WHEELS magazine rates 135i Coupe

[Guran]

Just got home from work to find the Nov 2008 issue of WHEELS magazine in my letterbox. As usual, I quickly ripped off the wrapper in the hope of finally discovering that WHEELS had done a proper road test of the 135i Coupe. Oh Lordy, at last thy time has come! This issue features a 10-page road test comparison of the 135i Coupe, Audi TTS, Mazda RX-8 GT and Nissan 350Z Track. The first three were awarded four stars (out of five) vs three & a half for the Datsun. But the overall winner ....

"If pressed, though, and taking nothing from the TTS, the RX-8 GT and the 350Z, each of which has quantifiable attractions, the 135i Sport commands the widest appeal. Combining keen pricing, thrilling performance, polished refinement and inspiringly accomplished handling with snug yet realistically adult rear digs, the 135i Sport answers the question about which coupe is hardest to go past as a born-to-drive all-rounder."

:thumbup::thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:

Performance test results for the 135i:
0-60,80,100,120,140km/hr in 2.8,4.2,5.6,7.6,9.7s
0-400m in 13.8s @ 168km/hr
80-120km/hr in 3rd,4th,5th,6th in 3.7,4.9,5.8,7.0s

These times were neck & neck with the TTS, but the Audi lost some time to 100km/hr and 140km/hr because of gear-changes into 3rd and 4th respectively, whereas the 135i held a lower gear past those speeds.

Before people shout and scream about these times being slower than those published elsewhere, please keep in mind that WHEELS do their tests with two people on board and at least three-quarters of a tank of fuel (I think that's right). A passenger should add about 0.3s to the 0-100km/hr and 0-400m times for the 135i.

Pros: "Engine's power/refinement; balanced handling; proper 4-seater"

Cons: "More like a two-door sedan, rather then true sports coupe; no spare"

The review was written by Mike McCarthy who is the motoring journo that I hold in the highest esteem considering that he has personally road tested well over one thousand different cars in the 36 years that he's been writing for WHEELS magazine.

So good news for 1addicts. Now I'm off to read the article in detail.

[Carlos]

mate nice review and that is what all of us know, the 135 is one of the best allrounders money can buy. Now I'm off to buy the magazine and read the article:thumbup::thumbup:

[SimonB]

Excellent, thanks Guran. Sales will go up again, I expect... If the world doesn't end tomorrow, that is!

[harpoon]

Cool thanks mate. Surprising that Wheels and not Motor did this comparison first. I shall reward them with my hard earned $8.

[cozza]

Originally Posted by harpoon

Cool thanks mate. Surprising that Wheels and not Motor did this comparison first. I shall reward them with my hard earned $8.

Either way, the money goes to ACP Magazines, and therefore Mr. Packer Jnr.

[Guran]

The article goes on to explain that the acceleration runs were done with only two or three runs down the main straight at Oran Park ... so there's easily potential for a tenth or two improvement on their times.

[Guran]

Originally Posted by harpoon

Cool thanks mate. Surprising that Wheels and not Motor did this comparison first. I shall reward them with my hard earned $8.

MOTOR have already twice tested the 135i Coupe: Performance Car Round 1 Qualifiers (Jul 08), and Bang For Your Bucks (Sep 08). It will also be in the next issue of MOTOR (Dec 08) which is the final of Performance Car 08.

[harpoon]

Yes I realise that but they are yet to do a 135-specific story. They give us a 6 page review of the newest ford/holden every month but I consider the 135 (though biased) to be quite a big release for 08 in the affordablish performance car market.

It sounds like the Wheels story might be a bit more focused whereas the motor stories are never very detailed in the BFYB or PCOY.

My earlier comment is moot anyway since I have a 2 yr subscription to Motor haha.

[Guran]

Originally Posted by harpoon

Yes I realise that but they are yet to do a 135-specific story. They give us a 6 page review of the newest ford/holden every month but I consider the 135 (though biased) to be quite a big release for 08 in the affordablish performance car market.

It sounds like the Wheels story might be a bit more focused whereas the motor stories are never very detailed in the BFYB or PCOY.

My earlier comment is moot anyway since I have a 2 yr subscription to Motor haha.

If you've not already seen the WHEELS article, then prepare for some disappointment. It actually doesn't say all that much about the 135i, other than a paragraph or two on it's spec / layout and engine performance, then a paragraph on the handing side of things. There's not much more detail than what you see in BFYB or PCOTY.