[Vervain]

Originally Posted by dd1981

I mean I wouldnt be mad at you I think that Audi has come a long way and I really like the s4 and s5 with the v6 3.0. I considered and drove an s4 before I pulled the trigger on my 335i.
But lets wait and see what the m235i has in store for us. THe excitement is building...


Yes they offer the M135 but only in Europe and Asias. NOT fair we dont even get a choice or a crack at one.

AND Africa, South America, Australia.. Most of the world

[ZIPNBYE]

Meh...electric steering, loss of the naturally aspirated Inline-6, etc... The 1er is the true end of an era.

[vertebra]

I don't understand half of these comments. True driver's car? Why? Because of the new body style? BMW's electric steering still pales in comparison to hydraulic and it's competitors. No special suspension bits. Still no rear differential. While the N55 is a great reliable engine it still cant outperform a tuned N54. If you want a compact true driver's car you missed the boat, the 1M blows this away.

[Greenkirby21]

Originally Posted by dd1981

Tell me what was your overall impression of the new cayman? I love the new 981c and I was considering this car down the road later on, but only in S form. Do you think it was fast enough, what was the handling like? I need to go drive one and see, Im in love with the new design.




Yeah there is just no substitue for M. I enjoy my 335 for what it is. I had all these plans to mod, but I just slapped on some wheels and a custom exhaust and Im calling it a day because Im definetely not staying with it long term.

Im also seriously considering the S3 sedan when it coms out next year.

Sure! Heres a quick review

Exterior: wow this car is drop dead gorgeous. They had every color available at the dealership in one form of another, and the light blue, red, and yellow are eye catching. The car just looks like a super car and more expensive then what it starts at. I can't think of a car that looks better starting at 53k.

Interior: same as exterior. The car I test drove had little to no options (I think MSRP was 60k). Everything is really nice to touch and soft. I saw 0 hard plastics or anything that made it look cheap.

Performance: Easily the best electric steering I have ever driven. I didn't even think it was electric steering until the guy mentioned it (I knew it was before, but forgot). The car suspension was not much bumpier then my 128i, so I had zero issues with road bumps or cabin noise, although I can say the suspension is firmer so you do feel the bumps slightly worse. It had the PDK transmission which was great, but I would opt for the manual of course.

Braking felt good, although to be honest I never slammed the brakes or truly tested them. They felt firm though and what I expect from a car in that range.

Engine: WOW having a mid-engined car is awesome. You can feel the entire car right literally behind you, and the mechanical noises and sounds it makes are amazing. When you floor it, it comes to life right behind your ears. The guy was a lot of fun because the first few minutes I was driving it he was like dude its ok if you floor the car, I don't care. Once I did I couldn't stop .

However, the base cayman engine is not as fast as I was expecting. Definitely is missing some torque. It felt only slightly faster then my 128i. But then again, I was driving in the city streets and could only go through first and second gear. I think the max speed I hit was 60 in a 40. I didn't want to crash the car or get a ticket. If I do decide on one I will go for a more extensive test drive : ).

The question for me is, is it worth the 10k-15k more then a M235i from my personal financial point of view. Assuming a M235i starts at ~45k (which I think it will be lower). A cayman starts at ~55k. Factor in things like no maintenance plan, and insurance, for me (23 years old), it will probably end up being a lot more expensive and since I'm young, I don't want to risk it.

The other thing I am thinking about is tune ability. I'm sure with a JB4/exhaust the M235i could be near 400 hp, while the base cayman/boxster you are kinda stuck at the 267 hp it has since it is NA.

So, I guess the waiting game is still on for me. For me, its more of a financial situation .

[BMW269]

To bad M2 is not coming soon. No a fan of all these ///Marketing badges, would have preferred Tii badging, but whatever, this is the most interesting BMW to me, du to lack a Z4 (M) Coupé. 4 Series GranCoupé will be a hatch, so no interest. M4/4 Series? Too big. Now an M2 CSL with M4 engine and CF everything, that would be something gigantic.

[aajami]

Originally Posted by Levi

To bad M2 is not coming soon. No a fan of all these ///Marketing badges, would have preferred Tii badging, but whatever, this is the most interesting BMW to me, du to lack a Z4 (M) Coup. 4 Series GranCoup will be a hatch, so no interest. M4/4 Series? Too big. Now an M2 CSL with M4 engine and CF everything, that would be something gigantic.

Levi,

Hold out for the Z5M Coupe. That could be interesting, despite the turbo and electric steering.

[bimmerfile]

October 25th!!!

[Kief]

Originally Posted by vertebra

I don't understand half of these comments. True driver's car? Why? Because of the new body style? BMW's electric steering still pales in comparison to hydraulic and it's competitors. No special suspension bits. Still no rear differential. While the N55 is a great reliable engine it still cant outperform a tuned N54. If you want a compact true driver's car you missed the boat, the 1M blows this away.

If you were referring to my post and my comment about a "true driver's car," I was saying hopefully the M235i will be closer to BMW's traditional philosophy of offering an ultimate driving machine. I would never compare the M235i to the 1M--with or without the optional LSD. And yes, I missed out on that chapter, considering the limited availability and timing. But the M235i should weigh as much or lower than the current 1er, be tighter, and hopefully offer a more visceral feeling than anything currently available without a "real" M badge.

[W///]

Originally Posted by aajami

Levi,

Hold out for the Z5M Coupe. That could be interesting, despite the turbo and electric steering.

It'll have a V6 too

[BMW269]

Originally Posted by aajami

Levi,

Hold out for the Z5M Coupe. That could be interesting, despite the turbo and electric steering.

Will believe when I'll see. Until BMW pulls out all their FWDs, SUVs and EVs, Japan will plus to the GT86/BRZ have the new MX-5/Spyder (Alfa), RX-7, S2000 successor and Silvia, to be presented next month Tokyo. Hopefully the Z5 M is part of the next Supra, more chance of having it come to life.

Originally Posted by W///

It'll have a V6 too

That is the question. If the new Supra will share its platform with the Z5, will the BMW also have a V6 as the Toyota? Now that the M3/M4 has I6, I doubt.

[misterbeemer]

Originally Posted by vertebra

I don't understand half of these comments. True driver's car? Why? Because of the new body style? BMW's electric steering still pales in comparison to hydraulic and it's competitors. No special suspension bits. Still no rear differential. While the N55 is a great reliable engine it still cant outperform a tuned N54. If you want a compact true driver's car you missed the boat, the 1M blows this away.

I agree. I think the size of the car is what has everyone excited. From a design point of view, nothing special or something that stands out. But with an electric steering and possibly no LSD, this is just a small car with a bunch of electronic nannies and M badges to make the driver feel good.

[webdither]

YES M235i coming soon to my garage!

[aajami]

Originally Posted by W///

It'll have a V6 too

I may be biting on a sarcasm trap here, but I don't see why it wouldn't have the S55. I know this car will be part of the joint development program with Toyota, but I really doubt BMW would fit it with a power plant other than its own.

[aajami]

Originally Posted by Levi

Will believe when I'll see. Until BMW pulls out all their FWDs, SUVs and EVs, Japan will plus to the GT86/BRZ have the new MX-5/Spyder (Alfa), RX-7, S2000 successor and Silvia, to be presented next month Tokyo. Hopefully the Z5 M is part of the next Supra, more chance of having it come to life.

I don't think Honda is developing a successor to the S2000. More like a competitor to the BRZ with a droptop. It'll be down on horsepower from the (nearly 15-year old) S2000, which is a shame. Honda at one point was developing a supposed S3000 with an I6 to be a true successor to the S2000 a few years ago, but cancelled it with the economic downturn, which is also a shame.

[MCHL]

Teaser's teaser

[W///]

Originally Posted by aajami

I may be biting on a sarcasm trap here, but I don't see why it wouldn't have the S55. I know this car will be part of the joint development program with Toyota, but I really doubt BMW would fit it with a power plant other than its own.

Sorry that was def sarcasm. Levi was spamming every forum saying the M3/4 will 100% have a V6 according to his "sources"

[Transfer]

Originally Posted by vertebra

If you want a compact true driver's car you missed the boat, the 1M blows this away.

Well duh, tell us something we don't know. The M235i will be the closest thing available now to what the 1M is, until an M2 is produced. Especially since there will likely be a performance add on LSD available.

[Buschy]

The car looks amazing, you will not be disappointed.

[vertebra]

Originally Posted by Transfer

Well duh, tell us something we don't know. The M235i will be the closest thing available now to what the 1M is, until an M2 is produced. Especially since there will likely be a performance add on LSD available.

No duh, what exactly makes it close to the 1M? Engine? Suspension? Steering? The 135i closer to the 1M and it still isn't even close. This is a nice replacement to the 135i and 135is but to call it a true drivers car is ridiculous.

[waitwhat]

YES YES YES
never been so excited about the car before

[W///]

Originally Posted by vertebra

I don't understand half of these comments. True driver's car? Why? Because of the new body style? BMW's electric steering still pales in comparison to hydraulic and it's competitors. No special suspension bits. Still no rear differential. While the N55 is a great reliable engine it still cant outperform a tuned N54. If you want a compact true driver's car you missed the boat, the 1M blows this away.

Yet ///M claims that the M235i is quicker around the Ring. You are making it sound like it's a Dodge Ram vs a Lotus Elise. Does it have all the toys the 1M have? No. But still, like Clarkson said: Straight 6 engine at the front, manual gearbox in the middle, and drive goes to the back. That's page 1, chapter 1 of the petro-sexual handbook.

The M135i has been praised by many journalists. Don't see why the M235i shouldn't do the same while looking 10x better.

[pruettfan]

Can't wait M235i may be my next car if it is as good as I think it will be