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      09-04-2014, 02:18 PM   #23
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      09-04-2014, 02:37 PM   #24
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LOL OP we feel flattered by your comments but theres no way an M4<M235i in ANY aspect except in size.
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      09-04-2014, 02:48 PM   #25
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Originally Posted by VMRWheels View Post
Congrats!

Either choice would've been superb
Very true of course. Well said!
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      09-04-2014, 03:00 PM   #26
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I think the oddity of this thread can be resolved by just saying "for the money"; i.e. some people might find the M235i to be a better car for the money.

I don't think many people would seriously contend the M235i has a better quality interior than the M4. But it's a closer issue when you ask which has the more price-appropriate interior. OP has a point in that the M235i isn't really trying to be anything else. It's trying to be a $44k driver's car. The M4 is advertising "full leather" at a premium price, and apparently it's not delivering on the image it's trying to put forth. Some might say the M235i is the better buy, even if the M4 is the better car.

Full disclosure: I do think OP is nitpicking when it comes to the M4. But my opinion doesn't really matter. I just also wouldn't necessarily say OP is crazy just for thinking the M235i is a better buy.
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      09-04-2014, 03:22 PM   #27
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Quote:
Originally Posted by thomps View Post
I think the oddity of this thread can be resolved by just saying "for the money"; i.e. some people might find the M235i to be a better car for the money.

I don't think many people would seriously contend the M235i has a better quality interior than the M4. But it's a closer issue when you ask which has the more price-appropriate interior. OP has a point in that the M235i isn't really trying to be anything else. It's trying to be a $44k driver's car. The M4 is advertising "full leather" at a premium price, and apparently it's not delivering on the image it's trying to put forth. Some might say the M235i is the better buy, even if the M4 is the better car.

Full disclosure: I do think OP is nitpicking when it comes to the M4. But my opinion doesn't really matter. I just also wouldn't necessarily say OP is crazy just for thinking the M235i is a better buy.
I agree with your statement except where you say the "m235i isn't really trying to be anything else"....the letter "M" before its name (which IMO has no business being there to begin with) and the M badges plastered all over the car would suggest that it absolutely is trying to be something it is not. The M235i is no faster than other performance cars in that price range (heck the S3 may even be faster) and the interior is inferior to other cars at that price point nor does the exterior look like it costs $50k. The M235i sells simply because it is fun to toss around and get sideways better than cars in that price range.
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      09-04-2014, 03:33 PM   #28
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Quote:
Originally Posted by trinim3 View Post
I agree with your statement except where you say the "m235i isn't really trying to be anything else"....the letter "M" before its name (which IMO has no business being there to begin with) and the M badges plastered all over the car would suggest that it absolutely is trying to be something it is not. The M235i is no faster than other performance cars in that price range (heck the S3 may even be faster) and the interior is inferior to other cars at that price point nor does the exterior look like it costs $50k. The M235i sells simply because it is fun to toss around and get sideways better than cars in that price range.
Would you like to come to Germany and see all the M plastered cars? everything from 116i all the way to the top..........sounds like we have an M4 fan threaten by a tuned M235i ....M is designating....... well the parts that were put on the car by the same people who perfected your car maybe BMW should recall all the M135i s to remove the M badge....no because only Americans with over inflated egos care about badges.. never heard any Germans argue about some dumb badges on a car ..I bought the car because it was a 135i equivalent with some M goodies at a pretty good deal


Last edited by jbenington86; 09-04-2014 at 03:53 PM..
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      09-04-2014, 03:54 PM   #29
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Quote:
Originally Posted by sstarrx3 View Post
Ok, you should expect more from an $80,000 car, but that was not what the OP was about. Money was supposedly not the object. The M235i interior still sux!!!! It is plastic from top to bottom. Porsche was not even in the equation on this one. To say the M235i interior is nicer that the M4 is just ludicrous. It is lacking as much if not more in that department for a $50,000 ride than the M4 is for an $80,000 ride. Porsche is in another class. They have to make the interior super cushy in those because the ride is so damn rough you dont want to drive more than 100 miles in it before needed to get out and take breather.
So let me get this straight...You think the 235 interior "sux" and is more lacking for a 50k car than the M4 at 80k. Then you turn around and say you got your car for ONLY 38k (228) even though money is a factor for you. Is anyone else confused. So your driving around a car with an interior you hate with none of the upside that the 235 offers in terms of driving experience for 38k. How can you not see the value here, for about 6k more you could have had a 235. It's your money, but it sounds like you should have gone with a more luxury oriented brand. There are plenty of cars out there with more luxurious features, but none of them touch the 235 performance wise and driving experience wise. I'm floored by the fact you got a 228i for only 38k and brag about it.
I too was surprised that the interior even compared to the M4 as I have not had time to sit in one, but I agree with another poster, that you must have extremely high standards for luxury if you think the 2 sux.
Sorry for the rant, enjoy the car OP anyone with that decision to make has good taste in my opinion. 235 definitely a lot more nimble and fun.
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      09-04-2014, 04:16 PM   #30
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Congrats!

Either choice would've been superb
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      09-04-2014, 05:53 PM   #31
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I like the interior of my 235i (though I would have like a wider instrument pod). I don't like the dakota leather, it looks to much like fake sensatec or mb tec. I thought my E93M3 interior was better and I sat in a stripped M4 (65K) and it was also nicer (no extended leather).
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      09-04-2014, 06:18 PM   #32
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mmmmm235i View Post
So let me get this straight...You think the 235 interior "sux" and is more lacking for a 50k car than the M4 at 80k. Then you turn around and say you got your car for ONLY 38k (228) even though money is a factor for you. Is anyone else confused. So your driving around a car with an interior you hate with none of the upside that the 235 offers in terms of driving experience for 38k. How can you not see the value here, for about 6k more you could have had a 235. It's your money, but it sounds like you should have gone with a more luxury oriented brand. There are plenty of cars out there with more luxurious features, but none of them touch the 235 performance wise and driving experience wise. I'm floored by the fact you got a 228i for only 38k and brag about it.
I too was surprised that the interior even compared to the M4 as I have not had time to sit in one, but I agree with another poster, that you must have extremely high standards for luxury if you think the 2 sux.
Sorry for the rant, enjoy the car OP anyone with that decision to make has good taste in my opinion. 235 definitely a lot more nimble and fun.
Ok, I will go slow so you can comprehend. I am sorry you are butt hurt because I insulted the interior of you car and my own car for that matter. Money did matter for me. I just bought my wife an SUV last year and I could not afford an 'M' car just so I could have my cake...which is a car that handles like a BMW...and eat it too... a nice interior. You pretty much have to spend $80,000 to get a nice interior in a BMW...even then it is not as nice as Porsche interiors as some have mentioned. As for the M235i, it was not even a thought for me. The 228i handles great and has plenty of power. I have said in numerous other threads on this forum that 'M' power is of no interest to me or even a 6 cyliner for that matter. My perfect car would be the 228i M Sport with 'M' class interior and all the other goodies. If I had had that extra 6 grand you are speaking of I would have gotten a fully loaded 228i M Sport in lieu of the M235i. Everybody has different likes and must haves when buying a car. A car that can go 0-60 in around 5 seconds and hit 155 mph is more than enough for me. I have never hit 100 mph in a car before...holds no appeal for me. I got the car that had what was 'MOST' important to me. I had to compromise. I was not bragging when I said $38000, I was backing up that fact that the was as much as I could spend on this car without jeopardizing a balanced budget.
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      09-04-2014, 08:06 PM   #33
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I agree with what the OP was saying about the M4's interior. The M4 may have nicer, more plentiful leather; but the way they used the leather is glaringly cost conscious. In other words, the M4's interior is nicer but in a contrived-disingenuous-kinda-way. The M235i presents itself as a driver-oriented car. Thus the simpler interior is more genuine and desirable to me.

Unlike the M4, the M235i was designed from the ground up to be a sporty, diving enthusiast's car. The aesthetic of the M235i reflects this, inside and out.

The new M4 was initially developed as a spacious, high-end suburbia leisure coupe (ie 435i) and then modded into an awesome track car. Aesthetically, it has an AARP-retired-dude-golfing-countryclub 435i heredity that the M4 body kit can't hide. There is nothing wrong with all that, it's just not my thing. (I'm sorry for being an asshole, this truly is how the M4 makes me feel when I look at it.)

That said, the new M4 is an excellently performing car. If that was all that mattered to me, I'd just buy a manual Z51 for less.
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      09-04-2014, 08:25 PM   #34
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I had a somewhat similar situation. I had an M4 on order for a few months when I happened to come in to a dealership and see an M235i sitting there and figured i would take a look. Went for a test drive and thought, can I really justify an additional 30k for something when this car drives how it does? After some thought I did end up switching my order for an M235i. I had had no regrets whatsoever until I recently drove an M4. I really did enjoy that drive and it got me thinking for a while, but honestly is it worth an additional 30k? I guess thats a preference thing. Personally if I had the supply of money to not worry I would have held off for an M4, but for someone who is needing to be at least slightly more financially conscious I think the M235i is plenty of car and can for sure keep you happy.
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      09-04-2014, 08:48 PM   #35
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It would be hard to justify the additional cost of an M3/4 for a car that is just as fun to drive.
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      09-04-2014, 09:09 PM   #36
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Originally Posted by GMe90 View Post
It would be hard to justify the additional cost of an M3/4 for a car that is just as fun to drive.
People that buy Ms dont care too much about justifying costs. Cars like the M4 have performance that is extremely hard to appreciate on the street which is why the delta to the m235i may not seem readily apparent to the average driver. On the track it would be a different story. Buying a M is purely an emotional decision not based on financial reasoning.
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      09-04-2014, 09:18 PM   #37
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Quote:
Originally Posted by trinim3
Quote:
Originally Posted by GMe90 View Post
It would be hard to justify the additional cost of an M3/4 for a car that is just as fun to drive.
People that buy Ms dont care too much about justifying costs. Cars like the M4 have performance that is extremely hard to appreciate on the street which is why the delta to the m235i may not seem readily apparent to the average driver. On the track it would be a different story. Buying a M is purely an emotional decision not based on financial reasoning.
POTM right here
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      09-04-2014, 09:59 PM   #38
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Originally Posted by jaffa12 View Post
POTM right here
Ummm is any bmw not an emotional purchase, M or not? Plenty of more reasonable cars out there in any category... A new Kia would get me where I need just as well as a 3 series for 20k less.
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      09-04-2014, 10:28 PM   #39
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Originally Posted by hyperzulu View Post
Ummm is any bmw not an emotional purchase, M or not? Plenty of more reasonable cars out there in any category... A new Kia would get me where I need just as well as a 3 series for 20k less.
Yes similar argument but different degrees. The point is the m4 and m235i are designed for similar audience just different price points . Both driver focused rwd coupes with 4 seats with some expectation of luxury. The Kia and the 3 series aimed at different audience. Fwd vs rwd. Economy vs entry level luxury.
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      09-04-2014, 10:47 PM   #40
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I like the driver feel and dimensions of the m235i reason I didn't even consider the M4.

Now if we were discussing m2 or m235i I would of definitely gone with the m2.
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      09-04-2014, 11:54 PM   #41
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Hey OP i'm in Toronto too, congrats on the car. I felt the same as you did. I couldn't rationalize the added premium for the M4. I am not a die-hard BMW fanboy and to me there are better cars for the money than the M4 once you start moving towards $80K (I am thinking Tesla Model S -once you account for gas savings- and the new Lexus RC-F).
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      09-05-2014, 12:19 AM   #42
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Different strokes for different folks I guess. I was definitely more impressed with the interior of the M3/4 than the 2 series. As for size, M235 may be smaller than the M3/4 but it weighs very close to the same. Last observation; I'm on the fence wrt the purchase of an M235i or M3. When I option out an M235i the way I want i'm looking at $51k MSRP. M3 comes standard with a lot of things that are options on the M235. When I option out the M3, and sacrifice a few small things like comfort access, i'm looking at $64k. $13k more for a car that drives in a different league than the M235. Both fun, both with more power than I know how to use, but for that extra $13k you get a hell of a lot more car.
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      09-05-2014, 06:12 AM   #43
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BLK235iNJ View Post
I like the driver feel and dimensions of the m235i reason I didn't even consider the M4.

Now if we were discussing m2 or m235i I would of definitely gone with the m2.
How do you know you would want the M2? We dont even know the final product yet?
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      09-05-2014, 06:30 AM   #44
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If you are after top performance in a lighter car then look into a C7 with the Z51 setup.
I have the Stingray and also considered the M4. At $80k plus it was a waste of money for me.

Ended up buying the M235 as a daily driver and the C7 as a weekender.

The M235 has a more luxurious interior than most cars I have driven; C7 has better performance than the M4 track or street.
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