patently Posted September 16, 2015 Report Share Posted September 16, 2015 Quick chance to jot down some thoughts after the day at Thruxton today. First, my main objective of the day was accomplished, I've done about 15 laps around the track and picked out the cues for turning points and apexes, ready for the next race. BMW's objective (of persuading me to buy one of their cars) probably hasn't been. Anyway.... there were 5 activities: First off to the off-road course in X3s, which proved very capable. Unexpectedly so, I had the X3 pegged as a soft-ish-roader but it goes up muddy hills and down crumbly tracks and through rivers without killing you, rolling over, or getting stuck. Next off to the pit lane to try the "BMW range" which today consists of M5 or M4 coupe, M135i and M235i. We're on our own in the cars but in a line behind a pace car (an X5 40d M Sport) with an instructor in it. Top tip - choose the car at the back of the queue... oh, have I fallen behind, oh dear I'd better catch up. Apparently there was a 70mph limit but the instructors have a memory that lasts about as far as the pit exit. Of the M cars, I took the M4, which has a lovely pull but is big and heavy and a little clinical. M135i and M235i are both adorable but difficult to heel & toe in. Then off to... the other end of the pit lane where we go out in M3s or M4s with instructors next to us to rein us in but no pace car. I told the instructor in the M4 that I was racing there in a fortnight, and he told me to get a move on. So I did but the car is still in one piece . I've no idea what the car was like because I was looking at the track, sorry. It moved. Quickly. I didn't notice any foibles. This is bad - cars should have foibles, it makes them interesting. After we'd done that, there were "hot laps" with Andy Priaulx or Rob Collard in their race-prepped M235is. I got in next to Rob, and told him I was racing in a fortnight and not to hold back. He didn't, and it looks like my marker points around the circuit are right... fingers crossed. We got back to the pit lane and while the BMW girl was trying to pull me out of the car, Rob was talking me through the right attitude & approach for Thruxton, very very useful indeed Then lunch... nice. Salad-y stuff. Priaulx and Collard were interviewed. Priaulx got a cheer when he explained why he was starting the next race from the back of the grid. Then off to the skid pan where there were two activities. First off out in a pair of 435is, one RWD & one xDrive, so that we can compare driving around a corner with power but no grip. My drift in the RWD car was perfect of course. The xDrive one was a worse car because it just coped and took all the fun out of it. No wheelspin and much less silly sideways action. I think their intended message was something else, but I had too much opposite lock on to listen. Mrs P's X1 is xDrive so that's good, the last thing I need is her learning to drift better than me. The other activity that started from the skid pan was a road drive in convoy in a long line of i3s. This car is an engineering marvel, a real accomplishment by BMW. It's also hateful and they should crush them all. I wanted the i8 that was on a stage inside the building but they weren't letting that out. It really is beautiful in a way that the i3 just isn't. If it drives similarly to the i3 then that would be irritating but I'll let it off because it's beautiful and has doors that open wrong and no boot to speak of and is beautiful. Did I mention that the i8 looks good? Then off to a huge carpark with some cones and a pair of M135is. I'll just repeat that. A huge carpark with some cones and a pair of M135is It's lucky they slotted that in last for me, otherwise I'd have spent the day getting into trouble trying to change groups so that I could go back and do it again. Just the usual "drive into the cone maze to do an elk test, then drive in a circle around the cone to test the turning circle then do an emergency stop. By now it was pouring with rain - even better. We did the elk test and the instructor's reaction was "have you done that before?" Far too fecking often, mate, have you watched Caterham racing? Oh, and "test the turning circle"?? Yeah. We know what you mean. Serious moment: full-on emergency stop in an M135i in standing water is awe-inspiring, as is its handling through the elk test. Well done BMW, you are going to save people's lives While the other half of the group were doing that, we set off on the same road route as the i3s but in 6-ers, a mix of M6s and 650is. I went in the 650i, a thing that is as lovely as the i3 is hateful. I think that's the car I'd have nicked if I hadn't arrived in a car I liked. Overall, a really well organised day by BMW, in conjunction with the Bedford MSV team. Apparently they had £3M-worth of cars on site, and I can well believe them. I have never seen so many M cars in one day... 13 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garcon magnifique Posted September 16, 2015 Report Share Posted September 16, 2015 On 9/16/2015 at 9:32 PM, patently said: I've no idea what the car was like because I was looking at the track, sorry. You are forgiven. Sounds like a very useful way to learn the circuit an epic day's fun. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimdiesel Posted September 17, 2015 Report Share Posted September 17, 2015 Sound fantastic. Did you say hello to Dario? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patently Posted September 17, 2015 Author Report Share Posted September 17, 2015 Yes, he was there doing in-car video for the M3/M4 rides. Had a chance to say "Hi" and catch up a bit Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patently Posted September 17, 2015 Author Report Share Posted September 17, 2015 Funniest bit of the day was (without question) watching people in M4 coupes trying desperately to keep up with an instructor driving the X5 40d pace car... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimdiesel Posted September 17, 2015 Report Share Posted September 17, 2015 Excellent. Serious question. Is an M3/M4 worth twice the money of the M*35i? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patently Posted September 17, 2015 Author Report Share Posted September 17, 2015 On 9/16/2015 at 10:19 PM, garcon magnifique said: You are forgiven. On 9/17/2015 at 9:14 AM, jimdiesel said: Serious question. Is an M3/M4 worth twice the money of the M*35i? I ought really give a view on the M4, yes. It's a very capable car, looks great, is well designed* and well put together, and is properly quick. But it didn't grab me. I felt that it was a sensible corporate car that could also get a move on. If that's what you want - one car only, which can do all the usual things you want a car to do and can also go like the clappers when you want it to, then it would be a good choice. I wouldn't criticise anyone that chose it. But no, it's not worth twice the price of the M*35i. They were properly fun as well as being good cars; the only quibble I had was that the pedals were too far apart for heel & toe work. I'd take one of them in preference and spend the money on something else. *apart from the button on the steering wheel to switch on the speed limiter, which I kept knocking with my thumb. Very disconcerting as you fly past the pit wall for the dashboard to be shouting "SPEED LIMIT EXCEEDED!!" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garcon magnifique Posted September 17, 2015 Report Share Posted September 17, 2015 (edited) Thanks. Most interesting. Heart wants an M3 as an everyday car with that extra ability for when I feel like it and all the nice looks, trim, kit and trinkets it gets you. Head says there's no way it's worth the extra 25k over a decent spec M*35i. Haven't driven either yet, might get a go in one or both this weekend if I get round to contacting the dealer! Either way, it's a nice position to be in. M*35i is still a pretty bloody good fall back option if the sums don't add up or the head wins. Then again, I do keep seeing gorgeous 6 series GCs.... Edited September 17, 2015 by garcon magnifique 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mac Posted September 17, 2015 Report Share Posted September 17, 2015 On 9/17/2015 at 9:29 AM, patently said: It's a very capable car, looks great, is well designed* and well put together, and is properly quick. But it didn't grab me. I felt that it was a sensible corporate car that could also get a move on. If that's what you want - one car only, which can do all the usual things you want a car to do and can also go like the clappers when you want it to, then it would be a good choice. I wouldn't criticise anyone that chose it. Pleased I'm not the only one finding this. It just felt a little soulless to me, for that sort of money. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patently Posted September 17, 2015 Author Report Share Posted September 17, 2015 On 9/17/2015 at 12:05 PM, Mac said: Pleased I'm not the only one finding this. It just felt a little soulless to me, for that sort of money. Yep. I think it's telling that I had to think back to what my impressions of it were - I didn't get out of the car with any kind of "wow" feeling. It was just a quick & competent tool with which to check out the circuit. If I was a presenter of a TV programme that was trying to get cheap PR by being controversial, I'd say that the M4 was a nice German girl in sensible shoes and a twinset, not an Italian girl in a red dress and heels and there's-no-way-she-can-be-wearing-a-bra-under-that-surely. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garcon magnifique Posted September 17, 2015 Report Share Posted September 17, 2015 But you just know the Italian girl in the red dress is going to be really high maintenance. Much cheaper and less stressful to just look at someone else's. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NewNiceMrMe Posted September 17, 2015 Report Share Posted September 17, 2015 If I was to buy an M3, I'd buy the old V8 model. Everything is a little too numb in the new models. I thought the same of the M5. Epic, absolutely, but does it send shivers down your spine with the noise? Not really, and that's with the V8 in it. I would still buy one if it was a car that suited my needs, but I don't think there is any doubt that it doesn't give the feel I expected. The M4 looks great. I'd choose one over an M135i because I don't think many buyers think of a fun car and a non-fun car in the way it is suggested splitting the money above. However, I'd not get that far because I'd hear an old V8 M3 somewhere and realise how much nicer that sounded. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimdiesel Posted September 17, 2015 Report Share Posted September 17, 2015 You cannot compare cars to girls. I love taking all sorts of cars for a ride. They all have merit. Oh hang on. I still think the M135i is the best car BMW make. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mac Posted September 17, 2015 Report Share Posted September 17, 2015 I'd agree with the slight caveat *at that price point*. I think it's an incredible piece of machinery for the money. I'd have one over an M4...and I couldn't imagine saying that until I'd actually had a go in an M4. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Booster Posted September 17, 2015 Report Share Posted September 17, 2015 I have BMW coming to see me next week with some "incredible" lease offers. I will post them up when I get them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy_Bangle Posted September 17, 2015 Report Share Posted September 17, 2015 On 9/17/2015 at 12:31 PM, jimdiesel said: I still think the M135i is the best car BMW make. nah, the M235 ix or as it's soon to be, M240 ix Take one out for a test drive Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimdiesel Posted September 17, 2015 Report Share Posted September 17, 2015 You cannot get an xdrive in the UK sadly. It would fix the cars biggest failing which is straight line traction. I prefere the one series to the two series as it has a slightly looser rear end. It suits the car more. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy_Bangle Posted September 17, 2015 Report Share Posted September 17, 2015 I prefer a tighter rear, one that doesn't let go when you're least expecting it ... as for cars Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eldavo69 Posted September 17, 2015 Report Share Posted September 17, 2015 On 9/17/2015 at 4:21 PM, Andy_Bangle said: I prefer a tighter rear, one that doesn't let go when you're least expecting it ... as for cars A shame that those Russian birds didn't check for the same. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
E-bmw Posted September 18, 2015 Report Share Posted September 18, 2015 Jim, according to bmw website the 320i, 320d, 330d, & 335d are all available in different trim levels with x-drive in the UK. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimdiesel Posted September 18, 2015 Report Share Posted September 18, 2015 Yup along with numerous others. But the M1/235i is not at this moment in time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garcon magnifique Posted September 19, 2015 Report Share Posted September 19, 2015 Here's a question... Anybody know when the UK will get a 440i with the new B58 engine? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CarMad Posted September 20, 2015 Report Share Posted September 20, 2015 It seems it will stay as the 435i until the LCI next summer by the looks of things. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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