Sport Sedan Shootout

 

1. Introduction
2. BMW 135i Coupe
3. Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution TC-SST
4. Subaru Impreza WRX STi spec R
5. Volkswagen Golf R32 4MOTION
6. She Says
7. Conclusion
8. Specifications

 

2008 BMW 135i Coupe

CarAdvice Rating: (4.25/5.00)

During the photography for this test, one of the stops happened to be right next to a group from a Victorian BMW club. A couple of Alpina BMWs and an AC Schnitzer formed the group. The guys walked right past the black 135i Coupe and waltzed on over to the Evolution and R32 which were sitting next to the Impreza WRX STI.

We watched inquisitively as they questioned David about the STI and grinned when the R32’s exhaust received a parcel of 3000rpm. They didn’t take much notice of the 135i Coupe and this seemed to be a reoccurring trend during the road test.

So it was obvious the styling wasn’t doing much to attract attention, but luckily the rest of the package well and truly made up for it.

As drivers, we spend almost all our time behind the steering wheel, so it needs to be a comfortable place to be. Needless to say, the BMW fit the bill. The steering wheel has considerable girth and is a pleasure to hold on to. The small diameter of the wheel also makes it a pleasure to use on tight mountain runs.

One point of irritation which can’t be ignored is the amount of effort required to put on your seatbelt. Nearly dislocating your shoulder isn’t uncommon when trying to get a grip of the seat belt. The 3-series Coupe features an electronic extender that passes the seatbelt to the front passenger and driver, but the 1-series misses out on this privilege.

It’s strictly a four seat affair – and that’s a fair stretch. Trying to fit any moderately sized adult in the rear is a far-fetched leisure, it can be done, but certainly is not recommended for long trips!

i-Drive this, i-Drive that, it’s all you ever hear from motoring journalists. We refuse to believe they can all be as daft as each other and are of the firm belief that i-Drive is one of the most intuitive car computer systems on the market. It’s an easy flowing process and each button works logically. The satellite navigation could do with a bit of work though, it’s a bit 1990’s and needs a bit of Volkswagen styling 3D zazzed into it.

We were collectively in two minds about the build materials though. There are some fairly nasty plastics used throughout the cabin and they certainly don’t correlate to the $70,000+ price tag.

Let’s forget about plastic, seat belts and i-Drive for a moment and consider the way the 135i drives. Had it not been for this aspect, the BMW would have been given the boot from the list based on its price and relative lack of style.

The test vehicle was a six-speed manual, which really allowed us to interact with the car and get a better feel for its abilities and the way it shimmies.

Kick the clutch and stab the starter button, that’s all it takes to turn over one of the smoothest engines on the market. Under the bonnet lives a twin turbocharged, 3.0-litre, inline six-cylinder engine. With the 135i Coupe weighing just 1485kg, you can bet your bottom dollar that this thing will haul arse – no matter what gear you’re in.

The numbers you need to know are 225kW of power and 400Nm of torque. Although BMW claims a 0-100km/h time of 5.3-seconds, the several runs we performed returned 5.0-seconds each – Maric would like to think that’s the result of his quick shifting.

The gearbox is as smooth as it gets in this segment. Unlike the Subaru’s arm snapping gearshift, the BMW’s transition through the cogs allows for easy driving when tootling around town, while also catering for quick shifts when stretching its legs.

It’s hard to pick that you’re working with a turbocharged engine here. The rev band is so linear that you don’t feel the turbochargers starting or even transitioning. Nail the throttle in any gear and the revs climb with ease and with little fuss.

The noise from 2500rpm onward is enough to give any car nut a hard-on. The induction noise, along with the exhaust note just beg the driver to push harder. It’s hard to describe, but second to only the R32, it’s one of the best sounds in this group.

Line up a twisty mountain climb and the 135i never ceases to amaze. Acceleration up to a corner doesn’t falter the chassis, there is no fidgeting felt through the steering wheel and it generally just feels composed. Tilt the 135i Coupe into the corner and it sits flat with next to no body roll.

Communication through the wheel is bang on, bumps in the road are felt and the somewhat heavy steering feel makes it feel like you are really controlling the car, there is nothing artificial about the process.

Engine response is perfection. Slight jabs of the throttle are felt immediately and can be modulated to further enhance the experience. Set the stability control to the limited mode and the rear end is happy to wiggle with healthy throttle applications.

One of the disadvantages the 135i Coupe has over its three competitors in this test is rear-wheel drive. Give the Beemer heaps out of a corner and it naturally wants to push the back end out. The combination of rear-wheel drive and an impressive power to weight ratio mean that the limit of grip is reached well in advance of the R32, STI and Evolution.

At 52:48 front to rear weight distribution, hard braking and weight transfer in corners is kept civil. The seating position is reminiscent of a go-kart and it feels just like one to drive.

A decent job of keeping things on track is done by the 18-inch wheels all round and 245-wide rubber at the rear.

The 1-series range has a set of performance options that can be fitted by dealers – and are covered by warranty. Things like an aerodynamics kit, carbon strut brace, light weight alloy wheels, six-piston brakes and sports seats can be purchased to go with the ball-tearing 1-series.

So let’s talk money. $72,230 is the RRP for the six-speed manual 135i Coupe, while the six-speed automatic can be had for $75,195. It’s a lot of coin and admittedly, there’s not a whole heap of car to show for it.

It is equipped with a decent wallop of features, but it is still considerably dearer than any of the competition we have it lined it up against in this group.

What’s the final verdict then? Well, this is the easiest of the mob to live with day in, day out. It has the cachet of the BMW brand and best of all, it really is ’shit hot’ to drive.

However, it’s the price that is its limiting factor. Even considering the current state of the Australian dollar, the 135i Coupe retails for around $US35,600. So it beggars belief how BMW can get away with charging in excess of $A70,000 for the privilege.

Had it not been for the price, the BMW may well have taken top honours, but in this scenario it has panned out slightly differently – all because of the price point.

CarAdvice Overall Rating:

How does it Drive:
How does it Look:
How does it Go:

 

1. Introduction
2. BMW 135i Coupe
3. Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution TC-SST
4. Subaru Impreza WRX STi spec R
5. Volkswagen Golf R32 4MOTION
6. She Says
7. Conclusion
8. Specifications

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