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Originally Posted by chris719
Sam, have you ever driven a Z4M or have any comments on how it would compare to the M235i? Not just in steering but overall.
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Hi Chris,
I have spent some time in a Z4M Roadster. I would say it's quite a different animal from the M235i.
Several reasons for this:
1. The Z4M Roadster/Coupe have quite a different driving position from the 2. They are quite unconventional by BMW standards. Long hood, driver towards the rear wheels, sunken in the car. That long nose, big power and eagerness to swap ends seems to dominate the driving experience. The 2 series is much more like a conventional BMW. Upright, driver forward, taller, more refined, easier to drive at the limits.
2. The Z4, like the Z3 before it, are quite crude dynamically by BMW standards. They are a riot and very fun in their own way, but do not have the chassis sophistication and body control that have made BMW famous.
3. The Z4M retains the screaming S54 engine that we all remember so fondly. Naturally aspirated, high redline, inline 6, this is what old school BMWs are all about. If you already have a Z4M and still enjoy it, don't be in too much of a rush to get rid of it. They are rare and hold value for a reason.
The Z4M does not feel as heavy as the M235i, which is a great thing, but it also does not share its breadth of ability or its dynamic polish. As a fun toy and a characterful experience and a collectible item, it is great. As a car to feel comfortable in and take on many many different tasks satisfyingly, it is not as good. But what is good and bad in this context depends entirely on you.
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Originally Posted by Devon K
As someone who's also had some time behind the wheel of an FRS I'd be interested in hearing some more comparisons between that and the 2 in terms of ride and handling.
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Hi Devon,
The FRS and M235i are quite different as well.
1. The FRS is much lighter, more tossable, and more responsive to changes in direction. It is also far more eager to drift. It is an absolute drift machine and for that reason, an absolute riot. However, it does not have the level of sophistication and dynamic polish of the Bimmer. It does not have the superb ride or the infallible body control over poor surfaces.
2. The FRS's engine is quite peaky. There is nothing exciting below 4krpm. When the fireworks do arrive, it is rough, crude, an absolute chainsaw but a lot of fun. The BMW is a torquey, smooth, revvy turbine in comparison. Not as crude, not not as raw, but far more powerful. It will dust the FRS in a straight line!
3. The FRS is a reinvented 90s car. The M235i is current day, for better or for worse.
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Originally Posted by bradleyland
The bonnet is elongated in that shot because of the spherical distortion of the camera lens.
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Very astute observation. I shot that at 24mm on a full frame, so yes, what you see here is a much longer, flatter version of what a 228i normally looks like. The giveaway is in the edges of the frame where objects are stretched.
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Originally Posted by TheBingoBalls
Most if not all reviews have praised the 991's electric steering. I personally haven't driven one but one doesn't have to such an extreme to see what good EPS. The R56 MINI has a good steering setup and I find it's a lot better than the initial F30 setup. For me that's what annoyed me when I test drove the F30. It wasn't like the F30 was BMW's first attempt at it, they already had it in the R56 and to see what they did to the F30 was disappointing. Now there are other factors to consider like suspension and the MINI has a hard one which helps provide better steering but this maybe furthers the idea that perhaps BMW made the 3 a bit too soft because even in sport mode, it's still not as good as the MINI.
Just my 0.02.
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In my opinion, the new 991/981s are not the current benchmark for EPS. The current benchmark is the GT86/FT86/FRS/BRZ.
Porsche's system is stupendously precise, very responsive, very cohesive with the chassis, but I've spent a lot of time driving the 991 and 981 on both
track and street, and it often feels very numb. It's similar to the BMWs in that under light lateral load, there is very little road texture to be felt or weight to push against. This makes it feel a bit digital and like a game controller.
As soon as you up the commitment, it does spring to life, but Porsche seems to have taken a page out of the BMW book where low speed, friction free, effort free steering is concerned.
However, word on the street is that the new GT3 features a completely different calibration and even the most angry of enthusiasts are now pacified. I think I will want to sample one to find out on my own.
Again, it's all in the tuning. I think we will see these systems improve very quickly in the coming generation. EPS is not a deal breaker, but until we see manufactures optimize them fully, it will also be the first thing people blame when we experience a less than ideal steering. That's not to say we can't enjoy the current crop of cars as is. The M235i was very enjoyable and the 991/981 are both very enjoyable.