135i ranks 5th in motor magazine performance car 2008

[ptack]

Hey even the testers admitted putting a Toureg and a 911 in the same review seemed pointless and it was. Are these the only new "performance" cars you can get in Australia? Maybe that would make more sense, but still, it's pretty silly to expect any of these cars to compare favorably with a 911 if price or practicality don't matter.

[imported_Katera]

Originally Posted by DTNJNQ

The 135i ranks 5 in Motor Magazine Australia performance car 2008 semi final.

The 0-100Kmh and 0-400m times for the 135i weren't as good as some of the figures achieved in other magazine. It achieved 5.7sec for 0-100km/h
and 14s for 0-400m

The top 5 from each semi final go into the final.

The results were

1 Porsche 922 GT2
2 Mercedes C63 AMG
3 Ford Falcon XR6 Turbo
4 Lotus Elise SC
5 BMW 135i
6 Subaru WRX STI
7 Morgan Aero 8
8 Ford FPV F6X
9 VW Touareg R50

I'm trying to upload the article however I am having difficulty since it is a large file.

No M3? Interesting.

[DTNJNQ]

Originally Posted by Katera

No M3? Interesting.

This was one of the semi finals for as place in the final. The top five go into the final. M3 may be in the next semi final

[~ILLEST 1~]

as previously noted, these numbers are waaaay off...

as we all know, the 135 has recorded a 4.7 0-60 in numerous magazines and as some might not now the c63 has recorded a 4.1 (!!!) 0-60 in i believe car & driver but i'm not sure

[MrDrWatson]

The C63 is a beast of a car, only for experienced drivers. Unfortunately I don't think I have the skiil to drive this one on a daily basis. Of course the reason I gave for not buying the car was fuel consumption

[taiheung]

Originally Posted by WAY

For those who thinks it is a weird comparison with such different cars, I suggest you read the article. This is a test to determine the performance car of the year, or rather to see which car gets to the finals. The 135i makes the cut, just.

Swift135i, the C63 isn't that easy to launch with the massive amount of torque. But yeah, the times do indicate a VERY slippery track. I do completely agree that the 135i is too soft for the track though. I have not hit the track yet, but after my first hard drive of the 135i I said the same thing.

Hitthemark41, I recently picked up both the 135i and the C63. Very different cars, and both awesome. You have to go and drive the C63 to believe how much of an improvement the C63 is compared to any other AMG this side of the CLK black series. In fact I am of the opinion that the C63 is a purer sports sedan than the M3 now. Drive them back to back if you don't believe me.

Guys the competition is done in a 'round robin' fashion - similar to a sports competition - baskets are at random and the top of each basket makes it to the final. Had the GT2 not been in that basket, the Subi would have probably made it in - this however is ultimately irrelevant as it'd most likely not secure PCOTY; if it struggled in at 5th its only purpose in the final round would be to see how it stacks up against competitors. Also, they only include competitors that are new or have made a phsyical change to their car since the last PCOTY competition (I'm pretty sure this is the rule, it's either PCOTY or BFYB). Thus for example, since the hatchback was in last year's it will not feature in this year's unless BMW have made an update to the car. I can't remember if the M3 was in last year's - I think it was - which could mean we see it fall out of this year's too.

Also, I believe that MOTOR tests their cars as is - I think this is why ALL of their 0-100 times are always slower than even factory. I'm reasonably confident they don't switch off traction, and that is why they also slam into the 135i so harshly about RFTs knowing full well it'd be a different animal on normal rubber.

[DCD]

Motor is a great mag we get it here in NZ and I always pick up the performance car of the year issues. Like a few people have said it's the quarters, they generally have about 15-20 cars in the real PCOTY. It's a bit of a shocker that the new Sti won't be in the final though. Seems like it was a pretty tough pool.

Note also that in the actual PCOTY test they rate several factors INCLUDING price and real world testing (mountain roads etc). Thats why several years ago the Nissan Silvia (200SX) S15 won up against lambos and porsches.

I'm looking very forward to the PCOTY final

[Guran]

Just heard that the latest issue of MOTOR is out and features the (in)famous Bang for your Bucks. I'm travelling overseas on business this week so I've not seen it for myself. From what I'm told, the 135i Coupe was second quickest around Wakefield Park.

[adc]

Originally Posted by WAY

In fact I am of the opinion that the C63 is a purer sports sedan than the M3 now.

Sorry, but without a manual transmission available I just cannot agree. AMG probably doesn't even realize how many customers it is loosing because of this simple thing...



On a different note, I'm glad that for once it was not the N54 equipped car that boiled its oil and went into limp mode.

[123D-M]

Originally Posted by DTNJNQ

I'm sure we also get the hydraulic steering.

I think all 135i's get the hydraulic steering. Certainly they do in Europe. Here is the model comparison page in the UK. Choose 123D on one side and 135i on the other side. See in the engine section at the bottom of this webpage. 123D = electric. 135i = hydraulic.

http://bmw.co.uk/bmwuk/carcomparator...-bmwuk,00.html

Motoring writers are supposed to be experts. It's irritating when they screw up basic facts and then make judgements based on them.

[bimmerfile]

Wow, they could only do 0 - 100Kmph (62mph) in 5.7 secs.
The must have had the Stig's great-grandma behind the wheel...:biggrin:

Car and Driver got a 128i to go 0 - 60mph in 5.8 secs.

http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/...take_road_test

[esses]

A taurus? I mean I know its a bad ass taurus and a weird ass test but... A TAURUS????

[Xin1120]

Its great how the only bimmer that made it up to the list is a non-M series. That is already something in itself.

[adc]

Originally Posted by esses

A taurus? I mean I know its a bad ass taurus and a weird ass test but... A TAURUS????

Has absolutely nothing to do with the Taurus. Taurus is built on a FWD platform and the Falcon on an Aussie-only RWD platform.

[Night1]

That magazine sucks

[amdmaxx]

What is R50 doing in that test?
Thats a heavy beast with gobs of torque, but it aint no cheetah when it comes to running.. More like fast elephant..

[imported_Shawn]

Originally Posted by adc

Sorry, but without a manual transmission available I just cannot agree. AMG probably doesn't even realize how many customers it is loosing because of this simple thing...

I totally agree. I appreciate the Merc's styling, and with all the power and torque found in their engines I would consider one... except the lack of manual transmission. I have concluded that Merc is only interested in lazy (not trying to offend anyone), image drivers and not performance drivers.

[M3Armand]

I think we can all pretty much agree that this is one real stupid test. Porsche to WRX to Touareg? They might as well have thrown a minivan in there! 0 to 60 testing in GRAVEL? What?!@? Wait! They forgot to add a Veyron to the test! We really need to see how it compares agains the 135...

[M2]

What lousy driving, shifting in order to get those crappy 0-60 and qtr mile times. Must be because the steering wheel and clutch is on the wrong side of the car. :wink:

Or they had "vegamite" residue on their hands and their hand kept slipping. :biggrin: