Tom,

Hope that your thread does not get impacted with much OT crap mate!  Like the R has been.

Oi, I resemble that remark.

Oi, I resemble that remark.

Don't you mean resent

Tom,

Hope that your thread does not get impacted with much OT crap mate! Like the R has been.

Coincidence that my initials are actually OT

Maybe not such a coincidence.

Don't you mean resent

That's the joke!

 

Doh      I don't know why I bother sometimes :(

No review yet by mags for M135i v Golf R mk7 in current spec, in all roads,track and weathers. Perhaps that will be put right when the face lifted M135i hits the UK roads.

In the meantime some interesting driving comments in this basic review.

http://www.whatcar.com/car-news/seat/leon/bmw-m135i-vs-seat-cupra/1305073

Edited 19 February, 201511 yr by vrskeith

Yep, I've seen dozens of reviews (several foreign language ones with subtitles ) between M135, Golf R, A45, S3 and sometimes the M235 instead of the 135 and the conclusion seems to be the Golf R and the M135 quite often swap places for victory, the Audi never wins and the A45 originally won every encounter, but now people have gone off it, so it has been demoted in later reviews to only winning some reviews with the caveated of crippling ride quality and price.....oh and that gearbox which they don't like much.. Golf R generally gets quickest cross country and the M135/235 usually gets most fun (and they whinge because it hasn't got a limited slip diff! Like every buyer will be sideways out of the corners on a public road )

 

The LCi model is not changed from the outgoing one, at least not in any meaningful way. it gets the M235 power, although it is said that the increase happened last year any way. The gearbox is smarter though and it remains to be seen if that helps the performance, although I doubt it will make a difference for the young thrusters out there, it may help with fuel consumption (it anticipates corners and hills etc)

All UK road /track and weather condition, only one winner out of these two and it's not the M135I! Simple!

 

Oh! and just as much fun day in day out. I don't mind being biased and no apology Tom.lol

 

May be one minor concession - plumb in a 6 pot sound track or keep it in the family with a 5 pot Audi RS3, saves a few quid in buying one!

 

Or even record the R400 twin centre exhaust note.

 

Or may be turn the sound off completely and let the car do the talking - Oh! and leave the badges on .Respect innit!

Edited 20 February, 201511 yr by vrskeith

My mate had a drive in an 18month old rs3 the other day.

He liked it. Didnt have too much time, but managed abit of sideways fun n what not.

Maybe he'll test drive the new one when it comes out, i dont know.

Itd suit him down to the ground tbh, if anything probably not fast enough and wont handle well enough, but the practicalities might outweigh that

All UK road /track and weather condition, only one winner out of these two and it's not the M135I! Simple!

 

Oh! and just as much fun day in day out. I don't mind being biased and no apology Tom.lol

 

No need for any apology Keith, you are entitled to your view. It's not one I share, but then I am also biased hehe!

No need for any apology Keith, you are entitled to your view. It's not one I share, but then I am also biased hehe!

Tom, have you driven an R yet, for a direct comparison on the road?

 

I will be booking a test drive of the face lifted M135i , compare with R and my memory of the 2014 model 135i I tested when doing my research last year.

Edited 21 February, 201511 yr by vrskeith

Tom, have you driven an R yet, for a direct comparison on the road?

 

I will be booking a test drive of the face lifted M135i , compare with R and my memory of the 2014 model 135i I tested when doing my research last year.

I wouldn't bother to wait for the facelift, it's so nearly the same car as the non-facelift model, I can't see you noticing the difference. In fact the only thing that would make a difference to the driving experience is the anticipatory gearbox and I guess that possibly depends on the satnav spec?? Make sure it is on the Michelin PSS tyres and not the run-flats.

Edited 21 February, 201511 yr by Lady Elanore

Tom, have you driven an R yet, for a direct comparison on the road?

 

I will be booking a test drive of the face lifted M135i , compare with R and my memory of the 2014 model 135i I tested when doing my research last year.

Not yet Keith, it's on my "to do" list for the near future :-)

I had an S3 out for half a day though, so have a pretty decent idea what it's like.

Not yet Keith, it's on my "to do" list for the near future :-)

I had an S3 out for half a day though, so have a pretty decent idea what it's like.

Had a couple of lifts this weekend with a colleague who was driving an RS4. Now that's a very nice engine indeed:) Anyhoo, his wife has a Golf R and he says he will bring it to the next job we are working on together (hopefully next week:) ). He also has a 911 4S but isn't so keen on bringing that for me to have a go in

Edited 21 February, 201511 yr by Lady Elanore

Had a couple of lifts this weekend with a colleague who was driving an RS4. Now that's a very nice engine indeed:) Anyhoo, his wife has a Golf R and he says he will bring it to the next job we are working on together (hopefully next week:) ). He also has a 911 4S but isn't so keen on bringing that for me to have a go in

Well done missus -wife!

 

R has notable, yet very subtle improvement, compared with the S3 experience , as others on here have also mentioned - plus the majority car mag testers.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7MnsGckM-Vg&feature=player_embedded

 

No reason for me to test drive the face lifted M135i then.

Edited 21 February, 201511 yr by vrskeith

Well done missus -wife!

 

R has notable, yet very subtle improvement, compared with the S3 experience , as others on here have also mentioned - plus the majority car mag testers.

 

No reason for me to test drive the face lifted M135i then.

I'd go get a spin in a M135 or M235 now. You might not prefer it to your Golf, but I suspect you will still enjoy it (assuming it isn't raining, or damp and you have your brave pants on)

 

I wanted a go in his 911, I think he could see the barking mad glint in my eye and it scared him a little too much

I wouldn't bother to wait for the facelift, it's so nearly the same car as the non-facelift model, I can't see you noticing the difference. In fact the only thing that would make a difference to the driving experience is the anticipatory gearbox and I guess that possibly depends on the satnav spec?? Make sure it is on the Michelin PSS tyres and not the run-flats.

Hmm. Avoid run flats wherever possible really isnt it haha

Hmm. Avoid run flats wherever possible really isnt it haha

The general wisdom seems to be that they aren't so bad on the 3 series, but the M135 demands more compliant rubber. At least that's my take on what I have read. Well it's either non-RFT or get a LSD fitted

 

BTW Keith Auto Bild put the R up against the Leon and the 135 around a track the BMW was quickest of the 3 (it's on you tube) :p So the R doesn't win every test

Edited 22 February, 201511 yr by Lady Elanore

I drive on mundane every day roads,not in straight lines or dry tracks. So never use these tests in my selection of my type of car for my specific use.

I drive on mundane every day roads,not in straight lines or dry tracks. So never use these tests in my selection of my type of car for my specific use.

 

 

Yes but if I wanted a shopping car I would watch the shopping channel :p

 

 

Actually I do watch the shopping channel ?? Doh!

Funny that you should mention shopping, as this is one of my selection criterion ,when testing for isle capability.( bmw dealers didn't like my test drive request)

 

Always found that the ass end attraction of the 135i, to the end of isle sales displays a problem with fellow shoppers.

 

Yes. I do visits shops and not just look at them on the TV or PC, whilst sat on the settee.

 

However, I do hope that BMW will have taken this into account with the Face lift, as I 'm sure that I'm not the only shopper suffering from this problem with their products. 

 

Find VAG very considerate in this regard.

 

Enjoy your shopping day, today!

Edited 22 February, 201511 yr by vrskeith

The general wisdom seems to be that they aren't so bad on the 3 series, but the M135 demands more compliant rubber. At least that's my take on what I have read. Well it's either non-RFT or get a LSD fitted

 

BTW Keith Auto Bild put the R up against the Leon and the 135 around a track the BMW was quickest of the 3 (it's on you tube)  :p So the R doesn't win every test

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DAtsh40JqGI

 

Understand every word!

The conclusion, in a nut shell,it was the blue car wot won it ,'cause it was on superior rubber.lol?

Or does it:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TtOZNp6GOxI

Edited 22 February, 201511 yr by vrskeith

The ass end (the end most people see Keith ) has been tweaked (tweaking ass ends is not normally advisable btw gentleman) and now it looks generic Euro-rump with a hint of Korean. It's quite smart and fits in with the rest of BMW styling, but to my eyes they have robbed it of it's most recognisable feature. It kept the lineage from the previous model going. But as things move more generic and cars all become clones of each other, even clones of sister marques, it's harder and harder to split cars apart dynamically or visually. I think that might be partly the reason for going for the M135 over the 'R', individuality. By buying something flawed and with 'styling on a mission' looks, I get the fun and individuality of something that could almost be called a modern throwback

 

It's interesting (to me at least) that these modern hyper-hatches are now as quick as supercars where 30 years ago (or even less) and yet only cost a little more than their regular siblings. It is probably why this is the pinnacle of my performance motoring, to buy a second-hand Porsche would initially cost the same and almost definitely provide a better driving experience, but I couldn't afford to run one. The parts costs of running a proper sports car of that level, would bankrupt me with my slightly higher than average mileage, Yet I can buy a M135 (other hatches are available) and because it's new, shouldn't have any parts issues and even then, the parts and labour would be less than a something like Porsche prices.

http://www.evo.co.uk/bmw/m235i

http://www.evo.co.uk/volkswagen/golf/5991/vw-golf-r-mk7-review-price-and-specs-pictures#0

Edited 24 February, 201511 yr by vrskeith

I'm not sure if there should have been an article attached to your Golf link Keith? I still look at Caymans and Boxter 'S' models on various used sites, but just can't see how I could run one affordably (unless it was new). A second-hand Corvette might be possible though

 

Anyhoo a M135 with possibly the MP sports zorst might be all I need, it certainly sounds superb, better than almost any of the current 6 cylinder BMWs even (I suspect the M140 won't sound as good when it arrives, as the M135 series clearly embarrasses BMW in the quality of noise department)