328i somewhere in there, but I can't recall. I think M-Spec did too...

Its not that the 1er is "useless," there just isn't enough of a price difference between it and the 3er to make it worthwhile.

 

[Wolfe]

The 135i is faster than the 328i, better-looking than any 3er IMO (the E92's headlights are awful, and the E90's taillights were borrowed from Kia), and really not any less practical than the 3er coupe. If you regularly drive your kids to school or go on road trips with three of your buddies, you shouldn't be looking at anything with two doors anyway. You also get to save $6000 over the 335i coupe while driving home in a smaller, nimbler car.

A car's value isn't based on the physical space it occupies, and we all know the 135i is as fat as it is because it gives up almost no amenities over the 3er. Sorry, but I don't see the problem.

 

[MustangSVT]

The 135i is faster than the 328i, better-looking than any 3er IMO (the E92's headlights are awful, and the E90's taillights were borrowed from Kia), and really not any less practical than the 3er coupe. If you regularly drive your kids to school or go on road trips with three of your buddies, you shouldn't be looking at anything with two doors anyway. You also get to save $6000 over the 335i coupe while driving home in a smaller, nimbler car.

A car's value isn't based on the physical space it occupies, and we all know the 135i is as fat as it is because it gives up almost no amenities over the 3er. Sorry, but I don't see the problem.

I agree with you.

 

[niky]

Actually... I like 3-series... but what I'm pointing out is you tend to accept the car's looks, given what it is. I positively drool over a classic 2002ti, even though I think it's ugly as sin. The 1-series is challenging, but not really ugly as sin... just hobbled by having a misshapen, shrunken fascia. The only 3-series cars I'd consider as "standout" in terms of looks would be the E46 and E30... the rest, I'm on the fence about.

A 3-series coupe may not be categorically more useful than a 1-series coupe, but it's definitely more up-class in feel... and doesn't ride like a Bedrock special... except over the worst of bumps. But I agree... if you're getting something so patently selfish as a two-door, go ahead and get the 1-coupe. The 1 may be a heavy pig by compact standards, but it feels more kart-like than the 3 series (which is almost mid-sized in terms of weight) and if you're driving it, it's the more immediate and satisfying drive.

 

[YSSMAN]

A car's value isn't based on the physical space it occupies, and we all know the 135i is as fat as it is because it gives up almost no amenities over the 3er. Sorry, but I don't see the problem.

I suppose its just a matter of what you prefer. For the price of a 135i, I can get a 328i easily. I guess in the end the 3er makes more sense as it is larger, tends to be the "standard," and in the end just seems like a better investment for the money.

Then again, I had been looking at an AWD station wagon and decided to get a two door coupe. I really shouldn't talk about practicality...

 

[Turbo Lag]

Why not a Subaru Legacy specB? I'm quite sure they start at around 35k there, which is about the same price as what you're looking for. They have a good modding potential, and you can probably pick one up used for around 25k.

 

[TheCracker]

The 135i is faster than the 328i, better-looking than any 3er IMO (the E92's headlights are awful, and the E90's taillights were borrowed from Kia), and really not any less practical than the 3er coupe. If you regularly drive your kids to school or go on road trips with three of your buddies, you shouldn't be looking at anything with two doors anyway. You also get to save $6000 over the 335i coupe while driving home in a smaller, nimbler car.

But whilst the 3-Series is arguably the prettiest car in it's class, the 1-Series is a monstrous carbuncle.

 

[Tornado]

Sorry, but I don't see the problem.

Based on what I have read, the 3 series handles better, rides better, looks better, is more practical, is more fun and doesn't particularly cost much more. I'm reminded of a particular review that started off by cutting right to the chase:

After testing BMW 135i and 335i coupes back-to-back, I can reveal that there are only two good reasons to purchase the smaller, cheaper car. Either you need a track day machine or you're an idiot. Otherwise, spend the extra bucks and buy the 335i coupe. The 335i coupe is more attractive, more enjoyable to drive, holds its value better and offers far more real road usability than the 135i. If BMW had made the 135i as a lightweight, no-frills, Bahn-burning turbo rocket ship, they would have created a truly unique, desirable automobile. But they didn't.

 

[nd 4 holden spd]

When was the last time we seen the thread creator? LOL, we always end up just continuing even though the guy doesn't seem to be around.

 

[YSSMAN]

Why not a Subaru Legacy specB?

I think hes looking for something exceedingly sporty, and while I'd tend to prefer "balanced" cars like that, he may not. They are pretty hard to find here in the US as I recall, so he could have an easier time getting a Mazdaspeed6 (while they're left)...

*Insert required speech about 4MOTION VR6 Passat...

 

[Wolfe]

Based on what I have read, the 3 series handles better, rides better, looks better, is more practical, is more fun and doesn't particularly cost much more. I'm reminded of a particular review that started off by cutting right to the chase:

If we're going to quote articles (and both of us being in a similar boat, I can't and won't fault you for doing so ), here's another one to consider:

http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/Drives/Comparos/articleId=125908

They determined the 135i handles better than the 335i (nicking it in both the slalom and skidpad grip), accelerates a bit quicker, goes around a track a hair faster, and rides just as well. Their only criticisms were that it's more forgiving than the M3 and thus not as good of a track machine, and not as big as the other two cars, which of course means it doesn't offer as much space inside.