189 replies to this topic

[denno]

Going to be replacing the clio 172 in the new year, need a 5 door car now and like the look of the m135i, some great deals on these at the moment. Has anyone driven one? Reviews seem to be really positive, rave reviews in fact. I still would have every intention of keeping the vx and continue using it as a toy, my only concern would be if I started to lose the desire to take it out for just a blast because I'd have such a capable daily. The clio is fun but when I jump out of that and into the vx it really feels like an event swopping from one to the other, not sure if the vx would feel such an event after stepping out of the 135. Thoughts please.

[J4EY D]

Amazing car! I'll be getting one in the spring. Go to your local dealer and get a test drive in one, they really are lovely to drive.

[Sammy]

some great deals on these at the moment.

 

Care to share them? I've seen a couple of tempting lease deals but are only for 2 years.

[J4EY D]

some great deals on these at the moment.

  Care to share them? I've seen a couple of tempting lease deals but are only for 2 years.

£280 a month, no deposit... BMW staff only

Edited by J4EY D, 02 December 2013 - 07:15 AM.

[Graeme Lambert]

Yup, a fantastic piece of kit.

 

Absolute performance bargain, and far more involving (if not as fast or grippy) as a Merc A45 AMG. The only thing they really lack is a proper diff, but you'll not really notice that in day to day driving, and though a five door there's still not a huge amount of room in the rear. Don't be put off by the eight-speed auto either, if you can't find a manual, as its a fantastic unit. It's up to you if you can live with the looks.

 

Here's one 'we' wrote earlier

 

http://www.parkers.c...oad-test/58804/

 

Oh, and VX will always feel like more of an event. At the end of the day, no matter how fast or capable it is the BMW is still just a hot hatch. The low seating position, sparse cabin, intruding sills, tiny unassisted wheel, rattles, mid-engine balance and roof-off capability ensures the VX220 will still make you smile every time you 'gracefully' slipe behind the wheel.

 

G

Edited by Graeme Lambert, 02 December 2013 - 09:45 AM.

[denno]

some great deals on these at the moment.

  Care to share them? I've seen a couple of tempting lease deals but are only for 2 years.

On babybmw forum it seems some owners have received upto 20% discount so I guess it's a case of finding a dealer, haggle hard and phone round to try and get an even better deal.

[Gedi]

I've been tempted by the 1 series a few times now, but every time I start to look at them I realise the build quality and spec just aren't up to the 3 series standard.

 

If it were my money, I'd get a 5 door 330

[denno]

Yup, a fantastic piece of kit.
 
Absolute performance bargain, and far more involving (if not as fast or grippy) as a Merc A45 AMG. The only thing they really lack is a proper diff, but you'll not really notice that in day to day driving, and though a five door there's still not a huge amount of room in the rear. Don't be put off by the eight-speed auto either, if you can't find a manual, as its a fantastic unit. It's up to you if you can live with the looks.
 
Here's one 'we' wrote earlier
 
http://www.parkers.c...oad-test/58804/
 
Oh, and VX will always feel like more of an event. At the end of the day, no matter how fast or capable it is the BMW is still just a hot hatch. The low seating position, sparse cabin, intruding sills, tiny unassisted wheel, rattles, mid-engine balance and roof-off capability ensures the VX220 will still make you smile every time you 'gracefully' slipe behind the wheel.
 
G

That's a good point around the vx should still feel like an event. I'm guessing performance the bm would be similar to stage 4 turbo.

[Bumblebee]

Didnt realist they was that quick

[denno]

Didnt realist they was that quick

I say similar, probably not quite as quick but think Chris Harris was getting times of around 10.5 seconds 0-100mph, which is rather swift for a hot hatch! So on the move guess there wouldn't be much in it v's a stage 4 tubby.

[Graeme Lambert]

But the VX will 'feel' faster.

 

On paper times (either from the manufacturer or as tested) rarely translate completely into seat of pants feel - especially in something as refined and smooth as a 135i. That's not a negative comment by the way, just reinforcing that the VX should and would feel very differenr regardless of power of both cars.

[Rickwoo118]

Didnt realist they was that quick

Oh yes Aimy! they are rapid.....don't worry though....it wouldn't catch a stage 4 tubby.

[Lou_m]

Lots of chat on Pistonheads about the deals available:

 

http://www.pistonhea...ates?&mid=28348

 

 

Seems the best place to get one is here:

 

http://www.gateway2l...hp#.UpzTLeKfXNq

 

If I wasn't trying to sell my house, buying a bigger house and trying to sort out a new job for next year then I'd be all over this like a tramp on chips.

 

[Sammy]

 

 

some great deals on these at the moment.

  Care to share them? I've seen a couple of tempting lease deals but are only for 2 years.

£280 a month, no deposit... BMW staff only

 

 

What's the friends of BMW staff rate?

[pete-r]

Mate of mine has an m135i hatch, while I have the N54 twin turbo 135i coupe. The pace is jaw slackening on both cars from the factory, but mine is packing a bit more oomph than standard Pace wise I've never been in a stage 4 turbo VX but my car hits 100 without killing the clutch in about 9.5s. Torque is enough to pull on an E92 M3 noticeably. Agree with the comments on the VX being an event to drive and even just to sit in traffic compared, but the 135 is great for a daily as I get 25mpg around town and my insurance is under 300. And noise wise the VX can't compete, even with a larini fitted - bmw performance exhaust sounds (in my elderly neighbours words) 'like a tank'...!

[Rickwoo118]

How does the M135 and your 135 differ? Are they the same engine, turbo etc? Have you officially timed your run to 100 as that time is extremely good. I may look at getting one myself.

[fluffyskg]

I now can't stop looking at these deals. Damn you...

[turbobob]

But they are  to look at. They look like E.T. 

 

[Bumblebee]

Yeah I agree there not the nicest looking cars could think of plenty of other cars for that money

[slindborg]

although mine is only a 120D chavsport, its a really wonderful thing to drive and I do wonder why it took so long for us to sway round to a BMW Yes its sh*t to look at from the outside but when I'm in it I cant see that

 

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