AUTO (italian mag) tested the 35i

[siscobmw]

they think it is now more a gt car than a sport roadster....
they say that rear is glued to the tarmac...the odd is that it has always a lot of understeer...they tested it at Balocco race circuit: 3 minutes , 02 sec,02cents....the old 3.0Si coupe did it in 3:02, 56.a tad better, but they wrote that the car weighs 180-200 kgs more, there's a lot of understeer and the DKG sometimes is worse than a common manual gearbox, despite the double clutch unit is really one of the best.for example, z4 M roadster did it in 2.56mins....and so did the TTS coupe...the test car had the M adaptive suspensions...

now I give you the data of the test , then i tell you ratings about the car....

The test car was 1598kgs

max speed 255,7km/h
0-100km/h in 5,14 secs
80km/h to 120 in 3.46 secs
80km/h to 160 in 8.59
73.3dB at 130km/h(boxsters S My 2009 did 76db)
at 130km/h 10,012km/liter(about 30mpg with GB gallons)
town 8.1km/liter
90km/h costant speed 14.4km/l
brakes: 100km/h-0 in 33.9 meters 160-0 in 89.9 meters(similar to boxster S but brakes suffer from fading before Porsche brakes system)...

I hope that this helps....
Francesco from Italy

[EdP]

Thanks SiscoBMW,

Some details about weight of the E85/E89 models.
I assume the under steer is the typical character of the nose heavy 35i.

Z4 E85 3.0si roadster 1385Kg
Weight distribution: front 50,2% (695Kg) rear 49,8% (690Kg)

35i Dkg 1600kg
Weight distribution: front 49,2% (787Kg) rear 50,8% (813Kg)

30i Manual 1490kg
Weight distribution: front 48% (715Kg) rear 52% (775Kg)

35i +72Kg heavier at the front wheels than the 30i. And in comparison with an E85 92kg!

EdP

[siscobmw]

I have a 30i and there's understeer, but not that much the writer noticed.....
I had a 3.0Si and I don't feel a big difference....
I wait for a 30i test drive....
Francesco

[sammyz]

Having driven the 35i for about a 45 minute test drive on twistie A and B roads i would agree it's more GT than roadster. The overall feel from the car is detached and a little underwhelming after driving my previous 2.5si and now thw 'M'. The DCT gearbox is great technically but only adds to the detached feel of the car.

I think it's a good looker and the interior is far better than the previous car's. I would certainly consider buying one in the future but I know it will be a totally different and in many ways poorer driving experience from the 'M'.