Is a 128i a quick car?

[JimD]

I admit I am stirring the pot a bit with this topic but it seems to come up periodically and I wanted to address it in a new way - with some data. The source I am using is this website:

www.zeroto60times.com

I looked at a 128i convertible for two reasons. First that is what I have and second, that is what this website had data for.

They list the 0-60 as 6.1 seconds and the 1/4 mile as 14.7

Similar cars include:

1984 Porsche 911 Carrera (6.1/14.4)
1989 Porsche 911 Cabriolet (6.4/14.8)
1991 Porsche 911 Carrera 2 (Auto) 0-60 mph 6.8 Quarter mile 14.8
2003 Porsche Boxster 0-60 mph 6.0 Quarter mile 14.6
2012 Cadillac CTS 3.6 Sedan 0-60 mph 6.1 Quarter Mile 14.5
2006 Pontiac Solstice 0-60 mph 6.9 Quarter mile 14.8
2007 Toyota Camry SE 0-60 mph 6.0 Quarter Mile 14.4
1996 Toyota MR2 Turbo 0-60 mph 6.1 Quarter mile 14.7
1995 BMW M3 0-60 mph 6.1 Quarter mile 14.4
1990 BMW M3 Sport Evolution 0-60 mph 6.2 Quarter mile 14.5

I deliberately put a couple Toyotas on the list because it has some up. The 2012 Camry is listed as 5.7 and 14.1, so it is quicker.

My point is just that I don't think any of these cars are either really fast or slow. The V6 Camrys and the turbo MR2 are the only Toyotas that are close to the 128i. Every other Toyota is slower. Only being as fast as the fastest family sedan Toyota makes isn't great but it isn't terrible either. In normal driving, being able to keep up with even older Porsches and M3s seems like a quick car to me. I believe the data demonstrates that my 128i vert is quicker than most cars and is therefore a quick car. It is as quick as other cars we wouldn't call slow so that makes it a quick car.

It will not compete with a 135i.

Jim

[ba83]

Man that probably took a while to write

no your car is slow as balls jk

Quick is relative and 128i is just fine for today's standards.

[the1andonly]

I have a 2012 manual 128i non convertible and I think its not only quick but one of the best ALL AROUND cars I've ever driven. A driving experience is more than about how "quick" a car is. From the moment I sit down and hit the start button, my 128i is an amazing driving EXPERIENCE. Its perfectly balanced, in weight, in how the manual mates to the engine, in the handling, the way the brakes feel, the exhaust note, the way the wheel feels in your hand...its just so damn balanced. Its in that balance that its more that 0-60 times, and to compare it to a Toyota makes no sense. In the past few years Ive owned a few "quick" cars, 350Z, AUDI TT RS, 2 MCS's and none came close to the 128i...because none could come close to the perfect balance the 128i can...as a whole, few cars come close

[ragingpanda]

Everybody's perception as to what constitutes a quick car is going to be relative. If you are coming from a single cammed Honda Civic or the likes, then obviously a 128i is going to feel really quick. If you are coming from an STi or the likes, then a 128i is going to feel slow in comparison.

[JimD]

I don't think a Camry is comparable except perhaps in a "stoplight grand prix". If I want to accelerate away from a stop light and get in front of somebody, most cars cannot keep up with my 128i but a V6 family sedan, like a Camry, may be able to. In that sense it might be as quick. On a twisty mountain road, I am confident he would fall quickly behind.

Another car that would be comparable is a Nissan Maxima. Most people don't consider them slow. The numbers on a 350Z are better, however, but if you like your 128i better that is, in the end, what counts. I did not drive a 350Z when I was looking for my vert because I wanted at least an occasional use back seat and the reviews of the 350Z commented on a high level of noise. I wanted more refinement.

I agree completely that a car is much more than it's 0-60 time. That is only one measure. But a certain amount of "get-up-and-go" is desirable to me too.

Jim

[NYC6]

Comparing a modern car against a list of many older models with one made 28 years prior is a bit disingenuous no?

[roo97ss]

I agree it's a quick car, but in todays current HP wars it's surely not fast, at least at the stoplight.

You forgot the toyota tundra
6.1/14.9
6.0/14.6

both car and driver tests...

The 128 is a great balanced car, that is much better served on a back road than the light to light dragstrip. It is not a sports car, nor is the 135 for that fact; but it's a great coupe or convertible for a balanced lifestyle. It's not as soft as a camry, nor as hardcore as a 370z, but still great nonetheless.

[ken1137]

I agree with your post regarding the Camry V6. It was pretty quick...faster than my 328 0-60. I gave my daughter my Camry V6 and was not too upset when a texting college kid slammed into the rear. My daughter was not injured but the car was totaled. We bought her a Rav4 (4 - Cyl) which is slower than a pig after a full meal. I believe much better for her. Yes, the Camry cannot handle nearly as well as a 128 and as stated previously "quick" is very subjective.

[MikeinAlexandria]

I have a 128i cabrio too, but with coil-overs, tighter steering rack setting, BMW Performance Intake and exhaust. If a Toyota Camry can keep up in a straight line, there is no way they can get around the corners. In the DC area, I rarely brake, into exit ramps, sharp turns, etc. I just don't need to. When I accelerate lightly out of any typical corner, the car behind falls back quite quickly.

It is funny how the new 1 series cars have similar performance to older BMW M cars and 911s. Of course the new Ms and Porsches are quite a bit faster. But I still love my car after two years. My only issue is keeping it clean enough!

[Tom K.]

Originally Posted by NYC6

Comparing a modern car against a list of many older models with one made 28 years prior is a bit disingenuous no?

It certainly seems that way.

When measured against the contemporary VW Beetle (0~60 in 29", IIRC), my '68 FIAT 124 Spider was considered fast for a 4 cyl. as it would do it in 12" and could top 105 mph in 5th gear. And the first Chevy V8 in '55 was touted as a performance car as the stickshift version would make it to 60 in 10" and had an honest top speed of slightly over 100. And the 1930s Packard V12 was a road burner with a 0~60 time of around 20".

So I guess my 6.1" 128i cabrio must be quick...

Tom

[NYC6]

Cherry picking older car times and comparing numbers doesnt mean much at all. Other than the fact, we're living in a great time for performance car lovers.
The 135 beats a 89 Testarossa, 90 Ferrari 348 and the 79 Countach, among many other 'big dogs' in their day(on his supplied link). Beating those iconic sports cars today doesnt make the 135 a modern time super car. Apples/oranges.

[Top Gon]

pretty sad that toyota's fastest car is the humble camry.

[Motohip]

That's depressing that a 2007 Camry is 0.7 seconds faster than my car (mines auto). What would that car do with a manual? Mid to low fives?

[ragingpanda]

Originally Posted by Basheezy

pretty sad that toyota's fastest car is the humble camry.

There are a couple of cars in the Lexus subsidiary that are faster than the Camry, and we all know they are rebadged Toyotas.

[TheSt|G]

Originally Posted by the1andonly

I have a 2012 manual 128i non convertible and I think its not only quick but one of the best ALL AROUND cars I've ever driven. A driving experience is more than about how "quick" a car is. From the moment I sit down and hit the start button, my 128i is an amazing driving EXPERIENCE. Its perfectly balanced, in weight, in how the manual mates to the engine, in the handling, the way the brakes feel, the exhaust note, the way the wheel feels in your hand...its just so damn balanced. Its in that balance that its more that 0-60 times, and to compare it to a Toyota makes no sense. In the past few years Ive owned a few "quick" cars, 350Z, AUDI TT RS, 2 MCS's and none came close to the 128i...because none could come close to the perfect balance the 128i can...as a whole, few cars come close

Exactly.

I dropped my M5 for the 128i because I fell in love with that balance. It's simply better than what numbers can get you.

[Diver]

How quick do you need? Do you want to feel like you were shot out of a cannon? 30 years ago a 0-60 time in the low 6 second range was considered to be excellent. Now there are cars that can break four seconds. Want to really fly, get a bike.

[coda72]

Originally Posted by Motohip

That's depressing that a 2007 Camry is 0.7 seconds faster than my car (mines auto). What would that car do with a manual? Mid to low fives?

Toyota doesn't put many manual transmissions in their 6 cylinder cars anymore, so I doubt you'll find one equipped that way. I had a '99 Solara (2 door Camry) that was pretty quick especially since I got one of the last 6 cylinder manuals they made. But I still think my manual 128 vert feels quicker.

[tawheed]

Speed is speed, there's always something faster and something slower. I owned 39 vehicles prior to my 135i from Porsches to Audis to Hondas. What I've realized is the "feel" of a car is much more important than the raw numbers. My 1986 911 3.2 Targa was not "fast" by the standards of today but it felt incredible to drive, special in a sense.

If you enjoy the way your car feels and makes you feel, you've got the right car.

[Motohip]

I'm still stuck on why the Camry is faster? It's got less HP. And why is the auto i'm our cars so much slower than the manual?

[TheSt|G]

Originally Posted by Motohip

And why is the auto i'm our cars so much slower than the manual?

Because it was focusing on cheapness and fuel economy in the entry level BMW. To most, the 128i was the cheap BMW they could get behind the wheel of.

[1speedbike]

That Camry that everyone is talking about is an anomaly. It was WEIRDLY fast for a Camry. All models of the current Camry are actually slower than the 2007 V6.

And 230 horses is a lot. 333 horses in the E46 M3 used to be considered blazingly fast. A last-gen Mustang GT had 300 horses flat with the V8 and that was considered very fast. Now we're turbocharging and pumping everything with horsepower because... well that's what Americans want.

The _28i models in the 1 and 3 series range are pretty top models. The only ones that are more powerful are _30i and _35i. Below that you have 116/316, 118/318, 120/320, 125/325, and several diesels all of which are slower. In every market in the world other than the US and maybe Australia (because you got them awesome Holdens and Falcons and shit) 230 is MORE THAN ENOUGH. Here, we are addicted to power and size, and it's honestly gonna bite us all in the ass. Just because the 128i has the "smallest" engine available in the US doesn't mean it's slow. Americans can't comprehend why a BMW would have lower power as we are all focused on numbers. It would confuse us and tarnish the BMW image if an "underpowered" another model like the 318ti was brought over. At least that's what BMW thinks. I think they're mostly right.

It's also not about being fastest in a straight line. I know a kid with an old-ass 90's civic hatchback. It has 1000 whp. He finds nice cars on the road and just messes around with them. Turns down his boost so that he can roughly match what he's up against, and still toasts them. Note that I don't condone street racing, but there's always something faster. There's a point that faster is just getting stupid. I'd take the $25K (new back then) 4.6L 2005 Mustang GT over the ridiculous $50k+ GT500 any day. Who in their right mind needs 650 horses on the street?

[sandman98]

Originally Posted by the1andonly

I have a 2012 manual 128i non convertible and I think its not only quick but one of the best ALL AROUND cars I've ever driven. A driving experience is more than about how "quick" a car is. From the moment I sit down and hit the start button, my 128i is an amazing driving EXPERIENCE. Its perfectly balanced, in weight, in how the manual mates to the engine, in the handling, the way the brakes feel, the exhaust note, the way the wheel feels in your hand...its just so damn balanced. Its in that balance that its more that 0-60 times, and to compare it to a Toyota makes no sense. In the past few years Ive owned a few "quick" cars, 350Z, AUDI TT RS, 2 MCS's and none came close to the 128i...because none could come close to the perfect balance the 128i can...as a whole, few cars come close

what he said...
i love my 128i coupe more every day.