Topic: 2011 BMW 135i Cabriolet; Day 1

[Autos_Editor]

James hops out of the "badass" Mustang 5.0, trading it for a 2011 BMW 135i Cabriolet. Follow along as he "slums it" for a week in this sweet little Bavarian droptop.
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[pishtosh]

Wow.  White on red, rag top, no clutch, park assist.  Were there no 'men's sizes' in stock over at BMW?? 

Turbo lag comes up occasionally with respect to this engine, maybe you could give us your read on this, particularly with the automatic   transmission.

[quadzilla]

I love this car but make mine a coupe not cabrio.

Curious to see what you think of the DCT as I'm actually a fan of these.

[whaddaiknow]

Wonder who the target audience for this review is.
Apparently, this is not the first car in the family, more like 3rd or 4th - a summer toy.
With $60,000 available to spend on a summer toy, if they want one, they will buy it regardless of the reviewer's opinion.
Sure, at this price for a 1-series, it'd better exceed your expectations. But then again, even if it doesn't meet your expectations and it cost $100k, those who wanted one would still go ahead and bought it just to make a statement that they can.
Just like reviewing a Ferrari and commenting that the radio controls don't feel as smooth as the Lexus 460 which is completely irrelevant given the purpose of the car.

[dragonflyjack]

 Okay folks..here it is..the worlds most expensive compact.....and what a sporty one it is...complete with automatic tranny...
  Look at the new "sagging belly line" unique to BMW...Sixty biguns eh?   No thanks...dragonfly

[wing]

I don't think this is a summer only car, most are buying a 1-series as their daily driver.  Just because this is a convertible that does not change the fact.  First impressions are that this vehicle is extremely quiet for a convertible I suspect it would be no problem in the winter.

[Ex-airbalancer]

hottest week of the year (so far) with daily highs reaching 37 degrees with 44-degree humidex. It is not really convertible weather,

Top down, air on perfect temp for driving around

I am surpraise how close in size the 1 series and E 46 are

Do you have a windscreen?

[aknutson]

Okay folks..here it is..the worlds most expensive compact.....and what a sporty one it is...complete with automatic tranny...
  Look at the new "sagging belly line" unique to BMW...Sixty biguns eh?   No thanks...dragonfly

I always thought the 1-series looked a little frumpy, with its bugeye headlights and cutesy looks - and yes, the 'sagging belly line', lol. It looks like it passed through a series of heaters on its way out of the assembly line to give it a kind of melted look.

[JeffyBoy]

Sixty large for a BMW 1-series? ? ? ?  ( - too bad there's no "heart attack" emoticon...)  Uh, no thanks.  When you're in $60K territory, there are just so many other options.  The Porsche Boxster starts at $58,000 and although Porsche option prices are even more dear than BMW's, if you exercise restraint you can get one within a stone's throw of the 135's loaded price.  The M-B SLK starts at $59,900.  Both offer the same top-down motoring experience; the Boxster is the purer sports car (and much better looking IMHO); the SLK brings a folding hard top to the table.  Yes the 135 offers vestigial back seats, but honestly, how many people use them?  Heck, for that chunk of change, if you insist on BMW, you can either get into a 328 convertible ($57,300) for driving al fresco, or if performance is your priority, you can get a 335 for $53,400 and still have change left from your $60,000 bill, or even spring for a 335is.  Its funny - as I write this, I keep referring back to the article over and over and over just to make sure that I'm reading correctly that the as-tested price of the 135 is $57,590 - it's like I can't even believe the price-point comparisons I'm making.

That would explain, however, why I don't see any of them on the road...

[wing]

But you are comparing base model 335's etc, not convertibles... you could leave the dealership for $48k if you wanted to leave off the extras.

[sirAQUAMAN64]

HOT!!! Give me the manual though  

[Ex-airbalancer]

The person getting the $60 g 1 series is probably leasing, probably in rich areas, a lot of daughters are driving one
When we pick up our used 3 series, someone was picking up a new 3series cab, she it was her 5th one, she was getting a new one every 6 months

[Weels]

The person getting the $60 g 1 series is probably leasing, probably in rich areas, a lot of daughters are driving one
When we pick up our used 3 series, someone was picking up a new 3series cab, she it was her 5th one, she was getting a new one every 6 months

   That dealer must      LOVE      her...

[quadzilla]

What is with all the hate for $50-60G sport cars? If you can't afford one, too bad but don't dislike it because of that.

There is also the 128 for those who think the 135 is too much money. If you still think the 128 cost too much, this is not the car for you, move along, nothing to see here.

If we didn't need a hatch, I would probably be driving one of these now.

[wing]

HOT!!! Give me the manual though  

For some reason, every time I get in my left foot slams onto the floor, I almost dislocated my knee!

[ovr50]

What is with all the hate for $50-60G sport cars? If you can't afford one, too bad but don't dislike it because of that.

There is also the 128 for those who think the 135 is too much money. If you still think the 128 cost too much, this is not the car for you, move along, nothing to see here.

If we didn't need a hatch, I would probably be driving one of these now.

Agreed, a lot of needless and picky comments. If not your cup of tea, no need to act negatively, just ignore it. Who cares what you (not Quad) think?

This one is very much a loaded-up model. Mine would be the coupe, with no need for the MSport (but does look nice) and other geegaws. Then you would have a fun driver. The DCT vs manny thing would be a personal choice call.

[Dante]

Great, great car. If you cannot afford it, too bad. If you don't want to spend $60K, you can remove some extras. What's the big deal? It's the same with all the cars at different scales.

I drove one of these recently at a BMW event, the coupe version, and I found it fantastic. The interior is not luxury car worthy (the dash and other trim pieces are mainstream grade), but I wouldn't care. This car is all about driving experience and I like the looks too.
The interior is rather cozy too, but again you don't really buy this car for cargo or rear passenger comfort.

[initial_D]

I think the Cabio looks better than the coupe with the top down. Saw a few of them in Calgary this pass weekend. Definitely a serious fun sun machine.

Get the coupe if you want to run thru red large ice cones in a parking lot with a stick. Auto & topless is great for SUN'day cruises, even sitting on the passenger seat letting the SO do the driving.

[huota]

What is with all the hate for $50-60G sport cars? If you can't afford one, too bad but don't dislike it because of that.

There is also the 128 for those who think the 135 is too much money. If you still think the 128 cost too much, this is not the car for you, move along, nothing to see here.

  Exactly, well said. The sense of entitlement is baffling.

[whaddaiknow]

What is with all the hate for $50-60G sport cars? If you can't afford one, too bad but don't dislike it because of that.

There is also the 128 for those who think the 135 is too much money. If you still think the 128 cost too much, this is not the car for you, move along, nothing to see here.

  Exactly, well said. The sense of entitlement is baffling.

Has nothing to do with entitlement or affordability.
A review of a car like this is pointless from the point of view that:

1) very few here can afford one at $60k
2) Everyone already knows it is a FUN performance car
3) Regardless of whether James find any quirks with it, it is not going to affect the overall image, appeal or status of this car
4) people who buy these toys don't spend time discussing it on this forum; they just go and buy it, with the vast majority not giving a rat's behind about the little quirks here and there; they make their statement anyway.

Hence my original question, who is the target audience for this review? Those who will 'discuss' it or those who will actually park it in their driveway for 6 months just to move on to the next toy after?