Standard 135i is $72000 plus on road. It is still value for money for a fast BMW.

 

for only about 5g more you can get a 3 series, that was my decision point in choosing. but if your going for pure straight performance, then the 1 is the way to go. if you like neato cool factor stuff and turning get the 370, I particularly like its auto-rev matching feature for downshifting, being 6'5" heel toe is difficult for me.

 

I do love that auto-revmatching feature in the 370Z..

 

Hi Matt
Do it yourself you slacker!
You shouldn't be driving a sports car if you can't.
Peter Finlay's Advanced Driving Courses are very big on heel/toeing.
Just joking Matt.
Cheers
Len

 

You know I like to blame my car and not myself. It is always the cars fault, not the inexperienced driver!

 

A real man will blame their tool! haha.

I will not get an inferior car just to get a 3 series.
335 is about 130-140K.
The interior of the new 370z is much better this time but it ain't the same style as the 1 series (which is pretty normal and just like a 1 series).

I will still get 1 series over 370z.

Let you a secret... I think 135 has more power than the listed 225kW.

 

No better example of reaming by BMW than this car.
In the US the retail price is $6000 more than the 135i.

That would be about $81000 compared to the 135 at $72000.
Of course the 135 should be $66000 based on the equivalent price of the RX8 in the US.

Audi are possibly worse.

If we drove on the right we could import our own and end the rip-off.

 

You are not wrong Audi TTS is a rip off...

Can't compare US with Australian some how because it is a different production line for the left hand drive. Cost their deal to set up the line is different from us. Germany is left handers... so it of course will get some better deals.

Too complicated.

But UK gets nearly identical car to us. And their Audi TTS is only 32000 pounds or 72000AUD! Who will pay nearly $79000 plus GST and that is $86000+ on road and LCT. They split GST out to make it look better but most car company listed their base price GST included.

http://www.audi.com.au/etc/medialib/....0072.File.pdf

I think Nissan will do the same for their 370Z... no price yet?

 

Audi prices a rip-off?!! Perhaps so, when you compare list RRPs. But Audi dealers discount, something BMW dealers rarely ever do, except on demo stock.

I'd reckon you could buy a manual TTS for similar money OTR as the 135i. But then you've already been gazumped

 

Here's a US comparo of the new 370Z with 135i and RX8 for a good measure (and also Solstice coupe) ...

http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/...st__1/(page)/1

And here are the (tabulated) results ...
http://www.caranddriver.com/content/...al+Results.pdf

And specs / performance data ...
http://www.caranddriver.com/content/...Powertrain.pdf
http://www.caranddriver.com/content/...ro_Vehicle.pdf

 

Interesting discussion.

The 370Z is a non-starter for me because I need 4 seats and, well, I think it's got a hugely fat ****.

The 135i v RX8 question is more difficult. As the comparo posted above demonstrates, the RX8 is still a winner in the handling stakes but loses out on power, torque and economy. Meanwhile, the 135i is a jet but looks a bit awkward, has heavier handling, isn't as well packaged for 4 and costs a lot more.

If Mazda's direct injection rotary can cure the power/torque/economy deficit and they don't bugger up the styling too badly, they'll have another niche winner on their hands. For now, it's resting on increasingly faded laurels.

Btw, I've also decided that the TT looks too much like a girl's car and although I love the S3 I just can't go back to hatchbacks.

Yep, the Revolvermobile is staying put for now...and a 996 911 is looking more and more like its replacement...

 

Matt,

I have the VIN for 135 already but this is what happening to Jan production. Ship takes more than a month to come to Melbourne!

BREMERHAVEN GERMANY 10/02/2009 12/02/2009
SOUTHAMPTON UNITED KINGDOM 14/02/2009 14/02/2009
LE HAVRE FRANCE 15/02/2009 15/02/2009
ZEEBRUGGE BELGIUM 16/02/2009 17/02/2009
BALTIMORE, MD U.S.A. 25/02/2009 26/02/2009
SAVANNAH, GA U.S.A. 28/02/2009 28/02/2009
MANZANILLO PANAMA 04/03/2009 04/03/2009
PAPEETE FRENCH POLYNESIA 16/03/2009 16/03/2009
AUCKLAND NEW ZEALAND 22/03/2009 22/03/2009
NOUMEA NEW CALEDONIA 25/03/2009 25/03/2009
BRISBANE AUSTRALIA 27/03/2009 28/03/2009
PORT KEMBLA AUSTRALIA 30/03/2009 31/03/2009
MELBOURNE AUSTRALIA 02/04/2009 03/04/2009
FREMANTLE AUSTRALIA 07/04/2009 08/04/2009
KOBE, JAPAN JAPAN 27/04/2009 27/04/2009

And another month to Japan!

Order yours early!

 

both those cars are great,...
but Matt,... if you want speed and lightweightness,... keep the rotor, buy a yamaha R1,

and then save up for a nissan GTR might take a while longer, but it will be worth it i`d imagine :P

who knows, they might be about to get a whole lot cheaper all of a sudden, looking at the sales figures for japan, 69% fall in auto sales last month !!!!

if you want the beemer as much as you wanted the rx8, then there`d be your answer

 

I'd kill myself on a motorbike. 0-200 in ten seconds. I would find ten seconds spare far too often and die. If not by my own hand then by one of the millions of terrible drivers out there!
I like the GTR but wouldn't get anything that doesn't have a clutch pedal. I know that the dsg style transmissions are faster these days blah, blah ,blah but I will keep buying cars with clutches until they stop making them. Call me old fashioned but I like to drive the car and not have it drive me. Also, I can't anywhere near afford a GTR so that helps..

 

matt,... your so old fashioned

 

The GTR will end up about the same or cheaper than the BMW 135i with the packs anyway.

 

It was time to trade my RX8 and I decided to go with the 125i.
Extremely happ with it.

 

Good for you!

Why not the 135i though???

 

Yeah, I reckon the 125 might be great value and an excellent drive, especially if you have no plans to track (and most BMW drivers don't). Comes in under the LCT, you can get some nice options, de-badge it and no-one would ever know

 

Why exactly would you want to debadge a BMW?

 

Coz the 125i is around $20,000 cheaper.
The 125 is also cheaper than an RX8 luxury or GT.

 

Yeah ... I must say, if I had a choice between the 125 and the NEW RX8 ... I'd choose the BMW.

There's something about the new RX8 that feels cheap.

 

The only attractive thing about the 1 series to me is the 3.5 twin turbo...but I agree the 'new' RX8 isn't doing it for me either...

 

I would de-badge the 135i if I got it. I have always debadged my cars but couldn't with the RX8 because of the holes that are left behind them. I think badges are tacky and a good way for ******* to show off. I know what model of car I am driving and don't need to check the back each day to remember. It is free advertising for the car company and just gets in the way when you wash your car. BMW have a "Model Deletion" option where they debadge your car for you before you get it.

 

More car companies should have that option, but only higher companies and not lower. Like if you de-badge your Toyota corolla, who cares? If anything it makes the car look worse.

But something like the Bmw M5 or M6 would be great, as they have too many stickers saying M///