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Comments
Novelty? No. Convertibles are not a novelty here in California... they are a way of life.
I ordered the very first Boxster while the car was still a concept. I received one of the very first ones in the nation! After I took delivery there was a 6-month wait to get one. Eventually the wait subsided, but the car remained a success for many years. I kept the car for 7 years, and had the top down most of the time. When the weather was really bad, the top was up in about 12 seconds flat. No novelty about it.
My recent Porsche Carrera S was also a convertible, and I kept the top down most of the time as well. Like the Boxster... it was no novelty. When the weather or driving confditions required the top up, it was no big deal to put it up.
Now, I have the 135i convertible, and like the Porsches, the top is down most of the time. I commute with the top down, and I take my son to his baseball games with the top down, and I generally keep it down. On my trip to Los Angeles last week, I had the top up on Highway 5... that's a 5-hour drive, and it was more comfortable for the wife and myself to have the top up, listen to satellite radio and relax a little more, and it was also better when I got into those sections of the highway where I was cruising at about 110 mph (that was fun). But, once we arrived there the top went down and stayed down almost the entire time.
After sooooo many years of owning convertibles, I have never soured on the idea of opening up the top and enjoying the open-air motoring experience. The 135's cabin is a joy to be inside when the top is down. If I use the windscreen and roll up the windows, there is virtually no turbulence inside the cabin. By rolling down the windows and folding the windscreen, I can bring a breeze into the cabin to the level I want. The 135i has a special "convertible mode" built into it's climate control system, which is a cool feature, and I can usually get the temperature where I want it even when the top is down. The only exception to this is on those days when the temp is in the 90's, approaching 100 degrees. However, BMW has a new sun-reflective technology built into the convertible's leather, and on hot days the leather's surface is 15-20 degress cooler to the touch than regular leather... awesome feature! Given the lack of turbulence, the climate control's convertible mode, and the sun-reflective technology, I'd have to say that the 135i is the best convertible I've ever owned at any price. Not to mention it's performance attributes!
Believe me... there is nothing novel about a convertible out here... nothing at all. And (knock on wood) I've never experienced any vandalism associated with having a convertible. Don't misunderstand... I love a good sedan or coupe... but when it comes time to spend the money, I'll take the convertible if it's available.
One important distinction I should point out is that convertibles do not always qualify for track use. Many tracks prohibit them, or require a rollbar. If you intend to track the car, then a coupe might make more sense.
:shades:
TM
So the 135i convertible tops the Carrera S? Nice!
Just came back from a half hour break and took the 328i for a spin around the community. We have a nice twisty 7 mile road, only the speed limit is 30 mph. I figured at 3:15 PM EDT, most folks around here would be inside because of the intense sun and heat and this proved correct. So I opened up the sun roof and windows and went around a few times at 45-50 mph. Handled like a Bimmer!
The Boxster is a great convertible... but as great as it is, when you are not a convertible person, nothing will likely convert you because there are absolutely terrific coupes and sedans out there... such as your 328i and the Cayman!
I personally wish the Cayman had a sunroof... but I know that it would add a little extra weight, which is contrary to a purist's mission.
So the 135i convertible tops the Carrera S? Nice!
As a convertible, it is a better experience. And while the 135i is clearly not a Porsche... it does have a unique driving dynamic that is, in some ways, much more fun to drive. I do not miss the Porsche when I am driving the 135i, and actually prefer the 135i. That says it all.
The only car I miss is the Lotus. Gettting in and out of the Lotus was indeed challenging, and it's drive was brutal at times, but it provided an adrenaline rush that you can't believe... and I'm not just talking about going fast. It was the whole crazy driving experience... nothing quite like it, and no other car can fill that void.
TM
Yes, TM; I remember you mentioning what a challenge entry and exit presented with the Lotus. I guess it's almost worth it when a vehicle is that exciting to drive.
The wife is bugging me that if I'm unhappy with the 328i, she wants it. :surprise:
I told her the non-adaptive steering requires too much effort and would be torture for her. The Rabbit has electronic adaptive steering which I hate, but is fine for her. I am thinking to get the "heat" off me (
I know you had a GTI for a while. Good for a woman, IYO?
PS: The girl likes to drive fast. :shades:
The GTI is good across the gender lines. It's a good car for guys, no doubt, but there's every reason to believe that she would love it. The comfort is remarkable and so is the practicality of the body style. I was impressed with its versatility, along with it's terrific performance. I really liked the GTI, and would highly recommend it to anyone considering it.
According to C&D, the big news for the new GTI is the "evolution of the electronic pseudo differential, now called "XDS electronic transverse differential lock." Apparently, it eliminates torque steer, which is a terrific accomplishment for a FWD car.
Anyway... do check it out. She will thank you... and then when the timing is just right, you can then proceed to get your new blue Cayman. :shades:
TM
Thanks for your input regarding the GTI-good to know that a gal could like it. She would prefer that the Rabbit had leather seats. The optional leather sport seats of the GTI are very comfortable. I found that out for myself. When looking at the Cayman several weeks ago, I stopped next door at VW and sat in the optional leather GTI driver's sport seat. It was a showroom model, so I couldn't drive it.
I might even be able to borrow the GTI once or twice.... if I ask her nice! :shades:
This time Hyundai want to know potential cosumer reaction. I think Hyundai would like to get a opinions from potential consumer and opinions will be reflected to the Equus of North america version.
*related post
I'm currently stationed in Indonesia and to my surprise, a Korean man living next door actually drives this particular car. To be honest, I'm not impressed. Compared to the Equus, the Genesis' design is somewhat more original. By contrast there's way too much Toyota Crown Royal in Equus' design, both inside out. Check online for pics and you'll know what I mean (and for goodness sake get rid of that hood ornament, looks cheesy).
Another potential problem: like I mentioned before the upper luxury class is a whole new level of it's own. It's not a place where "value" is even looked at. Remember Phaeton? It made the huge mistake of relying on "value priced German luxury", I hope Hyundai's not about to make the same mistake, as Hyundai's currently on the right track to catch up with Japanese competitors.
I understand how a lease was taylored for a man like you...See the trouble when you purchase a car? There is nothing between you and buying another one..:)
..A while back I mentioned passing a really attractive Porsche, although I didn`t know the model....It was the Cayman, and quite outstanding....It so happened a woman was driving, but I was looking at the car.....If it turns out to be comfortable, make sure to get the more powerful engine....I sure wouldn`t want you to be disapointed...You are a powerful engine guy for sure, and remember you got the diamond for your wife, so the more powerful engine is something to just close your eyes and do...
I enjoyed the drive in the bmw hard top convertable, but as you said, or maybe it was Tagman, If you aren not a convertable type of person, then the hard top convertable is the only way to go---for your wife--- Happy Sailing ---I guess you get enough wind with the bike Tony
Yes. I recently got the wife a nice diamond necklace. She liked it for a few weeks but told me yesterday she's thinking of exchanging it for something else. Maybe I should lease diamonds for 3 years too! My wife is to jewelry what I am to cars!
I was just out driving the 328i. The car was fine-solid, great steering, suspension and brakes. Wonderful with the windows and sunroof open. So glad I got the aluminum trim. I don't care for BMW wood.
I just have to learn to relax and enjoy what I have-and think as if I'm locked into the 328i for 3 years. If I trade it in now, I lose a quick $13,000 over 7 months. This is not what I do if i can avoid it.
BMW makes both 328i and 335i in hardtop convertibles. TM's 135i has a fabric top.
Yes. I am not a convertible person. I keep the 328i's sunroof and windows open anytime I'm not on the highway and that's as much UV sunlight as I'm willing to be exposed to.
I mildly regret not getting the more powerful 335i. However, except for straight line acceleration, the 328i can do just about everything the 335i can do and gets better mpg. I'm getting 25.5 mpg. The 328i is a fine vehicle. Most folks who drive it and review it professionally use superlatives to describe it.
Yes, Tony. You hit the bulls eye. Folks like me should have to lease:
Three years of hard time; no possibility of parole.
You know me, I`m just kidding with you...Remember in the old days you were so looking forward to the two year lease...That way you could get the latest , and back then with the enriched leases , it not cost very much.....BMW changed the name of the game.....I honestly think you were most happy with the 5 bmw with the big engine.....You waxed so eloquently...Wife didn`t even drive
I normally get a new car every four years, and would be getting excited about the next one right about now....There really isn`t anything I care for now....The Porsche sedan is a miss , and the new bmw 7 looks like a monster...My a8 has been a fine car, and the only thing I missed was the headliner, so whatever the next car will have a spiffy headliner...Hemi ,at the same time, got his w12, so that is where I came across him over on the Audi board..and I remember you chiming in with the uncomprable 545 around then, and my were you a `happy camper`.. As I understand it the bmw 5 will come along next year, and the Audi d4 also...I don`t think I will get the d4 as the depreciation is a monster hit each year you own one...but who knows.....In my opinion , I hope you make a real run at the Cayman, as time will run out on us..
.I made the trip back from the mountains and according to my experience with the traffic I think things have ever so slightly slowed down, so I will give an update on my next trip...Tony
Yes Tony. Right again!
I enjoyed the intoxicating, smooth power of the V8 545i and with great pride I can say I never got a speeding ticket driving it, although I was stopped once for weaving in and out on the highway and given a warning.
Hey, I got stopped driving the 5 cylinder Rabbit too. I'm surprised I haven't been pulled over driving the golf cart yet!
Seriously, when I get the bug, nothing can stop me. Life is short. If I take a loss, it's for a great cause. Buying a car is always a poor financial decision from the moment we drive them off the lots.
I have been looking around and I notice the prices on Caymans and 335i's have been jacked up-seems the dealers anticipate a spring-summer buying surge.
I will check the prices again in the October- December time frame when business is known to be very slow and prices should have come down again.
I don't know about the Cayman-the seat was hard as a rock-not what I'm looking for.
Next time around maybe a 335i sedan. Would love to own what Car and Driver calls "quite possibly the best car in the world" the BMW M3 sedan, but I'm sure it is too much car for me and is really intended for someone who will track it.
I believe the 335i would satisfy my lust for a bit more power, but for now I am hanging on to the 328i.
I would consider trading the 328i at the very end of this year if things are super slow and I can wring out a terrific 335i deal. If not, no big deal. The 328i is fine for now.
Yes Tony. Things change. Now the wife is zooming around in her Rabbit. Sure wish it had memory settings. We both drive it and re-adjusting those side mirrors gets to be a pain.
You mention the BMW 7 Series. You know it has been getting very good reviews in the press. I would never own one and as I have stated here, I do wish BMW would get itself out of the large sedan and SUV business and concentrate on making serious smaller driver's cars exclusively.
I have the opposite wish
Unfortunately, so does BMW.
I was thinking about Howard and his Cayman seat comment last week. During my drive yesterday, I realized that it would not have been as enjoyable in my Cayman, it is just not as comfortable as the 335's seats. Now as good as the 335 seats are, the seats in my A8 are better, more optioms for fit, and just the right blend of cushion and firmness.
You make an excellent point. I have the 328i sedan with sport package and while it is adequate, I am puzzled that the vehicle is not as much fun to drive as my previous BMW's. I thought that it could be because the 328i is larger and heavier than my other two 3 Series. However, I drove a 545i for three years and it held the road like the other 3 Series vehicles-as if on rails. Why were my other 3 BMWs more fun to drive than my current one? The only thing the current BMW has that the other three did not, is the Bridgestone run-flat tires. Judging from all the negative posts concerning these tires and my own experiences, I must agree with you that run-flats should not be used on BMW sport-packaged vehicles. It's sabotage!
Can you see Porsche using run-flats on the 911 or Cayman? Of course not!
Sadly, just more evidence showing that BMW is no longer serious about producing great driving machines for the upper-middle-class masses.
Of course, thankfully, there is the great BMW M3 sedan, which Car & Driver recently called "quite possibly the best car in the world." which can be had for around $65k.
Because I like a comfortable car with comfortable seats. Cars like 1 and 3 and 6 are nice, but are not my taste.
The only bmw I currently is the 5, but if I wanted one, would certainly wait for the redesign, if an suv, then only the x6, not the x3, x5 , or the new x1.
Does anyone know when will the new idrive be available for the x6?
In that case, you'd probably be happier in the long run with a Lexus.
Interesting, and understandable to me... the M3 is the ONLY car at this point in time that I would even consider trading-in the 135i for. But... so far, I'd rather keep the 135i.
TM
Now I like BMW's and I know how much the car mags love the M3 but I just like to be a bit more subtle, I'm sure that I am in a small pool an this one.
One could choose a 4.4 L 8 cylinder turbo X6 for $72,000 or a well-equipped 4 L V8 M3 Coupe for $67,000.
The problem with vehicles like the M3 or Cayman S is if you do mostly highway driving on a daily commute, the cars are a waste.
If one lives in Maui or along the Big Sur, then these are cars to die for.
I don't. Florida is a relatively boring place to drive-flat, not many curved roads. A 335i or 135i for me would be fine.
I'm with you. I'm not a big fan of the M3 either. It is a much better car than the AMG C Class and the IS-F, both of which I wouldn't be caught dead in, but I it just doesn't do it for me. I don't like the pumped up styling, or the "power dome" hood, or the carbon fiber roof in the coupe. Even though it's supposedly designed for the track, the brakes apparently last about 2 laps before the pedal goes to the floor.
I'd rather have one of these:
Magnifique!
You're right, but the problem is whenever I sit in a bmw in excitement level is high, but when the warranty is finish, there are the expensive repairs, the reliability issues. In a lexus its different, I don't have to worry about issues, but I get no special feeling, but I know the car will not give me any trouble for a long period of time.
The other thing will lexus is I don't like their current cars, ES and GS are just not my thing, LS is nice, but huge for me, than there are their suvs, the giant LX, the ugly GX, and the ladies RX
It's great that these two companies have a sense of humor about their rivalry. You would never see Honda and Toyota do this kind of thing.
I guess sometimes you just have to sacrifice form for the sake of function.
Where can I find a list of these Premiere dealerships? I did a quick Google and came up flat. :confuse:
Oh, I'm sure they will still crown the BMW winner. Don't forget that the M3 already won in C&D against a 911 Turbo and a GT-R. They'll come up with any excuse to put the BMW on top - it smells nicer, there's more rear seat headroom, something like that. Even if their tester is so broken they have to send it back to the factory and use earlier test numbers form a different car, it'll still win.
The M3's V8 is lighter than the I6 in the 3 series.
It just happens to be true! After all, we are talking about BMW's best car here.
i've seen this script before: a nice-looking challenger comes along with more HP and a better-looking interior and is put against a BMW M car on a race track. The challenger then gets demolished.
After C&D and R&T proclaim the M3 the winner against the Audi RS5, and I have no doubt that they will despite the latter's HP advantage, please read the impartial, unprejudiced reasons. There are real reasons!!! :shades:
I believe brother!! I belieeeeeeve!! :shades:
Ya gotta feel the power!!!
It just happens to be true! After all, we are talking about BMW's best car here.
I'm not making excuses. I just won't be surprised if C&D rates the BMW higher, even if it loses every performance metric. They could just decide to say that because the M3 will undoubtedly be cheaper, it wins.
i've seen this script before: a nice-looking challenger comes along with more HP and a better-looking interior and is put against a BMW M car on a race track. The challenger then gets demolished.
Not so fast there. Let's not forget that both the 335i and the 335xi were demolished on a track by an Acura TL, a torqueless, nose-heavy pig. How could that possibly happen? AWD magic. The GT-R chews up the M3 and spits it out, and its the AWD system that makes it happen.
The RS5 has a similar AWD system, and will be powered by either a twin turbo version of the familiar 4.2L V8, or possibly a new supercharged V8 producing some 470hp, and buckets more torque than the M3's NA V8. It will be faster off the line, and it will destroy the M3 in the corners. You can count on that.
When my ship comes in, I'll swing into action.
R&T recently tested the Cayman S vs the Nissan 370Z:
"Is the Cayman S worth nearly twice the price of a 370Z? Based purely on performance, no.... but if you're well-off and put an intangible value on overall refinement, powerplant/chassis harmony.... well the choice is easy."
Yes, they picked the Cayman S.
One can use the same words- (if you) "put an intangible value...." to explain why the 328i beat the G37 in C&D's recent comparo even though the G37 had a big power edge.
It isn't just the measurements. I can't speak for Porsche, but BMW's simply "feel better" to drive than the competition, based on my own comparos.
Yes, they picked the Cayman S.
It's not quite the same idea. The Cayman S and the 370Z aren't really direct competitors, and I seriously doubt that anyone would cross-shop the two. You'd have the same issue with something like a Z06 or GT-R vs. a Ferrari 599. Is it worth well more than double the price of those cars based on performance alone? Not at all. But the Ferrari has something special that you don't get with a Nissan or Chevy, and its up to the individual to decide what that's worth.
The M3 and the RS5 on the other hand are direct rivals. The M3 will be lighter and more tossable. If tire smoking powerslides are your thing, the M3 is your car. The R8 can do that, but the RS5 with its engine in the front most likely wont do more than a rally style four-wheel drift. The M3 has good steering - but apparently not that good. It's been widely criticized for being too light and slightly numb.
The RS5 will be much more powerful, much faster on a track, and will have more grip in the corners. If you want to be able to put your foot down in the middle of a tight bend and have the car claw its way around and blast out, the RS5 is your car. And of course when the weather turns sour, it wont even be a contest. Steering is a bit of a question mark. Previous Audis had good weighting, but didn't relay much info about the road. They are getting better at that though, so the steering in the RS5 should be excellent.
As for subjective handling rather than just numbers, it's hard to say at this point. The Audi MO used to just be endless understeer, but the B7 RS4 was supposed to be very neutral overall despite the old platform with the engine ahead of the front axle. The R8 has already proven that Audi knows what handling is, and we've yet to see what the RennSport guys can do with Audi's new front-mid platform.
The Audi is better looking and has a nicer interior, but it will be more expensive. As I said before I wont be surprised if they give it to the BMW, but I can also easily see the Audi winning. Regardless of what C&D thinks, I'd take the Audi.
Well, I won't be buying either one of them. While I acknowledge the greatness of the M3, and I'm sure the Audi is no slouch and will be terrific, a track car as a daily driver I do not need. I'm sure to get a lot of speeding tickets. Taming the 545i was hard enough.
My future candidates include the 135i coupe, 335i sedan and Infiniti M37. I'd like to drive a base Cayman to at least experience what driving a Porsche feels like.
I have to bring my 328i in for an oil change in about a month so at that time I would hope to drive the 135i and 335i while I wait. Occasionally BMW dealers get Caymans on a trade.... doesn't hurt to ask.
Jim,
I hear ya, brother. I've spent more time than I care to admit fiddling with that same damned M3 configurator... LOL.
And, I would also pick the M3 over almost any other car... except mine for now.
I do think that LG makes a legitimate point that the RS5 is going to be a serious car on the track that will actually turn in some solid numbers, and as much as I hate to say it, those numbers may very well end up to be better numbers than the M3. :surprise: But in the end, I must agree with Howard when he posted that BMWs just "feel better to drive" than the competition. There's a whole lot of truth to that.
TM
I don't mind the, err, adventurous styling, except for the odd gaping ducts under the trunk. Sure they're functional (perhaps), but they sure look ugly to me.
It's hard toa rgue with M3's near perfect handling, and since C&D's test is a heavily dry road performance biased, BMW will most likely emerge the winner again. Throw in real life roads and wet surfaces, and the tables turn.
Hahahaha, I've yet to hear an excuse like it, but maybe :P :P
Regards,
OW
So, if a long-lost relative asked you to take his no longer needed 2008 M3 Coupe off his hands, you would turn him down?
I wish I had a touch more power from a standing start with the 328i. However, the inline 6 is a beauty in every other way. When I'm moving and I need it, the power is there and it is smooth and strong.
I have not driven Porsche vehicles so I have no idea whether Porsche engines are as refined.