The cockpit was a level or two above MINI's.(+1) The sport seat was comfortable and supportive. The steering wheel was smaller than that of anything I have driven. Visibility was good all around but MINI's is better.

Starting the engine was the same. Right away, I started looking for the sport button as a habit. But there was no such thing.(+1) The shifter felt rubbery compared to the MINI's but I got used to the feel quickly. At first, it felt like I might brake it off if I wasn't careful. The gate to the Reverse gear had less resistance than the MINI. The clutch was very grabby but that was exaggerated by my foot lifting up too soon - 135i clutch has less travel.

I immediately noticed that the steering wheel had a very light feel (-1), but the handling around the curves was very nice and confident (+1). Thanks to the two extra cylinders the cruising RPM was noticeably lower than the MINI's. But even so, as far as I know, the 135i gas mileage is about 10 mpg poorer than MCS's(-1).

The car has some power and lots of it. I punched it in the 2nd gear and it just took off. I wish I could testdrive one without the salesperson next to me so that I can test it more aggressively. MSRP is ~$36500 (including dest. charge) and that's without any options. The demo car had a lot of options and I liked the smell of new leather.

When I got back in my MCS, I felt home again. But the interior looked soooo cheap!! My eyes had been spoiled!
I have mixed feelings about this now. As a kid, I swore to myself that I'd own a 300 hp car someday and I like how 135i looks so this could be my dream car. On the other hand, I am used to my MCS's light toseability. However, I hate the FWD characteristics of MINI during hard acceleration. 135i is like a large... sedan compared to my MCS. MCS has more of the tight glove feel to it. AND I will have about $150/mo more on the payment than what I pay now for the MCS. People are showing interest in my MCS ad on the craigslist and I am almost hoping that no one would be willing to pay my asking price so that I will have an excuse not to sell it for a 135i. (If someone pays me my asking price, I will go for it.) But then, I will have to find a dealer who will give me a deal that I can't refuse ... like < $1500 above invoice. And I will have to go look for an interim car as there is a 3 month wait just like the MINI's. Damn the MINI's for having an awesome resale value!!!!!!!! If our MINI's value dropped like rock, I wouldn't be having this dilemma. I would be automatically stuck with my MINI a lot longer... like until my payments are over.

I know you guys will try to make me stay with my MCS.

 

I'd go for the 135i in a heartbeat.

 

seeya, don't let the door hit you on the way out.

Have fun with the 135. I wish it were better looking. I can't get past its looks.

 

I drove one last night with exhaust, intercooler, blow of valve down pipe and all the intercooler pipes. I am impressed that car is fastttttttttt, Im still in shock 24 hrs later.

My 07 Cooper S with 205 whp and 230 tq felt like a turtle after the 135.

Next year I am searching for a 135 for me!!!

$36,500 in the states is nothing man, down here in Puerto Rico they start around $50,000.

 

Its funny you mention this, I've been looking for one of these on the road since they came out and havent seen one yet, until this morning. I didnt really like the way it looked in the mags, but I liked the looks on the street.

did i read that right? this car is selling above invoice? for a 1 series? there are very few cars that I know of that sell over invoice, like the new nissan gtr. but the 1 series?

 

My girlfriends dad pick a 135i convertible up not long ago.. awesome car.

Here in Aus it cost him around $94,000

 

I just drove a 135i last week and i LOVED it. The car def. had plenty of power and was quite quick in the lower gears. The seats were also very comfortable, and i loved the push start. I'd go for one.

 

I wanted a 335i convertible but I opted for half the car payment. And with the economy in its current state, I'm glad I chose the Mini. I don't like the lines of the 1 series, particularly the curve along the bottom door sills. The '08 3 series convertible looks great, but I drove a 328i and was bored, the Mini is much more fun. And the 335 is too expensive for me to justify.
The 135 is definitely a blast, but make sure you see the base interior before you order one.

 

I'm not letting myself test drive it...cuz then I'll start lusting for it. I want!

 

i'm waiting for the hatchback 1 series to come out. it looks like a beast.

 

I don't think the twin turbo engine is available for the 1 series hatch (Europe has 1 series hatch in 3 and 5 door versions). In any case, BMW wants to promote a premium image in the US and won't import the hatch.

 

I think you shoud keep your Mini. The economy is not in a good state obviously (which makes this the time to buy a car?), and I personally like the Mini more. It has character and charm that BMW does not, and will never offer. Before I got my Cooper S, I was strongly thinking about a 3 series. It was what I learned to drive in after all! But it didnt stand out the way Minis do. I think that compared to a Mini, the 1 kind of blends in.

BTW, as far as quality, I personally think its about the same as a Mini. Sure it has nicer finishes, but the overall quality of the interior is very similar. I also dont think that anyone REALLY buys a mini strictly on how powerful it is (not saying that you did). I mean, if thats what your going for, theres a LOT of cars that could smoke our Minis for the same or less money.

Obviously, the decision is up to you. For you, it may be time for something new. And a 1 is about as close to a Mini as you will get.

Just my .02 cents!

 

the 135 is a very very good car but you will get sick of the blistering fast numb feeling of the new bmw's. if you want something that is worth getting, get either a second hand e46 m3 or check out the second hand cayman/911/boxster's (with the economy now, the value of them are dropping like craaazy). personally, i think you will like those alternatives much more fun.

 

sure its a nice car. bmw make a bad car?

but are they fun to drive?

i have an is 350. feels like a cadillac, cushy and comfortable and fast as lighting.

but is it fun to drive?

nope.

 

As a new Mini owner, here's my two cents:

If I were in your position, I would stick with the Mini. No doubt, the 135 is a great car and very fast, but I think the Mini is more fun to drive due to its agility, tossability and feedback. I believe the 135 feels so great on test drives (which I test drove extensively) due primarily to the intense power rush, but after a while, you get used to the power and you don't get that same rush.

My story: I had an '05 330 ZHP (I still miss that car) which I sold to buy an '07 335 coupe. The test drives got me with the power rush (it is addicting, I know). I even added the Dinan software when it came out for more power. That car is now very fast, but it still didn't fill that certain something, so now I have an '08 M3 parked in the garage next to it. The M3 is a great car, but I still wanted something with more feel.

After getting vetoed on an elise, I recently picked up a '09 JCW. This car delivers that certain something. As a bonus, it gets great gas mileage, is fairly practical and has better depreciation than most cars.

Compared to the 335 or the M, I've never thought of the Mini's interior being cheap. I actually like it's charm.

 

I can't agree any less. The BMW's are great cars but do lack in feel. Don't get me wrong though, i still miss my old e46 330ci (didn't even care if it wasn't fast) and my friends e46 m3 he used to let me drive all the time but the newer BMW's just don't get me going like the older versions.

 

I just wanted to chim in on the fact that 135 is seriously quick...

honestly, if i had an e92 m3 (v8) and someone wanted to race me in a 135,
I would get nervous...

 

I have a e46 M3 and a 06 330i...the interior of Mini isn't bad. I mean the Mini's interior is not as boring as Bimmer's...135i's interior isn't that exciting, and it's not THAT much better quality wise.

I bet 135i is quick...and there are tons of cars out there that are seriously quick, much quicker than Mini...but are they as fun to drive? The characteristic of Mini's go-kart like handling is really something else...

Plus, if you get a 135i now...look at the depreciation you will see in a year, vs. keeping your Mini for another year...

 

I'm considering a 135i as a MINI replacement in a couple of years. I just wish it looked better than it does. It looks fine from the front and back (though a little boring), but I dislike the inverted arch down the side. The speed may be enough to win out over it's boring appearance, but I may opt for a factory JCW instead. Or perhaps I'll just keep my MCS JCW.

 

could the detached feeling of the new bimmers because of the electronic steering? don't they all have steering by wire?

 

I looked at a 135i, just couldn't get over the price Someone mentioned $36k for one? Not here, The coupes were mid $40k and the convertibles were right at +$49k. Thats insane. BMW guy said to get one with just the basics, yea right, they NEVER sell them that way. Guess you would have to order one? I'm sure they are fast, but come on? Plus I would not subject my kids to that joke of a rear seat, my Mini has more room .

 

One way to look at any machine is they are a package of compromises and the "perfect" car is one whose compromises best match the driver's desires. If you want power, you have to give up on fuel economy. If you want space, the car you need will be bigger and heavier. The list goes on and on.

If the 135i matches what you want better than the Mini, then get the 135i. If you're undecided about the 135i, that's an indication that some of the qualities of the Mini still match your desires. It's a difficult judgement call, but in the end, you're the only person who knows which car will best meet your desires.

 

Nobody has drive-by-wire steering. That would imply no mechanical linkage whatsoever. Current cars mini included, use electrically power assisted, but the mechanical linkage is still there. On an auto show I saw a drive by wire prototype and you could literally slide the steering wheel to the other side and let the passenger drive, no mechanical linkage.

On another note, I'd vote to keep the mini.

 

I saw a 1 series on the road today, all black--WOW what a gorgeous car, it has great lines! At the same time it never struck me as a "chick car". If I had an extra $5K laying around when I picked up the MCS I'd probably be a 135 owner right now.

 

135 is a nice car but still too heavy/floaty, too much body roll even compared to the Mini S which already has way too much body roll. The power is tempting though, 300 hp and close to 400 flywheel hp with some bolt ons. The price is too high though, if it was 32K new with no options I'd consider it but it's not worth parting with the Lotus to get one.