Automotive News Discussion

[SlimKlim]

I don't think they are intentionally trying to confuse their customers, confused customers aren't going to buy cars. I think they have just gone down the rabbit hole of trying to create a model to fill each and every niche in the market. That doesn't bother me so much, that's been the name of the game for the past 20 years in one way or another. You have to sell shitty people movers so you have money to invest in the cool projects. That's why every Porsche purist should thank the Cayenne, Macan and Panemara for saving the sports cars and making the 918 Spyder a possibility.

What pisses me off about BMW lately is their pricing has gone completely over the top. I thought I was taking crazy pills until I saw a listing for a heavily optioned 2008 335i that stickered for $45k new. A new 335i can hit $60k in no time now. Then, when they do occasionally stop farming out shitty people movers and throw us brand enthusiasts a bone, they either make a car that's too good and pull it off the shelves (1M) or they make a lazy ass attempt at it like this thing and charge Porsche money for it.

I'm starting to feel like I should get rid of the GTI and pick up a clean E46 M3 before they get to the point where they are just too old to DD. It might be the last BMW ever made that I really love without making excuses or compromises.

[RawrImAMonster]

Yeah other than the 1M that they made a very limited supply of, newer BMW's don't do it for me at all. The 135i and 235i not having LSD's standard (and being a pain in the ass to put one on) is just stupid.

[CaptainHenreh]

I'm starting to feel like I should get rid of the GTI and pick up a clean E30 M3 before they get to the point where they are just too old to DD. It might be the last BMW ever made that I really love without making excuses or compromises.

[D_Eclipse9916]

^^ And he would be richer for it. I just checked prices on 1 series M and holleeee..yeah not happening. Thats 911 GT3 territory.

[Jake]

Cliff Notes:

-The gray mirror caps look shitty
-It plays fake intake sounds through the stereo
-There is no coolant gauge so you never know if it's warm enough to hoon on (what happened to the variable redline from the E46/E39?!)
-The turn signals on the mirror blind the driver at night
-The steering has absolutely no feedback
-There are sixteen M badges on it. My actual M3 scrapes by with merely 9.
-The LSD isn't standard equipment

Boo.

OK OK, I drove one of these. And a 228i. Both at night, in The Darkness.

- Mirror caps are subjective, I didn't mind them. Then again, I drove white cars so they didn't pop as much.
- That's stupid but a lot of new cars do it. Still, shame on BMW for giving in.
- Variable redline on E46/E39 was only on the M-cars. This is not an M car. Also, I swear one of the two I drove had a coolant gauge. I think it was the 228 but perhaps not. I distinctly remember getting in the car and seeing the gauge and thinking "ok, I can hoon."
- Turn signals never bothered me.
- Steering felt better on the 228 vs. the 235. No idea why.
- Sixteen is indeed obnoxious.
- LSDs haven't been standard since 1993 or so.

I think BMW made a big mis-step in calling this the M235i. It should just be The 235i. Nobody remembers the storied past with the M535i and M635i, which weren't M-cars. None of their new cars have a coolant gauge and it's stupid. I know that my 128 is up to temp by checking the oil level, because the sensor only reads once the motor is up to temp. Never mind the fact that I don't have a dipstick, either.

[Evan]

^^ And he would be richer for it. I just checked prices on 1 series M and holleeee..yeah not happening. Thats 911 GT3 territory.

:x :evil:

figures

[ScottyB]

oh my damn. still excited about this car.

[CaptainHenreh]

oh my damn. still excited about this car.

[Jake]

Hnng. It looks really, really good in that green.

[WRXtranceformed]

Lost all love for that car after actually driving one :lol:

[D_Eclipse9916]

Lost all love for that car after actually driving one :lol:

You drove a 2015? I didn't even know they were out yet.

I have driven Pre-2015s and really wasn't impressed at all (compared to specs). This new one has new chassis and whole new suspension. I would imagine it will drive fairly differently.

[Jake]

I have driven Pre-2015s and really wasn't impressed at all (compared to specs). This new one has new chassis and whole new suspension. I would imagine it will drive fairly differently.

Yeah, I'm excited to try one out at some point. I have driven the 2011-2014 models with the 300 hp V6 and the 5.0 V8. They are cool cruisers, but just not for me. I test-drove a 5.0 'vert before I bought the 128i and it was fun, but pretty clunky comparatively. Hoping the new-gen will fix some of that.

[WRXtranceformed]

No I drove a 2013 GT500. It would be interesting to compare the two if it is going to be that much different...but I won't hold my breath

[*insertusernamehere*]

My jaw dropped as I was scrolling down past that pic. That looks damn good.

[Jake]

No I drove a 2013 GT500. It would be interesting to compare the two if it is going to be that much different...but I won't hold my breath

Different rear suspension design should change the handling quite a bit. And a markedly better interior (that's where most of my complaints are - you want me to spend how much for a brand-new car with a jiggly center console?!)

[WRXtranceformed]

No I drove a 2013 GT500. It would be interesting to compare the two if it is going to be that much different...but I won't hold my breath

Different rear suspension design should change the handling quite a bit. And a markedly better interior (that's where most of my complaints are - you want me to spend how much for a brand-new car with a jiggly center console?!)

Good to know...I hope all that car needed was a suspension change and interior refresh to take the derp out of it. I was laughing and shaking my head during my test drive (and not in a good way). That car was a creaky, groany, shuddery, rattletrap.

[fiveoh2go]

[davej]

:lol:

[V1GiLaNtE]

I'm usually not a huge Corvette guy... but the 2015 Z06 Convertible.. Fuck me I'll take that bitch in blue.





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[JustinG]

Yea I like convertibles too, until you put the top up, at which point every soft top car looks like absolute poop.

Needs some sort of folding CF and aluminum hard top.