M135i Test drive....

[Cupra_Jay_300]

Hi folks,

I have 8 months left on my current Leon Cupra 290 Lux lease so I naturally started looking at its successor. As this is my second Cupra in 4 years I was keen to try something different and perhaps something outside the VAG umbrella. Practicality and performance being the two biggest wants means I knew I wanted to stay in a hatchback.

This led me to watch an unhealthy amount of YouTube videos on the M135i and with some favourable lease plans currently available got myself a test drive booked in at my local BMW dealership.

As I turned up to BMW yesterday I was greeted by a stunning M135i in the best colour, Misano Blue and it even had the M-Performance bits added, including forged carbon wing mirrors and diffuser. There is no doubt these cars look the par, the back end of these cars is awesome! Even inside it is lightyears ahead of the Cupra in terms of fit and finish, but you wouldn't expect anything less from a premium brand right?

Press to start engine, the car burbles into life and I head off in comfort mode... for now. The drive is sharp, you can tell it feels so much heavier than the Cupra and is planted to the floor. A few miles down the road and the engine is nice and warm, engage sport mode! Huh, did I press the button correctly? Yep sport mode is definitely switched on. Where is the drama? The noise? The sense of occasion? It just doesn't have any character. I really put this car through its paces for an hour and I just didn't like it at all. Did it feel faster than the Cupra? No, was it as fun? Nowhere near. You can really tell the difference between the dual-clutch system in the Cupra and the single-clutch in the BMW, its nowhere near as sharp. Combine this with the M135's engine which seems to be surprised when you hit the accelerator it just seemed to lack urgency with how it delivers its power.

I think the sales rep thought I was pulling his leg when I said id sooner keep the Cupra than drive a 135i, but that's honestly how I felt. So now I am left scratching my head on what's next. I really don't like the Golf 8 and I am put off by the new Leon Cupra as it shares the same buttonless cockpit and woeful infotainment system as the Golf. Definitely a lot more head-scratching to do.

What have other forum members switched to recently?

 

[xyz]

Hi folks,

I have 8 months left on my current Leon Cupra 290 Lux lease so I naturally started looking at its successor. As this is my second Cupra in 4 years I was keen to try something different and perhaps something outside the VAG umbrella. Practicality and performance being the two biggest wants means I knew I wanted to stay in a hatchback.

This led me to watch an unhealthy amount of YouTube videos on the M135i and with some favourable lease plans currently available got myself a test drive booked in at my local BMW dealership.

As I turned up to BMW yesterday I was greeted by a stunning M135i in the best colour, Misano Blue and it even had the M-Performance bits added, including forged carbon wing mirrors and diffuser. There is no doubt these cars look the par, the back end of these cars is awesome! Even inside it is lightyears ahead of the Cupra in terms of fit and finish, but you wouldn't expect anything less from a premium brand right?

Press to start engine, the car burbles into life and I head off in comfort mode... for now. The drive is sharp, you can tell it feels so much heavier than the Cupra and is planted to the floor. A few miles down the road and the engine is nice and warm, engage sport mode! Huh, did I press the button correctly? Yep sport mode is definitely switched on. Where is the drama? The noise? The sense of occasion? It just doesn't have any character. I really put this car through its paces for an hour and I just didn't like it at all. Did it feel faster than the Cupra? No, was it as fun? Nowhere near. You can really tell the difference between the dual-clutch system in the Cupra and the single-clutch in the BMW, its nowhere near as sharp. Combine this with the M135's engine which seems to be surprised when you hit the accelerator it just seemed to lack urgency with how it delivers its power.

I think the sales rep thought I was pulling his leg when I said id sooner keep the Cupra than drive a 135i, but that's honestly how I felt. So now I am left scratching my head on what's next. I really don't like the Golf 8 and I am put off by the new Leon Cupra as it shares the same buttonless cockpit and woeful infotainment system as the Golf. Definitely a lot more head-scratching to do.

What have other forum members switched to recently?

What’s your budget if you don’t mind me asking? Secondhand or brand new?


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[Cupra_Jay_300]

What’s your budget if you don’t mind me asking? Secondhand or brand new?


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

For the last 4 years I have tended to go down the route of personal leasing as it just suits me best. With that being said its new cars I am looking at on a 1+35 payment scheme. I have set myself a budget of £450 a month on that basis which is up from the £330 I am currently paying on the Cupra which includes maintenance and servicing.

 

[Rich.T]

AMG A class?

 

[Mad Spoons]

I am in the same boat. I have 7 months left and had my heart set on a formentor until the prices went through the roof, the Leon just doesn’t do it for me and the ateca interior is dated now. I had a look at a 235i yesterday and as much as it’s a nice place to sit and looked great, it felt tiny inside.
Other things on the list are a35, cla35, octavia vrs, i30n fastback. I want something quickish and practical (7 and 8 year old) as I suspect it might be my last ICE car to enjoy it while You can.

 

[xyz]

For the last 4 years I have tended to go down the route of personal leasing as it just suits me best. With that being said its new cars I am looking at on a 1+35 payment scheme. I have set myself a budget of £450 a month on that basis which is up from the £330 I am currently paying on the Cupra which includes maintenance and servicing.

I’m not familiar with leasing as I’ve always bought outright or used a loan. I chucked in a fairly hefty deposit then borrowed the rest for my M440i which is on a 70 plate so nearly new. I actually used a couple of 0% credit cards for the money so apart from the balance transfer fee, it’s an interest free loan.


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[Cupra_Jay_300]

AMG A class?

Killer cars but I just dont think I could stand looking at that dashboard inside it!

 

[Rich.T]

Ive never seen the dash 1st hand in them so cant comment on it.
But the cars look beautifull from outside and im not a Merc fan.
Id like a go in one and if i like it, the chance to buy one before the inevitable happens (buying an EV).

 

[Cuprabenwytm]

Amg a class is the next for me

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[Firaxis]

What have other forum members switched to recently.

I couldn't make my mind up this time around, I went into a Cupra dealers and kept cycling between a Formentor / Leon E-Hybrid 245 / Leon 300 and a BMW 128ti. Ended up with the 300 because simply put they had a freshly imported car within their franchise stock hence no lengthy waiting times.

Coming from a 340HP BMW M140i I must admit at the moment it feels extremely underpowered. Although some cars just need a decent run in period and that might apply to the BMW you tested as well. Even after driving it for a hundred miles the car has shown signs of improvement, the brakes are starting to bite harder and the engine feels a bit torquier. Yes, I know the M140i has more power and quite a bit more torque but I also test drove a pre-reg Mk3 Cupra and it had more than enough on offer.

The rest of the car is a bit of a mixed bag but I'm adapting so I'd take this initial limited purview with a pinch of salt, the handling is quite frankly stunning and has that centre of gravity shifting confidence inspiring effect. On the other hand I find the infotainment, dash notifications and function controls on the Ipad irritating at best, the ride can be excessively twitchy even in comfort and tyre noise would be pretty poor for a convertible. Slight exaggeration there of course but it isn't great, that being said the M140i felt like it was in Cupra mode at all times. Fortunately it wasn't the only car I had access to at the time.

The seats are comfortable, there's plenty of space and besides one or two glaring issues with the tech systems I'm getting used to it. Thing is despite a few irksome notes as an all rounder I don't think there's anything better on the market, M135i included. The Cupra has some character and it is fun to drive, I think I'll either grow to love it or end up doing everything in my power to get rid. There's no middle ground here and only time will tell..