Road & Track: Cayman-S vs Z4M vs 135i

[imported_Katera]

I thought this was an interesting comparison, especially as it relates to the Cayman S <which btw I think is one of the best looking cars ever made>.

Data sheet vs Data sheet

Cayman S / Z4M data sheet: http://www.roadandtrack.com/assets/d...data_panel.pdf

135i data sheet:
http://www.roadandtrack.com/assets/d...508_RT_BMW.pdf




The 135i is 11k less then the Z4M and 30k less then the Cayman S as tested <ouch>.

-135i is faster then both 0-60. 4.8 vs 4.9.
-Ties the Cayman S in the quarter mile and beats the Z4M
-Better stopping then both Cayman S and Z4M from 60-0
-1 foot behind Cayman in 80-0, but beats Z4M by by 11 feet
-Ties the Cayman S and Z4M in the slalom.


Only one seats 4....ok maybe 3.5 lol.

[Motorsports_3]

Wow how suprising.

[spudw]

And some go on and on about this car being over-priced. GET REAL!!!! This car embarrases Porsches that cost $30K more! Buy a 135i, put $10,000 of options and you could still buy a brand new Honda Civic before you get to the price of the Cayman S... Unreal...

[Ringmeister]

I had a Cayman S. The 135i is a great car and a much better value but I don't think it will touch a Cayman S on a road course.

[turbomg]

Originally Posted by Katera

The 135i is 11k less then the Z4M and 30k less then the Cayman S as tested <ouch>.

Yet despite the numbers, I'm still trying to justify the 30 grand for gorgeous. I <3 the Cayman so much.

[CaliSF]

Originally Posted by Katera

I thought this was an interesting comparison, especially as it relates to the Cayman S <which btw I think is one of the best looking cars ever made>.

Data sheet vs Data sheet

Cayman S / Z4M data sheet: http://www.roadandtrack.com/assets/d...data_panel.pdf

135i data sheet:
http://www.roadandtrack.com/assets/d...508_RT_BMW.pdf




The 135i is 11k less then the Z4M and 30k less then the Cayman S as tested <ouch>.

-135i is faster then both 0-60. 4.8 vs 4.9.
-Ties the Cayman S in the quarter mile and beats the Z4M
-Better stopping then both Cayman S and Z4M from 60-0
-1 foot behind Cayman in 80-0, but beats Z4M by by 11 feet
-Ties the Cayman S and Z4M in the slalom.


Only one seats 4....ok maybe 3.5 lol.

Here's the vid of the Cayman (not the S) v. the 135i

[moff]

The stats regarding the Z4M have got to be complete crap especially the quarter mile.

Not doubting the braking and handling though.

Seriously, I have driven both cars and the Z4M is much faster than the 135i... it's good for <12 secs to 100mph

[Oregon]

Oh yeah, forgot about this vid, a 135 beats a Cayman S. Hmm, just what has gone wrong with the world? Posturing, perhaps?:iono: S'cuse me, while I slip into some Nomex...

[BMW Dreamer]

WOW. Thats awesome. My neighber (WELL OFF) has an X3 and a Z4 M conv. I would love to show him this when I pull into his driveway.

[TP 135i]

OK. I don't track my cars. I just drive them any enjoy them. My wife has the Cayman S and I now have the 135i. They are both great cars and both have very different personalities.
On the road both are more than fast enough to satisfy your needs for passing, accelerating onto highways and carving along on back roads. Actually either car can get you in trouble quick as either will let you double the posted limit on most roads.
The Cayman S feels more like it's always ready to go...wants to go...wants to play and you are always aware of that engine behind your seat. The suspension is tighter than the 135 and when driving it just feels a little more focused. It's a little more raw of a driving experience.
The 135i feels more mellow. It's power delivery is so smooth and (relatively) quiet that every time you look down at the speedometer it's time to let up off of the accelerator cuz you're going 80 mph again. The 135i gives me the impression that you're piloting a maglev vehicle....so smooth and instant power whenever you push on the accelerator.

Bottom line.......I love them both, but right now, for my driving style and needs........I'll take my 135i, thank-you very much.

Plus.......and this has to factor into my feelings greatly.....my 135i is a 6 speed manual and the Cayman S is tiptronic. Not having a clutch pedal just isn't the same, regardless of how good the transmission is.

:roundel:

[atr_hugo]

TP_135i - the odd thing is when looking at numbers only, Road & Track shows the Cayman S and 135i to be pretty much equivalent. The difference, as you have captured, is feel. Great post.

[larryn]

I think this comparo is pretty invalid. Sure the Z4M and the Cayman S were compared on the same day, same track, same slalom, same skidpad, etc.; but the 135i didn't have the exact same conditions.

I'd love to see the three to them tested side by side now though. I think it would be similar, but who knows. I think we'll see it soon enough.

[Yoot1]

Automotive Journalists are show offs. I'm convinced that's the reason they make a big deal of the 135i's oversteer as mentioned in the Test Notes. You really have to push it to feel it, and that's not practical or recommended on public roads.

If I'm feeling the oversteer, what detracts from the overall driving experience is the sense I may kill someone. Just my yellow ass point of view.

[vanbmw]

Originally Posted by larryn

I think this comparo is pretty invalid. Sure the Z4M and the Cayman S were compared on the same day, same track, same slalom, same skidpad, etc.; but the 135i didn't have the exact same conditions.

I'd love to see the three to them tested side by side now though. I think it would be similar, but who knows. I think we'll see it soon enough.

Not quite a head to head comparision but Car and Driver did a "lightening lap" test and it had a 335 coupe and a Z4M on the same track the same day. The 335 was 1.5 seconds faster and the test also had a breakdown of the corner speeds. The 335 had the advantage almost anywhere. They mention the Z4M FELT faster/sportier but the 335 had the torque and neutral handling to beat it.

[imported_Katera]

Lest anyone get my motivations wrong about this post, let me be clear. I love Porsche....LOVE. My first real car at 17 was a Porsche 914 2.0, and it is the love and memory of that car which has actually motivated me to get the 135i Vert. As I said above, I think the Cayman S is the most beautiful car I have ever seen. Period. If it was anywhere close in price to the 135i, I would have a hard time not pulling the trigger on the Cayman S..rear seat be damned. But it's not. Not even close.

My main motivation for posting these numbers is two-fold:

1.) Many here are stating how overpriced the 135i is? I find that laughable considering the performance this car gives and the quality that BMW has tried to keep with it. A 318i this is not.

2.) As the car hits and buyers/order remorse sets in, I wanted to remind people what they are getting and how it stacks up against two great cars head to head.

IMO the 135i is a damn steal.

And we get a back seat! lol

[larryn]

Thanks TP_135i for the comparo of real world feel between the two cars. With the Cayman Triptronic S being a published 5.8 sec to 60, I would think that manual 135i will eventually feel substantially quicker, even if it's "sneaky" speed or more subdued.

I agree with Katera though, as good as the 135i looks to me, the Cayman S is a very, very handsome piece of machinery. It's too bad that they start at almost double the starting price of the 135i.

[ersatzS2]

-Better stopping then both Cayman S and Z4M from 60-0

Huh, that's interesting. Not intuitive given the small front tires, light nose weight bias, and the fact a mid engined car has a terrific weight bias advantage eg less forward weight transfer ergo more work done by rear tires. I'm going to attribute it perversely to aerodynamics: the 1er is boxier so slows quicker early in the stop due to wind resistance.

[imported_Katera]

Originally Posted by ersatzS2

-Better stopping then both Cayman S and Z4M from 60-0

Huh, that's interesting. Not intuitive given the small front tires, light nose weight bias, and the fact a mid engined car has a terrific weight bias advantage eg less forward weight transfer ergo more work done by rear tires. I'm going to attribute it perversely to aerodynamics: the 1er is boxier so slows quicker early in the stop due to wind resistance.

Or the new 6 piston caliper brakes on the 1. :thumbup:

[TwinturboBMW07]

135i the only way to go for the price

[TP 135i]

Originally Posted by Katera

As I said above, I think the Cayman S is the most beautiful car I have ever seen. Period.

I asked my wife (the actual owner of our Cayman S) why she really had no excitement for my new 135. She simply stated that her Cayman was the most beautiful car she had ever seen and any other car was just another car. She is happy that I'm happy about my 135, but beyond that.....HO...Humm.

[kirkemon]

I also noticed the 135i was the quieter of the three.
You do have to admit that the Cayman S has a little more "wow" factor visually, which is not much for the 30k extra.

[imported_Katera]

Originally Posted by TP 135i

I asked my wife (the actual owner of our Cayman S) why she really had no excitement for my new 135. She simply stated that her Cayman was the most beautiful car she had ever seen and any other car was just another car. She is happy that I'm happy about my 135, but beyond that.....HO...Humm.

My wife has the same exact reaction. She is happy for me, and likes the 135i Vert, but if you sat her down and asked her what is the ONE car she would like to have, she would answer Cayman S is a heartbeat. Honestly, I would get the Cayman if we had our kids raised and didn't need a backseat. Heck, we still might one day. I think Porsche broke the mold of beauty with the Cayman, but while the Cayman is like a beautiful lady <with nice hips>, our 135i's have character. They swagger like the small boxer that might not be as big as the others, but knows that he can kick just about anyones butt.


While maybe not beautiful, it does have character.