[pumaknight]

Well bugger me, if I didn't go and buy the 135i!!

After a test drive and alot of soul searching (and arm twisting by my wife) it is the best car for me.

The test drive was awesome, the 1 is a real racer whereas the 3 is more of a cruiser. If you wanna read my write up, have a look at the following on 1addicts.com

http://www.1addicts.com/forums/showthread.php?t=3851

Both have the pros and cons IMHO.

For the 3: Size, looks and prestige
For the 1: handling (better than the 3), price and my wife hasn't got one!!

Cons for the 3: price, run flats, my wife's got one
Cons for the 1: no rear leg room, not as good looking as the 3 and the sat nav is just wrong!!

Ah well, just to say thanks for the advice and help - shame my tenure in the 3 forum was so short - I will post about my wife's car as and when though.

Enjoy your 3s all and look out those in the UK for a red 1 smiling at you

Michael H

[Bumps]

Well done Puma, sure you'll love it

[M3-FAST]

Originally Posted by pumaknight

Well bugger me, if I didn't go and buy the 135i!!

After a test drive and alot of soul searching (and arm twisting by my wife) it is the best car for me.

The test drive was awesome, the 1 is a real racer whereas the 3 is more of a cruiser. If you wanna read my write up, have a look at the following on 1addicts.com

http://www.1addicts.com/forums/showthread.php?t=3851

Both have the pros and cons IMHO.

For the 3: Size, looks and prestige
For the 1: handling (better than the 3), price and my wife hasn't got one!!

Cons for the 3: price, run flats, my wife's got one
Cons for the 1: no rear leg room, not as good looking as the 3 and the sat nav is just wrong!!

Ah well, just to say thanks for the advice and help - shame my tenure in the 3 forum was so short - I will post about my wife's car as and when though.

Enjoy your 3s all and look out those in the UK for a red 1 smiling at you

Michael H

I think the 1 is a more natural progression from the go-kart like Leon's you have been used to!

(don't forget my pics - pm me when you can )

[TahoeOG]

That's cool to hear. I haven't really seen a 1 series at the dealership. But then again i haven't went to check them out if they had it. I will be looking into it (128) as my neice is looking to get into a new car in the new future.

If you DO get it in red, good choice in color.

[pumaknight]

Originally Posted by redE93cab

I think the 1 is a more natural progression from the go-kart like Leon's you have been used to!

(don't forget my pics - pm me when you can )

You are probably right :-).

i still prefer the looks of the 3 but my wife looked at me with those big eyes and uttered the fatal words of " so you will be getting a better car than mine?"

i will get the pics to you asap, but most likely Saturday - got access to internet away from home, but not enough to upload photos etc.

I will pm you tonight though.

[pumaknight]

Originally Posted by billmister

That's cool to hear. I haven't really seen a 1 series at the dealership. But then again i haven't went to check them out if they had it. I will be looking into it (128) as my neice is looking to get into a new car in the new future.

If you DO get it in red, good choice in color.

Red it is -

[dxb335d]

Sedona red is a nice colour.

I agree with all yoru statements. Im sure the 1 may handle better. Im yet to drive one. The 3 is a looker tho.

Congtats and when do you pick up?


Carlos

[NFS]

Originally Posted by dxb335d

Sedona red is a nice colour.

I agree with all yoru statements. Im sure the 1 may handle better. Im yet to drive one. The 3 is a looker tho.

Congtats and when do you pick up?


Carlos

Why do people feel that the 135i handles better?

It has better brakes than the 3 series, but beyond that I am surprised.

In general car mags like EVO have found that the 330i outhandles the 130i, so I am kind of intrigued by these comments.

[dxb335d]

IM guessing,

it probably does not handle any better. I cant judge as Dave will jump down my throat.

But im sure its track is not as wide as the three and its tryes not as wide.

Its wheel base im sure is shorter.

It aint even much lighter.

If Evo mag rekons the 3 series handles better then so be it. They have driven both.

[pumaknight]

Originally Posted by needforspeed

Why do people feel that the 135i handles better?

It has better brakes than the 3 series, but beyond that I am surprised.

In general car mags like EVO have found that the 330i outhandles the 130i, so I am kind of intrigued by these comments.

This is all just my opinion and subject to my driving style. But the obvious differences are the location of the wheels and the location of the driver and of course the M suspension kit :-)

The 1 has a shorter wheel base and the wheels more in the corners. The 3 doesn't and as such is more prone to weight shift to the rear causing o/s under braking and cornering.

The driver in the 1 sits lower than the 3 therefore lowering the centre of gravity. And as it nearly weighs the same, the dynamic mass of the car through the corner is more predictable.

So the result is a car that jsut feels far more stable in handling that the 3 - that is not to say the 3 is a bad handling car, it is not by any means.

Hope that helps a bit.

[Evil Diesel]

Originally Posted by pumaknight

You are probably right :-).

i still prefer the looks of the 3 but my wife looked at me with those big eyes and uttered the fatal words of " so you will be getting a better car than mine?"

i will get the pics to you asap, but most likely Saturday - got access to internet away from home, but not enough to upload photos etc.

I will pm you tonight though.

I had that too - so we got a 1.25 Fiesta for the Mrs.

[mjh93sa]

Originally Posted by pumaknight

This is all just my opinion and subject to my driving style. But the obvious differences are the location of the wheels and the location of the driver and of course the M suspension kit :-)

The 1 has a shorter wheel base and the wheels more in the corners. The 3 doesn't and as such is more prone to weight shift to the rear causing o/s under braking and cornering.

The driver in the 1 sits lower than the 3 therefore lowering the centre of gravity. And as it nearly weighs the same, the dynamic mass of the car through the corner is more predictable.

So the result is a car that jsut feels far more stable in handling that the 3 - that is not to say the 3 is a bad handling car, it is not by any means.

Hope that helps a bit.

errr... if the weight transfer to the rear is happening under braking there are some serious issues that need to be addressed with the aid of a Mr Newton. Either that or Carlos has been demoing J-turns to you.

Whilst I only have experience of the hatchback I think that puma is making a fair point as to the feel of the 1.

It is smaller inside and as such encloses you more so that the car seems to shrink that little bit more around you. The smaller size and wheelbase add to the feeling of chuckability. Plus the sports suspension on the 1 is harder than that on the 3, so you feel more of what's going on.

The 3 on the other hand is probably just as capable, but the slightly softer springing makes you think you are closer to the limit than you are and the size of it lends a little more stability when travelling at speed on those autobahn's.

It's perhaps more of a case that the 1 is slightly more involving a drive, whereas the 3 is a little more refined.

[pumaknight]

Originally Posted by mjh93sa

errr... if the weight transfer to the rear is happening under braking there are some serious issues that need to be addressed with the aid of a Mr Newton. Either that or Carlos has been demoing J-turns to you.

Opps, didn't mean that - spot the deliberate mistake - meant to say that the back is prone to being lose under braking and cornering due to the weight and overhang of the car!! DOH!

[dxb335d]

OOOPS. I love my 3.

[NFS]

Originally Posted by pumaknight

This is all just my opinion and subject to my driving style. But the obvious differences are the location of the wheels and the location of the driver and of course the M suspension kit :-)

The 1 has a shorter wheel base and the wheels more in the corners. The 3 doesn't and as such is more prone to weight shift to the rear causing o/s under braking and cornering.

The driver in the 1 sits lower than the 3 therefore lowering the centre of gravity. And as it nearly weighs the same, the dynamic mass of the car through the corner is more predictable.

So the result is a car that jsut feels far more stable in handling that the 3 - that is not to say the 3 is a bad handling car, it is not by any means.

Hope that helps a bit.

The 3 series has the option of the m-suspension kit as well (standard on the 335i coupe) so that wouldn't differentiate between the handling. I also doubt that the driver sits any lower in the 1 series than in an msport 3 series. I practically sit on the floor in mine.

A shorter wheelbase isn't necessarily a good thing when it comes to handling and a narrower track is generally a bad thing.

The 3 series is also hardly dogged by extensive overhangs. The vast majority of the weight is between the wheels - where it should be.

Instinctively you would expect the 1 series to be a little more jittery because of the shorter wheel base and more snappy at the limit.

I think this is why the 130i has slightly underperformed against the 330i on a track.

If the 135i coupe was significantly lighter than the 335i it would have an advantage, but it doesn't.

However, the 135i DOES have much improved brakes and that will make a really massive difference.

Either way .. it's a great car.

[booforty]

The 3 series is one of the best handling cars out there and beats its competitors hands down!!

[dxb335d]

Originally Posted by beauforty

The 3 series is one of the best handling cars out there and beats its competitors hands down!!

you know that bud. A 335i beat an rs4 round a track in america. On fifth gear a 335i beat an s5 around a track also...

[NFS]

Originally Posted by dxb335d

you know that bud. A 335i beat an rs4 round a track in america. On fifth gear a 335i beat an s5 around a track also...

The S5 doesn't handle that well from what I have read.

[dxb335d]

What sources NFS?

[- Paul -]

Originally Posted by needforspeed

The S5 doesn't handle that well from what I have read.

I'd read the opposite - Viv may want to move this blatant thread hijack into its own thread??

[harpalb]

Originally Posted by beauforty

The 3 series is one of the best handling cars out there and beats its competitors hands down!!

And the alpina's are the best of the 3 series....!

[dxb335d]

Alpinwah. Still aint seen a E92 B3 on the road yet.