135i is what the M3 should have been!

[M3_Dust]

Originally Posted by Vivid

:agree: but that then leaves a gaping hole, a hole just big enough for the 135i :biggrin: which is why I think the 135i is the car the M3 should have been.

you just made the moral to your story :roundel:

[968PORSCHE]

Vivid, If you were going to spend M3 money and now the M3 is not what you hoped for, why not a used 997?

Interesting thread by the way. I read these to help make up my mind but I think it just makes me more confused!

[vivid]

Porschelover,

you have a good point... I don't go with a 997 or even 996TT because I really need more practicality... I have a second car (323i wagon for the dogs) but I like using my primary car for more than just moving two people from A to B.

[sadu77]

Originally Posted by Vivid

:agree: but that then leaves a gaping hole, a hole just big enough for the 135i :biggrin: which is why I think the 135i is the car the M3 should have been.

hey that hole is what made me ge the car, so im happy as hell. ive read on this forum that with the dinan booster, the 135 is quicker than the M3. is that true? and what exactly does "quicker" mean?

[968PORSCHE]

I hear that, I have to pick up a new toilet from Lowes and even though it's only a mile from here I gotta go get wifeys Audi and come back. I could strap it in the passenger seat with a seat belt, but what if the airbag went off in an accident? "Porsche driver killed by the porcelain god in the seat next to him", great headline. I suppose I should not have put those bags of manure for the lawn in the back either. Took 2 days for the smell to subside.

[vivid]

Originally Posted by porschelover

I hear that, I have to pick up a new toilet from Lowes and even though it's only a mile from here I gotta go get wifeys Audi and come back. I could strap it in the passenger seat with a seat belt, but what if the airbag went off in an accident? "Porsche driver killed by the porcelain god in the seat next to him", great headline. I suppose I should not have put those bags of manure for the lawn in the back either. Took 2 days for the smell to subside.

:rofl2: thats great

[968PORSCHE]

rofl2 = ?

[atr_hugo]

Originally Posted by porschelover

rofl2 = ?

=

That's what happens when the "Little Orphan Annie Smiley Decoder Ring" upchucks. ; -)

[968PORSCHE]

This post is reassuring. I was begining to wonder if all the one buyers were just 22 year old fan boys. My 15 minute test drive seemed to reveal a very good car, one far better than I thought. Hearing that someone canceled an M3 order for a 135 gives credibility to my impressions. I'm considering a Cayman S or an 05 997, so that's some serious hardware to go up against. Naturally I was thinking this is a "crazy comparison", but perhaps not.

[vivid]

Originally Posted by porschelover

This post is reassuring. I was begining to wonder if all the one buyers were just 22 year old fan boys. My 15 minute test drive seemed to reveal a very good car, one far better than I thought. Hearing that someone canceled an M3 order for a 135 gives credibility to my impressions. I'm considering a Cayman S or an 05 997, so that's some serious hardware to go up against. Naturally I was thinking this is a "crazy comparison", but perhaps not.

at this price point there are going to be a lot of kids but the caliber of the car will bring in a great deal of enthusiasts as well.

[Justin(OKC)]

I test drove an m3 yesterday. I do believe that someday I will own one. However, for a daily driver I have to admit that the 135i is the better car. You are just in the power band all the time in the 135i. I respected the M3 I drove and it wasn't very impressive until the CA told me to run it up the rpms a little. I liked it, but I had to go pretty fast to get the grin on my face. I am not in any way disappointed in my decision to get a 135i instead, and I was afraid I would regret not getting the M3 after driving one.

BTW, as mentioned before, I'm not 22. I'm in my 30's. I have a great job (orthodontist) and am buying the car as a company car. I could have bought an M3 if I really wanted to, I just would have had to sell my e36 M3. Now I can choose to keep it or sell it and enjoy the snot out of my 135i.

[bimmernet]

I'm with you. I'm a VP of Sales in my 50's and have owned two E36, two E46 M3's and a MZ3 so I think I have a little insight on the groove here.

Oh yes, right now I'm driving a non-"enthusiast" '05 C55 AMG (after the Safeway Market 18-wheeler hit my '05 M3 ZCP) so I guess I'm finding redemption getting the 135i, right?

The point is the 135i is a driver's car, not as edgy as a branded M car but is that a requirement? Does it need tell me if it's head's or tail's when I run over a dime? Does it need to cost about $20K more than I think is reasonable for a daily driver? And probably most importantly; does it need to have a particular //M-blem on it to make me feel better about me?

Naw.

Bimmernet

[jdlnmia]

The M3 has grown too expensive and too fat for its new market. I was also in the market for a new M3. I considered the 997 S of course but I needed some reasonable back seat room. Although the 135i has a tight back seat, its combination of price and performance could not be beat. As for the 997 S, I would be ordering a GT-R if I wanted to pay the price they are commanding (currently MSRP +10-25k). That car pwns any 997 except for the GT3. PERIOD.

[Endgame]

It owns the GT3 also....

[GT3]

Originally Posted by jdlnmia

The M3 has grown too expensive and too fat for its new market. I was also in the market for a new M3. I considered the 997 S of course but I needed some reasonable back seat room. Although the 135i has a tight back seat, its combination of price and performance could not be beat. As for the 997 S, I would be ordering a GT-R if I wanted to pay the price they are commanding (currently MSRP +10-25k). That car pwns any 997 except for the GT3. PERIOD.

jdlnmia,

I agree. Not much left to really say about the new GT-R? That car is just a phenomenal performance machine. Just totally sick.

Actually, coming from a current GT3 owner, I am not afraid to say that it also betters the GT3 on the track. I wouldn't buy a GT-R over a GT3 for many more subjective (weight transfer, steering feel, feedback, balance etc) reasons, but for sheer speed and performance, the GT-R is superior. Especially when you then take into consideration the price and the AWD versatility.

[mtsound]

Lets see I have a E39 M5, I bought a 07 cooper S for a fun light car to replace my S2000. my daily driver is 335xi. I test drove the new M3, smoother and more nimble than my m5, similar overall feel. I placed an order for a SSII E90. My m5 is getting old and out of warranty so the M3 will replace it.

While finalizing my order for the m3 i took one of the 135 for a spin, I didnt think it was going to be much different than my 335 but i really liked the dynamics of the car, this monster motor really shines in this platform. I am currently trying to convince my wife to let me trade the mini for the 135. That would be the best of both worlds, M3 and 135.

[defcon1racing]

Originally Posted by mtsound

That would be the best of both worlds, M3 and 135.

True dat!

[Uptown Bully]

When I ordered mine the other day, the salesman said the word from the tracks in Germany and SC is that the 135i outperformed the M3 left and right!

[Gabriel]

Tried to like the new M3 bud couldn't. Owned an E36 EVO, a 2001 E46, a 2003 E46... Sold the last M3 to keep my boxster hoping that the next would be more back to basics, more hardcore, nimbler, simpler but the new one really isn't that. It's a great car for those that travel and want something fast and easy. It's big, but not big enough for my 3 kids. Fast but not fun enough to wake me up in the morning.

Drove the 135 today and loved it. I am not too fond of the style to be honest but I usually care only about what I see inside a car. It's cool that there is an aftermarket range for it already. I want to try one with an LSD and I will be sold

Now Mark, the 135 with 200 pounds less and an S54, that's what the new M3 should be. Small, nimble, good ergonomics and a Naturally Aspirated engine is what I would want

[Jewpac]

Its interesting to read this. I have a 135 on order, and my Dad has an M3 sedan on order for when his E350 lease is up. Ive been making fun of him saying Im spending 20K less and getting the better car. I can't wait until he gets his so I can do a back to back comparo.

[Guibo]

Originally Posted by Uptown Bully

When I ordered mine the other day, the salesman said the word from the tracks in Germany and SC is that the 135i outperformed the M3 left and right!

I think the salesman is misinformed. Auto Motor und Sport compared the 135i head to head against the M3 at the Hockenheim club circuit and the M3 on regular Pilot Sports was a crushing 8 seconds quicker (1:14 vs 1:22). This 135i was about 5 seconds off the pace of a previous 135i test there, however.

As to the new M3, it seems quite a bit faster than the competition, with a handful of tests showing a 3-4 second difference in laptimes over the C63. Check these times from Evo Magazine.
RS4 - 1:28.25
E46 M3 CS - 1:29.8
C55 AMG - 1:30.11

E92 M3 - 1:26.6*
C63 AMG - 2:29.5*
*track damp in places

[vivid]

Originally Posted by Gabriel

Now Mark, the 135 with 200 pounds less and an S54, that's what the new M3 should be. Small, nimble, good ergonomics and a Naturally Aspirated engine is what I would want

Gabe :vivid:

There is always room for a car to weigh even less... There is a rumor that the Tii or an M1 will be a light weight version with a high revving NA engine... we will see.