135i...Cult Vehicle???

[doublevanosrc]

Originally Posted by TX78666

Dunno.

Interesting article about cult cars. http://editorial.autos.msn.com/artic...umentid=434627

I think one quote sums it up.



I'm still undecided about the 135, in that regard. After a day at the track, and a long road trip this weekend, it is starting to look like a long-term keeper. I will almost certainly keep the e46 forever. One man does not make a cult following, though.

The E46 330 ZHP was definitely a keeper. You did it right.

[adrean8j]

Originally Posted by dtwyim

I think my sparkling graphite metallic E82 N54 6MT sounds more and more like a keeper

God's color!

[Sinister Crayon]

I'm not sure the 135i will ever be a cult car. There's usually some visceral element to cars that become cult cars, things like the manufacturing process (Ford Model T), the radical departure from other cars of its time (1965 Mustang) or even some social aspects that make it cultish. It's rarely because it's a good car, a fast car or anything else.

With the 135i the sales numbers are probably slow enough that you might think of it as a cult car, but the car I am driving while awaiting my 135i only had 15,000 imported to the US out of 25,000 cars total built... and that was over a decade ago. Cult car? Not so much. While its styling was divisive and it had many of the elements of a cult car (highly unusual product considering its parent company), it has never achieved cult status... but there's not really a clear reason why. That car is the Subaru SVX. Mine will turn over 150K miles before I head to Germany next month and it's still a great running car, but it'll never be a cult car.

The 135i I think has much the same problem. It's a damned fine car and yes is a bit of a departure for BMW in where it's been headed in recent years, but at the end of the day it's lacking something visceral that would truly propel it to cult status in a few years. I can't even put my finger on what it is, but there's something missing.

Having said that, I might be wrong (and often am ) but why worry about it? Enjoy the car while it's here, mourn it when you can't get any more, move to the next car that grabs your attention. Buying cars in the hope they'll become collectors items is as much of a sucker bet as the slots in Vegas: Sure, sometimes you might win big but it's pennies compared to the amount fed into the slots in the first place.

[fusion01]

Originally Posted by Diver

Way too early to say. It's uniqueness lies in its small size and relatively powerful motor. The replacement (probably a 2 series) has every indication (to me) of being a 4 cylinder car. Some automotive publications say it will be a 6, but that is speculation. If no 6 cylinder replacement is built, the chances for cult status are improved. Remember, not every cult car was a big seller.

Agree entirely. With some of the 2012 Z4's utilising 4 pots I think the probability strong. Big push to more efficient (low-carbon, better fuel consumption, ample power for most) engines. Increases the likelihood of cult status somewhat.