JimCorrigan
Well-Known Member
aka Proof BMW can still make a damn fine car
aka Cock car no.2
Ordered on Aug 2, 2014.
Got it on Dec 19, 2014.
Gurning like a complete idiot ever since.
I LOVE this car. Quick refresher... I never intended to get one. I was just having fun last summer test driving various vehicles, and if there was any BMW I had my eye on, it was the 435i. Turns out that car is a dud as far as driving dynamics go, and this one is the complete and utter winner. It's by far the best car I have driven since... possibly since ever. It's a lease, but if I feel about this car in 3 years time anywhere close to where I do now, I cannot see how I won't buy it out/purchase a new one. It *is* that good.
Pros.
- Fantastic engine. Turbo charged 3-litre straight six. Worth every penny of the premium over the cheaper turbo four. Possibly the best engine in the world? A bit too quiet, for what you *do* hear, it sounds glorious, and the "synthetic sound" from the speakers is so damn subtle you swear it's coming from the exhaust outside. If you open the windows, it is.
The power is stupid. Turning off all the e-nannies and putting foot to firewall will result in an uncomfortable crab walk as the back end desperately seeks (and fails to get) traction. Doing the same thing in a turn will either cause you to look live a driving god or poo will come out. From a roll, the power is glorious and addicting. Passing multiple cars on a tight two-lane backroad will repeatedly induce cackles and laughter. The torque plateau is ungodly, and it convinces you this car has two more cylinders under the hood. Lag is (microscopically) perceptible.
- Transmission. This is the ZF 8-speed auto. It is *not* a dual clutch, but that distinction is nearly academic as far as performance goes. It's certainly more responsive than the dual clutches in VAG cars, and even Porsche's vaunted PDK left me unimpressed after sampling the 8AT in this car. Leaving it in auto is great for those early mornings when I'm cold an barely awake and just want to get to my destination in comfort. Putting it in manual mode gets you the full paddle-shift jollies, and the car will let you bang it off redline repeatedly if you let it. I do like how it automatically will still downshift for you if you let revs dip below 1000 (like when coming to a stop). You can also downshift multiple gears at once by just holding the paddle for longer than normal. It is with this transmission that I will happily stop driving three pedal cars. You might not like it (Priz), but I love it.
- Steering and handling. Laser precision. Weighted quite nicely. I'm convinced I could pull off Stig's trick of hitting an apple with a precise wheel. Nothing more needs to be said (but there is a con, see below). Suspension is also generally very, very smooth.
- Interior. It's not a lux car, but it's the nicest interior I've ever had in my own car. I optioned the brown leather seats and the wood grain inserts, and I love it. The plastics are low sheen, and soft in texture. Rick would love it. More importantly though, are the actual contour of the seats (perfect) and your relationship with all of the available controls. The current version of iDrive is quite easy to work (though I still dislike this sort of thing in principal). The M steering wheel feels perfect in your hands. And for a small(ish) coupe, there is decent rear seat room. I'm 5'11, 220lbs, and I *can* get back there, but I wouldn't personally want anyone that size there for long. Good for younger kids or for spouses,, but even then not for long trips. The sunroof is quite large, too.
- Toys. Bluetooth, USB, Harmon Kardon stereo upgrade, and honestly a fantastic "wide screen", high-def Nav screen. I think I may never get another car without memory seats again if I know my wife has even the slightest chance of driving it. The heated seats are wonderful, and the heated steering wheel is now, too, a must in any car. Necessary from November to March on chilly mornings.
- Exterior. Classic BMW proportions, especially from the side. I love the headlight treatment. I got Mineral White metallic, so it shimmers in low-light. My wife adores that paint.
Cons.
The suspension's one weakness is secondary rebound. If you're on a road with a lot of undulations and oscillations (not pavement breaks) your head will bop up and down quite a bit. It's a frustrating thing but it only rears itself in very specific situations.
The gas tank is quite small.
The steering has zero feel.
I still don't like the principal of having exhaust sounds piped through the speakers, but dammit if it doesn't do an incredible job of fooling you into thinking it's coming from outside.
The brakes work fantastic, but the pedal feel is lacking, so that you might not get the impression that the car will come a stop when you're slowing from 150 kph, but they do not fail.
It is stupid, stupid easy to knock the open trunk button with your foot when climbing into the car. I must have done this half a dozen times already, not knowing until I pull away and the chime goes off to tell you the trunk is open.
Pics?
And of course, the ever important proof...
aka Cock car no.2
Ordered on Aug 2, 2014.
Got it on Dec 19, 2014.
Gurning like a complete idiot ever since.
I LOVE this car. Quick refresher... I never intended to get one. I was just having fun last summer test driving various vehicles, and if there was any BMW I had my eye on, it was the 435i. Turns out that car is a dud as far as driving dynamics go, and this one is the complete and utter winner. It's by far the best car I have driven since... possibly since ever. It's a lease, but if I feel about this car in 3 years time anywhere close to where I do now, I cannot see how I won't buy it out/purchase a new one. It *is* that good.
Pros.
- Fantastic engine. Turbo charged 3-litre straight six. Worth every penny of the premium over the cheaper turbo four. Possibly the best engine in the world? A bit too quiet, for what you *do* hear, it sounds glorious, and the "synthetic sound" from the speakers is so damn subtle you swear it's coming from the exhaust outside. If you open the windows, it is.
The power is stupid. Turning off all the e-nannies and putting foot to firewall will result in an uncomfortable crab walk as the back end desperately seeks (and fails to get) traction. Doing the same thing in a turn will either cause you to look live a driving god or poo will come out. From a roll, the power is glorious and addicting. Passing multiple cars on a tight two-lane backroad will repeatedly induce cackles and laughter. The torque plateau is ungodly, and it convinces you this car has two more cylinders under the hood. Lag is (microscopically) perceptible.- Transmission. This is the ZF 8-speed auto. It is *not* a dual clutch, but that distinction is nearly academic as far as performance goes. It's certainly more responsive than the dual clutches in VAG cars, and even Porsche's vaunted PDK left me unimpressed after sampling the 8AT in this car. Leaving it in auto is great for those early mornings when I'm cold an barely awake and just want to get to my destination in comfort. Putting it in manual mode gets you the full paddle-shift jollies, and the car will let you bang it off redline repeatedly if you let it. I do like how it automatically will still downshift for you if you let revs dip below 1000 (like when coming to a stop). You can also downshift multiple gears at once by just holding the paddle for longer than normal. It is with this transmission that I will happily stop driving three pedal cars. You might not like it (Priz), but I love it.
- Steering and handling. Laser precision. Weighted quite nicely. I'm convinced I could pull off Stig's trick of hitting an apple with a precise wheel. Nothing more needs to be said (but there is a con, see below). Suspension is also generally very, very smooth.
- Interior. It's not a lux car, but it's the nicest interior I've ever had in my own car. I optioned the brown leather seats and the wood grain inserts, and I love it. The plastics are low sheen, and soft in texture. Rick would love it. More importantly though, are the actual contour of the seats (perfect) and your relationship with all of the available controls. The current version of iDrive is quite easy to work (though I still dislike this sort of thing in principal). The M steering wheel feels perfect in your hands. And for a small(ish) coupe, there is decent rear seat room. I'm 5'11, 220lbs, and I *can* get back there, but I wouldn't personally want anyone that size there for long. Good for younger kids or for spouses,, but even then not for long trips. The sunroof is quite large, too.
- Toys. Bluetooth, USB, Harmon Kardon stereo upgrade, and honestly a fantastic "wide screen", high-def Nav screen. I think I may never get another car without memory seats again if I know my wife has even the slightest chance of driving it. The heated seats are wonderful, and the heated steering wheel is now, too, a must in any car. Necessary from November to March on chilly mornings.
- Exterior. Classic BMW proportions, especially from the side. I love the headlight treatment. I got Mineral White metallic, so it shimmers in low-light. My wife adores that paint.
Cons.
The suspension's one weakness is secondary rebound. If you're on a road with a lot of undulations and oscillations (not pavement breaks) your head will bop up and down quite a bit. It's a frustrating thing but it only rears itself in very specific situations.
The gas tank is quite small.
The steering has zero feel.
I still don't like the principal of having exhaust sounds piped through the speakers, but dammit if it doesn't do an incredible job of fooling you into thinking it's coming from outside.
The brakes work fantastic, but the pedal feel is lacking, so that you might not get the impression that the car will come a stop when you're slowing from 150 kph, but they do not fail.
It is stupid, stupid easy to knock the open trunk button with your foot when climbing into the car. I must have done this half a dozen times already, not knowing until I pull away and the chime goes off to tell you the trunk is open.
Pics?
And of course, the ever important proof...
Last edited:
guess I should update my thread with the little things I changed...
