What to change a 7.5 for?

[Watts]

Had my second test drive this morning in the BMW 230i. Much better this time, it really needs to be in Sport as standard to get it to respond with some vigour. A very impressive car, the interior feels a big lift in quality and design from the Golf (I went straight to the nearest VW dealer and sat in a GTE) and all over it just feels more sophisticated.

The ride was a little jiggly, no adaptive dampers, but not unbearable however my GTI was more relaxed over the same surfaces (set to Comfort). I was a little suprised given it was mild and the roads were barely damp, that the rear end let go a bit on hard acceleration joining a main A road. Not excessively or worryingly, the tech had it all under control, but it does make me wonder how careful I'll need to take it 60% of the year, something I've not had to worry about for 40 years when my MK1 3L GT Capri went. Not sure I want to have to factor such things in, I'm no top driver (barely a middling one) but I do like to push on now and then.

So overall I really like it. The base price is a bit high but the options are better priced than VW. But I'm not convinced that I want to empty my bank account for it.

[joe6]

Yes rear wheel drive is a different technique that I have forgotten so long ago since I also had one. Only need to watch a few videos of new porsche drivers giving it some welly on hard lock and ending in the hedge to be reminded of the difference.

[Watts]

Yes rear wheel drive is a different technique that I have forgotten so long ago since I also had one. Only need to watch a few videos of new porsche drivers giving it some welly on hard lock and ending in the hedge to be reminded of the difference.

Unfortunately I can see me doing something stupid like that. Then there's when temperatures drop to around freezing. Never been an issue in the Golfs, don't really wan't it to become one either.

[clubsport]

From your own description, it doesn't sound like a Rwd is really for you... in that I am not hearing you being up for he challenge, which it may well be?

As it is your hard earned or pension, personally I would struggle to force myself to pay the new car registration tax or the > £40k luxury car, road tax premium for the next 5 years. I appreciate if you have some kind of my last ICE car to my specification thing going on, it may be overlooked?

I appreciate it is a different BMW 3 series, but a long term Porsche owning friend with whom I have done quite a few track days. bought himself a new M3 a few years ago, he was driving down a straight dual carriageway, within the speed limit when it started raining, the next thing he knew the car had aquaplaned off of the road into a ditch without any warning at all... he is now back in a Cayman S. The BMW just went without any feedback, Porsches can bite, but they tend to communicate before they let go in my 30+ years of 911 ownership.

I am not saying a 230i will throw you off the road, but the above scenario is less likely to happen in a Fwd GTi, & even less so in a 4wd R ?

[Watts]

From your own description, it doesn't sound like a Rwd is really for you... in that I am not hearing you being up for he challenge, which it may well be?

As it is your hard earned or pension, personally I would struggle to force myself to pay the new car registration tax or the > £40k luxury car, road tax premium for the next 5 years. I appreciate if you have some kind of my last ICE car to my specification thing going on, it may be overlooked?

I appreciate it is a different BMW 3 series, but a long term Porsche owning friend with whom I have done quite a few track days. bought himself a new M3 a few years ago, he was driving down a straight dual carriageway, within the speed limit when it started raining, the next thing he knew the car had aquaplaned off of the road into a ditch without any warning at all... he is now back in a Cayman S. The BMW just went without any feedback, Porsches can bite, but they tend to communicate before they let go in my 30+ years of 911 ownership.

I am not saying a 230i will throw you off the road, but the above scenario is less likely to happen in a Fwd GTi, & even less so in a 4wd R ?

I think you have it, I want a bit of fun but I'm not up for a handful. My fun is the one where I don't have to worry about it too much, particularly as this will be my only car. And yes, I have the extra VED firmly in mind, I have to really want the next car to stomach that.

Thanks to all for the input, it has been very helpful.

[Hertsman]

Yes rear wheel drive is a different technique that I have forgotten so long ago since I also had one. Only need to watch a few videos of new porsche drivers giving it some welly on hard lock and ending in the hedge to be reminded of the difference.

Unfortunately I can see me doing something stupid like that. Then there's when temperatures drop to around freezing. Never been an issue in the Golfs, don't really wan't it to become one either.

My BMW 128Ti is not great when its wet and cold, and that's FWD, it always feels like its going to drive you into the ditch if put the power down on any twisting B Road. Its the single reason that not considered keeping or getting another BMW.

The summer has been brilliant though as such a great car to drive, but as soon as wet you have to change driving style completely.

The offset for a short while was new tyres, but as soon as they start to wear, car becomes way too lively to have any real confidence. This having to moderate driving is why would never go RWD with anything with decent performance.

Think message is, that if car has predisposition to move about, you need to keep a good set of tyres on it, changing well before get near legal limits.

On subject of tyres, just wrapped wifes R in 4 x Contact Sport 7 for the winter, and really enjoyable drive in wet this week, no moderation of driving whatsoever, big fan of the CS7.

[Watts]

Yes rear wheel drive is a different technique that I have forgotten so long ago since I also had one. Only need to watch a few videos of new porsche drivers giving it some welly on hard lock and ending in the hedge to be reminded of the difference.

Unfortunately I can see me doing something stupid like that. Then there's when temperatures drop to around freezing. Never been an issue in the Golfs, don't really wan't it to become one either.

My BMW 128Ti is not great when its wet and cold, and that's FWD, it always feels like its going to drive you into the ditch if put the power down on any twisting B Road. Its the single reason that not considered keeping or getting another BMW.

The summer has been brilliant though as such a great car to drive, but as soon as wet you have to change driving style completely.

The offset for a short while was new tyres, but as soon as they start to wear, car becomes way too lively to have any real confidence. This having to moderate driving is why would never go RWD with anything with decent performance.

Think message is, that if car has predisposition to move about, you need to keep a good set of tyres on it, changing well before get near legal limits.

On subject of tyres, just wrapped wifes R in 4 x Contact Sport 7 for the winter, and really enjoyable drive in wet this week, no moderation of driving whatsoever, big fan of the CS7.

Very helpful thanks. I was being tempted by the salesman with a good spec car and was close to crumbling!

[Watts]

So for me, the answer to the original question, an 8.5 Clubsport! Picked it up today, was more upset by the TCR going than I thought I would be. It had done us proud, as near to faultless as it could be. Missing the relative simplicity already, the 8.5 is going to take time to get used to. Strikes me it has way too many features/options

[Hertsman]

So for me, the answer to the original question, an 8.5 Clubsport! Picked it up today, was more upset by the TCR going than I thought I would be. It had done us proud, as near to faultless as it could be. Missing the relative simplicity already, the 8.5 is going to take time to get used to. Strikes me it has way too many features/options

If there was one spec and car that would chop in the TCR for, its the black edition, performance pack, CS and wrapped in Oryx White an even more so.

Was sad to let me TCR go three years ago, but you soon move on, and sure the CS will maybe speed that moving on a little more. Be interested to see what think as a comparison so keep us updated.

As for features and options, once through the fiddle, tweak and set up, you invariably hardly touch again and drive the car, cannot remember fiddling with anything in last three years on present, its jump in, drive, enjoy.

[Watts]

If there was one spec and car that would chop in the TCR for, its the black edition, performance pack, CS and wrapped in Oryx White an even more so.

Was sad to let me TCR go three years ago, but you soon move on, and sure the CS will maybe speed that moving on a little more. Be interested to see what think as a comparison so keep us updated.

As for features and options, once through the fiddle, tweak and set up, you invariably hardly touch again and drive the car, cannot remember fiddling with anything in last three years on present, its jump in, drive, enjoy.

Cheers, I'm sure I'll get to grips with it. The black accents do look great with white.