What to replace an F21 M135i manual with?

[M1k3yC]

I have a 2016 F21 M135i manual in white. It's one of the last M135i manuals (bought it new) and I've had it over 3 years. I love it, but I don't do a lot of driving now or have access to the kind of roads where I can open it up. To be honest, really opening it up on public roads is pretty irresponsible anyway. I'm thinking about going back to a smaller hot hatch as it should be more fun at lower speeds and a bit cheaper to run (for me the insurance, tax, and running costs would likely be modestly lower). I don't normally take passengers in the rear (but the option is nice), don't require much practicality and don't have a family.

What does everyone think I should get? To keep things simple, consider the budget as around £20k (somewhat flexible) and ignore the trade-in on the M-lite.

I should add that I owned an R56 Mini Cooper S for 4 years, have driven an F56 Mini Cooper S several times, and test drove an Audi S1 before buying the M135i. The only vehicle I haven't driven at all in any variation (in the poll) is the 595. I'll still have my Z4 Coupe for rear wheel drive fun.

 

[LeeZ4MR]

I've had a F56 Mini Cooper S 3dr for over 2 years now and I absolutely love it down a twisty country road. It has been one of the most fun cars I've had. So I'll suggest the
F56 JCW.

I'm also a big fan of the Audi S1 but I'm guessing that the extra weight and 4wd would make it slightly less fun maybe?

 

[enuff_zed]

I voted 595, purely because it is something different, sounds mad and you'd feel more individual in it.

I also find it hard to believe that if you braked hard from high speed it wouldn't just roll end over end down the road. :lol:

 

[LeeZ4MR]

I voted 595, purely because it is something different, sounds mad and you'd feel more individual in it.

I also find it hard to believe that if you braked hard from high speed it wouldn't just roll end over end down the road. :lol:

I really like them, but if you are a tall bloke then you end up looking a bit daft behind the wheel like a curled up banana!! :lol:

I wouldn't have a problem though because I'm only a short arse 5"8'!

 

[enuff_zed]

I voted 595, purely because it is something different, sounds mad and you'd feel more individual in it.

I also find it hard to believe that if you braked hard from high speed it wouldn't just roll end over end down the road. :lol:

I really like them, but if you are a tall bloke then you end up looking a bit daft behind the wheel like a curled up banana!! :lol:

I wouldn't have a problem though because I'm only a short arse 5"8'!

I think a lot of the attraction for me is that they had the audacity to actually make it!

 

[LeeZ4MR]

I voted 595, purely because it is something different, sounds mad and you'd feel more individual in it.

I also find it hard to believe that if you braked hard from high speed it wouldn't just roll end over end down the road. :lol:

I really like them, but if you are a tall bloke then you end up looking a bit daft behind the wheel like a curled up banana!! :lol:

I wouldn't have a problem though because I'm only a short arse 5"8'!

I think a lot of the attraction for me is that they had the audacity to actually make it!

That is true!

As you also mention they do sound really lovely and fruity. 8)

 

[Silverzedtom]

I voted for the Mini, although as you may notice I am a little biased.

It would be between the Mini and the Abarth for me (just not a fan of the A/S1’s visually).

I’ve only test driven an Abarth but found it very firm and a little crashy. I probably could have put up with it if wasn’t going to be a daily driver but the car wouldn’t have been used for spirited driving all the time. My other half used to own a standard Fiat 500 and the build quality was a little shoddy in places with dash rattles and just felt a little cheap... put me off Fiats a little.

We went for a 5 door S in the end. Build quality is second to none, the adaptive suspension is great for all types of driving, it corners well and is just great fun to drive in general. It makes light work of everything I’ve thrown it’s way. I’m not fully clued up on the tweaks to the jcw, but if the inferior S is anything to go by for me it has to be the Mini

 

[M1k3yC]

Some good input so far, thanks. The Abarth has a certain appeal because of the exhaust and the fact it's the more unusual option. However, I am concerned about the build quality and being able to live with it. I have to drive one, of course, but what [ref]Silverzedtom[/ref] said about the 500/Abarth doesn't surprise me.

I preferred my R56 Cooper S to the current F56, but the F56 is definitely the better car objectively. I drove my ex's F56 quite a bit so have done more than just test drive one. On my R56 I had issues with the timing chain and panoramic roof that cost me a lot of money. The panoramic roof was never the same again and one of the reasons I got rid of the car (the other being it was replaced by my Z4!). If I hadn't been put off by reliability with the R56 I'd be very tempted by this:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201909272685425

When I test drove the Audi S1 a few years ago I was impressed and it's the quickest car (on paper and in the real world due to the quattro). You could really take liberties with it. However, I tend to agree that it's probably less fun than the other two. I'll try and get some test drives in over the next couple of weeks and keep this thread alive with updates.

 

[buzyg]

Of those it has to be the Fiat. Just more fun than the others.

 

[M1k3yC]

Of those it has to be the Fiat. Just more fun than the others.

I'll definitely give one a drive before making any decisions. Sounds to me like you might be holding back an alternative suggestion, though, so please share if that's the case!

 

[idej_z4]

Fiesta ST. Maybe not as unique or prestigious as the other brands, but if you're looking for the fun factor I believe there isn't much better. Had a quick drive in a freinds and it sure made me smile. So grippy. Plus the running cost etc also are very good.

 

[buzyg]

Of those it has to be the Fiat. Just more fun than the others.

I'll definitely give one a drive before making any decisions. Sounds to me like you might be holding back an alternative suggestion, though, so please share if that's the case!

Spookily enough I too was thinking of the little fast ford. A better drivers car than the Fiat.

 

[LeeZ4MR]

Agree and you never read a poor review of the Fiesta ST. They are great fun cars for sure.

 

[pvr]

The Abarth 595 is built in Poland actually and is very well built compared to the Fiat 500. No rattles at all and the chairs are something else. The exhaust of the Comp is lovely and so is the gearbox. You do set car alarms off in parking garages though when you drive through...

 

[R60BBA]

Golf R.

 

[pvr]

Golf R.

Fantastic car, but not really a cost saving element compared to the 135 ...

 

[M1k3yC]

[ref]idej_z4[/ref], did you drive the newest 3 cylinder ST or the previous gen 4 cylinder? I have considered the 4 cylinder and tried to test drive one a few years ago. Ford weren't interested because the car they had was not the spec I wanted (and therefore I wouldn't buy it), despite me being serious at the time about getting one and happy for that particular dealership to source it. That and the fact I've owned two Fords previously (2004 Focus and a 2007 Fiesta ST150) puts me off a bit. Both of those cars drove well, but neither felt all that special to me. I know that the newer Fiesta STs are an improvement, but there's so many Fiestas on the road.

[ref]R60BBA[/ref], yes, the Golf R is a nice vehicle but it's more car than I need. May as well stick with the M135i.

Interesting that the Audi isn't getting any love and several people think I should keep the M-lite.

 

[bmbardo]

I’ve owned an M135i and bought an R56 JCW for my wife. I’ve also got an Abarth 180 Comp on order.

I liked the Mini and enjoyed driving it, but we had it at the same time as the M135i and there was no comparison. The M135i is just streets ahead in every way.

After I sold my Z4C I bought an E92 M3 hoping it would deliver the same thrill as the M135i. It didn’t, it was the most disappointing car I’ve ever owned and the M135i was a much better car.

I’m looking forward to the 595, after 2 years with the Abarth 124 Spider. I had huge fun with the Spider, a great car with so much character. I hope the 595 delivers the same, but I know now that it won’t come anywhere near the M135i.

You may have guessed I voted to keep the M135i. An amazing all round package.

 

[Player 1]

You could get a lot of Toyota GT86 for £20k and you can drive the pants off it everywhere

 

[M1k3yC]

I've been tempted by a GT86 on and off. I can't really justify owning that and the Z4 Coupe because I think there is too much overlap in what they offer as rear wheel drive sports cars.

[ref]bmbardo[/ref], when do you get your 595? I got the impression it was a short lead time when you told me about it a few weeks ago. What was the reason you didn't go back to an M135i? Plenty on the secondhand market.

Something I haven't mentioned is that I want a sunroof. I've had a few cars with sunroofs and I miss having one. So a cheeky exhaust and sunroof are high up on the list! My M-lite was a bit of a compromise spec (for me) because I got it just before the M140i came in and I could only choose from a small number of prebuilt cars. Mine has Harmon Kardon, red leather, adaptive suspension, and a manual box (all good), but it's white (looks amazing only when very clean) and does not have a sunroof. Ideally I would have had blue with a sunroof, or even an M235i.