10-20-2016, 11:44 AM | #1 |
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m240i vs m240iX performance
I'm interested in an m240 but was thinking RWD, while a local dealer has an almost-desired spec iX in stock. I'm curious if the extra weight from the AWD is noticeable, and if the AWD affects performance in a noticeable way. Obviously you'd have to have driven both cars back to back to assess - are there any instrumented numbers out there?
I'm currently driving both an '11 328iX as well as an '07 MCoupe (RWD obv.) The 328 is a dog, but some of that comes from the slushbox as well as the lower HP...not sure if I want to go the AWD route if I get the 240.
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10-20-2016, 02:21 PM | #2 |
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If you want manual, RWD is your only option. The 8AT has been tested by numerous outlets and they all agree it's phenomenal. The ix model is faster to 60, but some say it loses the fun of a rwd car (although the xDrive system is rear bias anyways). I haven't test drove the 6mt, but I own the 8AT m240ix and I love the way it drives. With all seasons on, wet roads and coming out of a roundabout the back end doesn't get squirmy when I gas it. This can be fixed by going sport or sport+ I'm sure. I personally like the confident feel the car has when taking turns fast and powering out of them. You can see if the dealer has a 235 in both drive types for you to test drive and that might help you decide as well.
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10-20-2016, 06:05 PM | #4 |
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I got rid of my 235 RWD coupe for an xDrive vert, so even worse than coupe to coupe from a "driver's car" downgrade. I haven't finished the break in on the vert yet but I'm not bothered in the slightest by the extra weight. The AWD is really nice to have, especially in the northeast where I am.
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10-21-2016, 04:34 PM | #7 |
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10-21-2016, 09:16 PM | #8 |
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Whomever said it, I agree. I've found this to be true on both BMW and MB, where an all wheel drive option is offered over a rwd base, that I've had the chance to A/B test drive. Adding mechanisms to drive the front seems to inevitably take its toll in both steering feel and the added weight. I'll take rwd, but, in fairness, you will also find people who don't feel this difference and claim it doesn't exist.
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10-22-2016, 11:09 AM | #10 |
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I test drove a rear wheel drive but bought an xDrive. They feel the same to me, but obvoiusly I did not push the car to the limits on the test drive. Maybe it makes a difference at the edge?
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10-22-2016, 12:31 PM | #11 | |
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Not necessary to go to the edge. Here's the analogy. You're out for a walk and texting while you go. Now imagine the same with a couple of pounds of weight on each arm. Can you still text while walking? Sure. Will you feel a difference...some will, some might not. But, added weight where things need to move with speed and precision will have an effect and it does slightly shift away from the base car 50/50 weight distribution. If you don't feel it and/or it doesn't bother you, great! But, it's there. Just like the small loss of performance I have by choosing the 4 instead of the 6 means nothing to me in my daily use.
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10-22-2016, 02:09 PM | #12 | |
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10-22-2016, 06:02 PM | #14 |
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Steering feel between the two is noticeably different. For example, ruts in the road.. In a RWD car, it'll move the steering wheel quite a bit in your hands as there's no axles to keep the tires pushing forward. In an xdrive car, it'll feel a bit more stable in those situations and roll over the ruts without a blip, similar to a fwd car. I don't think anyone would be unhappy with xdrive from a performance perspective, unless racekar, it's just a different feel for the car. If it's a summer only fun car, I wouldn't see why you'd go with xdrive unless you were a drag racer
I also heard the xdrive cars have a larger turning radius? Can anyone confirm?
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Last edited by Dylan86; 10-22-2016 at 06:16 PM.. |
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10-23-2016, 01:24 AM | #15 |
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Can't confirm, but makes sense because the axles can only turn so much.
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10-23-2016, 06:14 AM | #16 | |
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Your in CO. why not Xdrive?
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10-23-2016, 09:02 AM | #17 |
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The steering feel been better on RWD since like 2006-2007 when I had e92. I don't know if steering rack is different or its the suspension components. I never really cared because being in Northeast I buy RWD cars due to better driving dynamics.....well and weight savings since AWD is useless to me.
Last edited by Kolyan2k; 10-23-2016 at 10:17 AM.. |
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10-23-2016, 09:12 AM | #18 | |
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10-23-2016, 12:23 PM | #19 |
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I don't see how X can be a better handling car. Even though the X is more RWD biased, the two extra axles and front diff add more weight and rotational inertia, both of which will result in more understeer and theoretically, reduced steering feel as you approach the limits. The AWD components will add 80lbs+ to the front end. Far from ideal.
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10-23-2016, 02:10 PM | #20 |
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10-23-2016, 04:56 PM | #21 |
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AWD being required in the winter is a myth.
That myth sells a lot of AWD cars, though.
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10-23-2016, 05:47 PM | #22 |
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Unfortunately, with lots of folks so persuaded, they remain on all season tires, thinking awd will somehow protect them, despite winter tires being far more critical to maintaining traction for braking and steering on snow/ice.
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