128i or gti mkv

[ILUSV]

Not a big fan of the MK5 R32. The previous R32 brought a lot to the table in (2004) cool seats / faster hatch / bigger engine / nicer bumpers / wheels / etc etc.

The new R32 doesn't have much over the current GTI other than 4 motion and in a straight line and driving around town a Chipped GTI would abuse the R32.

I am also not a fan of autos...yeah I know its DSG but it is still an auto in my eyes.

[dmboone25]

Originally Posted by ILUSV

Not a big fan of the MK5 R32. The previous R32 brought a lot to the table in (2004) cool seats / faster hatch / bigger engine / nicer bumpers / wheels / etc etc.

The new R32 doesn't have much over the current GTI other than 4 motion and in a straight line and driving around town a Chipped GTI would abuse the R32.

I am also not a fan of autos...yeah I know its DSG but it is still an auto in my eyes.

Does that mean no MT option on the R32?

[ILUSV]

Correct. No 6-SPD MT in the US

[professor]

We have the R32 in manual here in Australia. The DSG is faster in a straight line by a tenth of a second. The R32 feels a tad front heavy but otherwise I think it is a brilliant car. Maybe on slower windy streets the GTI is better but on a track the R32 shines - the back gets loose the power transfers to the front and it crawls out of a corner like a panther. And the sound the R32 makes is orgasmic! In a straight line the 135 is about a second quicker but in the corners or on a wet track I seriously don't know which would be better.

[ILUSV]

check this out ...R32 vs GTI / Chipped GTI

http://www.automobilemag.com/feature...e_Figures.html

[spudw]

Originally Posted by dmboone25

The 135 solves all problems for me--it will be nearly as fast as my dad's M coupe, but much more comfortable. It will ride sportier than the E92, but not be too harsh. It will be very tossable, but not too small. I am really excited.....

Hope you enjoy it as much as I think you will. It's a great car, and for all my defence of the 128i, if the numbers work out right when I finally purchase, it could well be for a 135i. If it's the 128i, I'll still be very happy. I'll take your advice on the GTI. I agree that, price considered, it has to be cross-shopped with the 128i.

[dmboone25]

Originally Posted by spudwest

Hope you enjoy it as much as I think you will. It's a great car, and for all my defence of the 128i, if the numbers work out right when I finally purchase, it could well be for a 135i. If it's the 128i, I'll still be very happy. I'll take your advice on the GTI. I agree that, price considered, it has to be cross-shopped with the 128i.

I think you might see that once you balance the two out (128i and GTI) that the two are very similar, or a slight edge to the GTI. And if that's the case, who wouldn't take a couple of looks at loaded for a ~25K GTI versus a stripped down ~30K 128i?

I have just lived for a year and a half with the deficiencies of the N52 motor...and the crummier brakes....and the extra size and weight of the E92. Great car overall--but it is capable of so much more, and the 135 my perfect fix. May or may not be for you--but give the GTI a shot and you might end up going that way.....

[1er junkie]

Err.... those 0-60 times, what is the 128i real world 0-60 times? Because the est. 0-60 is 6.3 from BMW, I know that is underestimated. The R32 says its 0-60 is 6 seconds, so if performance is the issue, whats the hubub all about? Even if it is .3 seconds slower, it is a much nicer car in the end. And, maybe we are all a little biased here on this forum...called 1addicts.com....Thats like going to a hershey fanatics website and asking if M&Ms are better

[Tom K.]

The BMWUSA site quotes 6.1" for the MT coupe and 6.4" for the MT convertible. The June issue of Car and Driver has a short test of the MT convertible and they got 6.2".
Tom

[Dr_Jones]

i think a better comparison as 128 and a3 sline

i own an a3 and they are pretty nice (im having problems which is why im lurking here...if i had gotten the manual tranny rather than dsg i wouldnt be here).

the 128 felt anemic on the highway with no passing gusto whatsoever. felt the same about the r32. The fsi (now a revised design for 09 TFSI for audi and TSI for vw) has much bigger ba||$ in 5 and 6th.

[dmboone25]

Originally Posted by 1er junkie

Err.... those 0-60 times, what is the 128i real world 0-60 times? Because the est. 0-60 is 6.3 from BMW, I know that is underestimated. The R32 says its 0-60 is 6 seconds, so if performance is the issue, whats the hubub all about? Even if it is .3 seconds slower, it is a much nicer car in the end. And, maybe we are all a little biased here on this forum...called 1addicts.com....Thats like going to a hershey fanatics website and asking if M&Ms are better

Not sure on real world times--but my E92 328i never felt that fast. Quick is a better word. The 135 (having had it two weeks now) is fast--quite a big difference.

Don't think you would see that noticeable of a difference between the GTI and 128i. Just my opinion.

PS--I do not honestly think that the BMW is leaps and bounds above the GTI in the "its much nicer" category. Especially when the GTI fully loaded is at least 6K less.

[murix]

I just went through this experience. I have been in the market for a new daily driver and put a deposit on a 128i manual with sports pack and ipod as the only options. The 1 is about 200lbs heavier than it should be, but other than that, I liked it. It meant sacrificing space, but if that is what it took to have a fun daily driver, I was up for it.

I just canceled that deposit and bought a GTI on sunday. I really like the 1 series, but I went and test drove a GTI. For the money, I am pretty impressed. I paid $23k for the GTI vs $31k for the 1. It felt just as good as the 1, but I actually prefer that I was not stuck with a sunroof and could get cloth seats. The GTI feels fun without sacrifice. The financial deals were also better. Interest rates were lower.

Other than the fact it is fwd, the GTI is a great car. I love the motor. I think the car could use a few tweaks, but overall I am impressed. The first tweak will probably be a Quaife. Power is pointless without control and a LSD is the best thing you can do to a fwd. I think it is stupid VW did not have one as an option.

If I only had one car, and that car had to be mildly practical, I would get the 1 series. But as it is, I have another car for fun which means my criteria were fun daily driver that was practical and not extreme on the edge driving, because I have already filled that need. The GTI, for less money with more practicality, fit the bill.

My other car.

[floridiot]

What car is that?

[ILUSV]

I love reading old threads (6 years old). Reading old posts put a smile on my face, so much has changed, I just got a '14 M135i